Fred explained to the best of his ability, and added:
"Do you know of any way I can get out of here?"
"No; that part of the mine has been closed a good many years, an' it would take a week to work up through the old slope. Before then the water on the lower level is bound to flood this end of the workings."
"And we shall be drowned."
"I don't see any help for it."
"But we can't stay here and be killed!" Fred cried in an agony of fear.
"It's tough, but there's no way out of it unless——"
"What? Speak quickly, for time mustn't be lost if we're to do anything toward helping ourselves."
"How large a cut is there through the wall where you are standing?"
"It's only a small one—perhaps four or five inches across."