But a second layer was discovered just beyond. How many more were beyond this they could not guess.
But Frank believed that only this layer separated them from the outer air and freedom.
Accordingly with renewed hope the two imprisoned men went to work.
With a will they hacked away at the crumbling stone and mortar.
In a very short space of time another stone had been loosened. A third was quickly displaced, making an aperture sufficiently large enough to allow a body to pass through.
Now the second layer was attacked. To the agreeable surprise of both it was a very rotten stone and yielded readily.
In a very few moments daylight streamed into the place.
“Hurrah!” cried Frank. “We are sure to escape, Tony!”
“So it seems!” cried the young New Yorker, cheerily. “This is what comes of good pluck.”
“You are right.”