So you can easily see that Rick and Chot were delighted with this opportunity of being with Uncle Tod, and the danger of it did not at all worry or impress them.
“We’ll find Lost River!” declared Rick.
“Sure we will!” agreed Chot.
Ruddy, of course, said nothing, but from the manner in which he nosed about it might be assumed that he would do his share of the exploration work and warn of any danger he sensed.
Flashing their lights to and fro—for each carried a lantern—the travelers in the tunnel looked about them. Under the suggestion of Uncle Tod the boys were searching for some side passage, or downward dip into which Lost River might have slipped, thus keeping away from the mine where its waters were much needed.
Suddenly, as Chot stepped a little ahead of his two friends, and off to the right, the boy gave a cry of astonishment, mingled with fear and then came the thud of a fall.
“Chot’s gone!” exclaimed Uncle Tod, hurrying to the place where the lad was last seen.
Ruddy uttered a bark of warning it seemed as he dashed up along side of the miner, and only just in time, for Uncle Tod stopped short on the edge of a deep and black hole. Rick, at his uncle’s side, gave a gasp of fear and swung his lantern over the chasm.
“Are you there, Chot?” he cried desperately.
To the great relief of the two, back came the boy’s voice in answer: