“This can’t be the way out,” came from Frank.
“I—I know it. I’ve made a mistake!”
“Then let us go back, and be quick about it. The torch is almost out!”
They turned back, and presently came to where there were four tunnels, or cuts, each leading in a different direction.
“Now, which is the right one, Darry?”
The boy looked from one to another in bewilderment.
“I—I don’t know. Oh, Mr. Hardy, I guess we are lost!” he wailed.
“Lost!” echoed Frank, and his heart sank within him. He knew that many a person had lost his life by being lost in a mine.
The torch was now reaching its end and in a moment more it flickered up for the last time and went out. Again they were in total darkness, and now Frank felt himself clutched tightly by his younger companion.
“Oh, Mr. Hardy, Frank! Don’t leave me!”