“Watch it!” Teddy shouted. “Look!”
A hand burst through the earth, and opened and closed frantically. Roy was still conscious, and just below the surface.
“Go it!” Teddy shouted. “Don’t hit his head with the spades!”
More of the wrist appeared, then the arm. Then, with a sob of relief, Teddy was wiping the dirt from his brother’s face, while Roy gasped in the precious air again. He was saved, though still buried to his shoulders.
It was some moments before he could speak. Nick and Gus continued to dig, carefully, so they would not injure Roy. In all, his head had been covered with the heavy, damp earth about three and a half minutes.
“Boy, that was a close one!” Teddy babbled. “Roy, are you all right now? Swallow any of that dirt? You can breathe all right, can’t you?”
With his free hand Roy brushed the soil from his hair. The first words he said were:
“Did some one mention food?”
“Hot dog, there’s a guy for you!” Nick exclaimed. “You stick to it, and we’ll have you out in a minute. Legs all right?”
“Little weak, or I could get out myself now,” Roy answered. “Snakes, that was sudden! Oh, by the way—”