The chain by which they had swung across dangled idly above the middle of the chasm.
In his excitement at dragging Billy from the coils of the huge white snake Harry had forgotten to secure it on the ledge.
Their escape was cut off.
They had to keep on now, or die miserably where they stood.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE BOYS ARE TRAPPED.
The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis. They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape. It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
White-faced and despairing, they stood there in their tracks for several minutes. Was this to be the end? Were they to die here in these unknown underground passageways? It was a situation to turn to ice-water the blood of the strongest, most determined man. No wonder that in the face of this greatest crisis of their lives the three boys were stricken tongue-tied with horror and apprehension.
It was Frank who spoke at last. His voice assumed a desperate cheerfulness he was in reality far from feeling.
“Come on, boys,” he cried, “cheer up. While there’s life there’s hope. As we can’t turn back now the only thing for us to do is to push on as long as we have strength to do so.”