That's all."
"I should say that was enough," muttered the lad.
"Ample."
"Is there anything we can do, Mr. Phipps?" spoke up Ned.
"Not a thing. All any of us can do at present is to wait. Knowing we
are here, they will lose no time in attempting to get us out. I wish
the telephone were working so we might let them know we are all right.
We might as well go back. I'll make a trip out here occasionally to
learn if they are making any signals to us. They will do this as soon
as they can get near enough to the obstruction to make themselves
heard."
"Make signals--how?" questioned Ned.
"We use a code, a telegraph code. They will rap with a hammer then
we'll answer them."
"But you have no hammer--"
"No, I'll use a rock to pound with if they get near enough. There's
no hurry, however. It will be a long time before there's any occasion
to communicate."
Turning back, Tom led the way through the passage to the large chamber
which they had but recently left. Arriving there, he directed each of
the lads to light a match at the same time so he could make a survey
of the room to determine whether it were safe for them to remain there
or not.
"See that hole up there?" he exclaimed.
"Yes, what is it?" asked Tad.
"It's a check. You see there must have been a weakness in the strata
at that point--perhaps it had already started to check there, when the
force of the explosion split it wide open.
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