“There must be some way,” answered Branasko. “Ah, see! further to the left there are some ledges; let's see what can be done that way.”
“I am with you.”
The rays of the departing sun were almost gone, and the electric lights down among the machinery seemed afar off like stars reflected in deep water. With great difficulty the two men lowered themselves from one sharp ledge to another till they had gone half down to the bottom.
“It is no use,” said Branasko, peering over the lowest ledge. “There are no more ledges and this one juts out so far that even if there were smaller ones beneath we could not get to them.”
“That is true,” agreed the American, “but look, is not that a lake beneath? I think it must be, for the lights are reflected on its surface.”
“You are right,” answered Branasko; “and I now see a chance for us to get down safely.”
“How?”
“The workers are too far from the lake to see us; we can drop into the water and swim ashore.”
“Would they not hear the splashing of our bodies?”
“I think not; but first let's experiment with a big stone.”