“Where are you going to watch it from?”
“I’ve a little place picked out,” he answered, and laughed. “About half a mile from here. Would you like a reserved seat?”
She nodded readily. “Of course. Now that I’ve seen the mechanism of the thing, I won’t be happy until I see the explosion.”
“Good for you! I’m really as much excited over the affair as you are. Ready to leave now?”
“I guess so. Is there anything more to see?”
“Not a thing. Wait while I light another candle. It’ll make it easier for us to——”
He stopped short, the match he had struck burning down to his fingers. He scarcely felt the pain. A faint rumbling had come to his ears—the sound of falling rock.
“What was that?” Miss Breen asked sharply, nervously, her voice echoing in the big, gloom-filled room.
“Why—nothing much,” Nash replied reassuringly, although his heart had started throbbing at a greater speed. “That is—I suppose it was merely some loose earth falling in the tunnel. It often does that. But we’ll soon see. Follow close now.”
He lighted the second candle, handing the girl the first one. They came to the beginning of the tunnel. Just as he had feared, some loose rock had fallen down, blocking the entrance.