Frank philosophically. "You hold the light and I'll get busy."
He flung off his coat and attacked the formidable barrier.
Starting at the top, he moved rock after rock aside, placing them on the floor of the tunnel. The work was slow, and he seemed to make little progress. For, as the rocks were taken away, they showed only more rocks behind. It was evident that the cave-in had been of considerable extent.
Joe became impatient.
"I feel useless," he said. "You hold the light for a while and let me work."
"Put it in a ledge some place and we can both work."
Joe hunted around and managed to find a convenient ledge of rock on which to rest the flashlight. Its beam was directed at the barrier and, rid of the encumbrance, Joe was then able to lend a hand to the work of removing the débris.
Patiently, the brothers toiled, lifting aside the rocks and putting them back on the floor. Every little while a fresh shower of dirt and stones would come rattling down from the roof. The task seemed hopeless.
"Looks as if this goes on for yards," panted Joe wearily.
"We might get out in a couple of years,"
