Then the grating of the shovels was distinguished, and pound by pound the weight was removed until nothing save the timber held him down.
"Can you get out now?" Joe asked, and his voice sounded strangely indistinct.
"Not till the joist is pulled away."
"When that is done it's safe to say tons of the roof will follow," Bill muttered, and Joe asked:
"Does it hurt you much, lad?"
"The edges are cutting into my back terribly."
"Grin an' bear it as long as you can. Our only chance for life is to break through the wall into the old tunnel; but if that timber is taken away it's good-bye for all hands."
"Then don't bother about me. It's better one died than three."
There was no reply to this. The men were digging at the barrier of earth with feverish energy, and each instant respiration became more difficult. The slight amount of air which filtered through the bank of slate and sand was no more than sufficient for one pair of lungs.
The darkness was profound. The lamps had been extinguished by the shock, and five minutes later it was impossible to re-light them. The oxygen had become so nearly exhausted that a match would not burn.