For some minutes the rope dangled, now and then becoming taut for a moment, and then hanging limp again. It was evident that something was wrong.
"What is it?" the foreman shouted anxiously.
"We can't do it," came a voice from the bottom.
"We're too stiff; we can't get hold."
There was a silence for what seemed an interminable space after these words.
"Some one must go down to them," said the foreman slowly, his own face growing very white. He knew that whoever went down might be passing to instant death; for though everything that could be done had been done to render the passage safe, yet he had hoped against hope that the necessity of a passage down would be avoided. He was a great stout fellow himself, and not so active as Hayes, who he had trusted, would squeeze himself through.
During that pause the workmen looked questioningly at each other, and no one read in his mate's face any desire to try the dangerous experiment. The crowd listened again breathlessly. The foreman cast an imploring look around.
"Won't anybody volunteer?" he asked.
"I will."
It was Geo Lummis who spoke, and a burst of approbation broke from the bystanders.