It was at sight of a passage leading out of the pit and into the bowels of the earth at a point some thirty feet above.
It was presumably an upper level of the mine.
This discovery brought Frank to the spot.
It required some careful study in the gloom to decide whether this really was a passage or not.
It looked like a dark patch against the side of the shaft.
But finally the two prisoners decided that it was the passage of an upper level.
With this discovery came the thought that by it escape might be made from the mine.
It was a forlorn hope, yet the prisoners embraced it fervidly.
“But how will we get up there?” asked Frank. “I can’t see how it is to be done myself.”
“Bejabers, that’s so,” said Barney, ruefully. “Shure, it’s a bit av a ways up there. Av I was to sthand on yure shoulders, shure I cudn’t reach it.”