They followed it for what seemed fully one hundred feet.
Here it came to a termination. A blank wall of earth and quartz ledge was before them.
There was no doubt but that the miners had once followed a vein of quartz through this passage, and had reached what they believed to be its termination here.
The result of this dampening discovery upon Barney and Frank was disheartening in the extreme.
“No chance,” said Frank, gloomily. “We are in for it, Barney.”
“Bejabers, that’s so, Misther Frank,” acknowledged the Celt. “Yet, on me worrud, I hate to give it up.”
“So do I,” agreed Frank. “But what can we do?”
“Shure, I don’t know.”
The pocket lantern burned brightly and illumined the passage.
There was plainly no way to go further. To attempt to dig a way out would be the height of folly.