Part 40 (2/2)

”What if we should jump the track in here?” suddenly suggested Ned.

”But we won't,” answered the guide. ”We--”

A grinding, crunching sound cut short his words. The car appeared to pause and tremble throughout the length of its frame; then followed a deafening crash, accompanied by the sound of breaking timbers and splintering wood.

A deep silence, broken only by the roar of the cataract, settled over the scene. The ore car lay a broken, twisted, hopeless wreck.

CHAPTER XX

A MESSAGE THAT THRILLED

Out of the silence came the voice of Ned Rector.

”Help, I'm pinned down,” he groaned. ”Get me out of this awful hole.”

”I'm coming as soon as I can get free of what's on top of me,”

answered Tad. ”Is everybody else all right? W-a-l-t! Mr.

Phi-ipp-s!”

Tad struggled desperately and in a brief time succeeded in freeing himself. What had happened to the guide and to Walter he did not dare to think.

First upon getting clear of the obstruction that pinned him down, he rushed to Ned Rector and succeeded in releasing him without great difficulty. Neither boy was hurt much.

”Where's the other two?” cried Tad in a voice of anxiety.

”I don't know. Don't know where I am myself,” groaned Ned.

”Hurry, help me find them.”

Together the boys groped about in the black tunnel.

”I've got one,” called Ned.

”Which one?”

”I don't know. Yes, yes, it's Walt. He's breathing. What shall I do?”

”Drag him over to one side. I've got Mr. Phipps here. I'll have him over there in a minute.”

Tad began tugging, with hands under the shoulders of the guide, understanding instinctively that he must get him where they could work over him and try to bring him back to consciousness.

Something whizzed by in the darkness, the rush of air nearly knocking both boys over, and leaving them trying to catch their breaths.

”Wh--what's that?” gasped Ned.

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