“She’s caved!” croaked the man, his throat so dry he could scarcely speak.
“Who’s caved?” demanded Dig.
“What’s caved?” asked Chet, better understanding the vernacular.
“The Silent Sue! She slumped in like rotten ice in February!” gasped the big miner, leaning against the fence near the boys. “Oh, my Jimminy! It’s awful!”
Chet turned pale. Dig reddened and gulped back a sob with difficulty.
“You—you don’t mean the mine’s all caved in?” stammered the latter.
“The shaft,” replied Dan.
Chet, the practical, demanded:
“How many are caught in the cave-in?”
“There’s five down there, besides—”