As nearly as she could, she climbed to the place she had seen the men go in, and then she cried softly, "Steve! Mr. Gard!" and went on calling, as she moved up and down along the base of the wall.
And at last her heart jumped wildly as she heard her name faintly from inside the wall, and presently Gard himself came crawling from under the big slab and jumped down to her side.
"Nance! You are a good angel to me," and he flung his arms round her and kissed her again and again.
"But oh, my dear, I would not have you risk your life for me like this."
"It is nothing. I am all right," said Nance, forgetting the weariness and dangers of the passage in her joy at finding him alive and well. "I have brought you food," and she pushed her little parcel into his hands.
"I hardly dare to eat it when I think what it has cost you."
"That would be foolish, and you must be starving."
"Truly, I am hungry—"
"Eat, then!" and she seized the package and began to tear it open. "It will make me still more glad to see you eat."
"Well, then—" and Nance was gladder than ever that she had come.