At length, after hours, as it seemed, of weary waiting, I heard a dull rumble in the direction of the mouth of the cavern, and gradually the sound came nearer and nearer.
"Can't go no 'igher, sir," came a faint voice. "The string stops 'ere, an' the whole place is broken up."
"I'm here, uncle. Don't shout, or you will bring some more rock on your head. I'm shut up and can't get out."
"Wait a little longer and we'll fetch more help. We can't shift these stones alone."
"Stay with me, uncle!" I cried despairingly. "It's so horrible alone in this place."
"I'll stop here," replied my uncle reassuringly, and I heard the footsteps of the men as they went off to procure help.
"No--we had only one box of matches between us; but never mind, it's only a question of an hour or so."
Less than an hour! It seemed six times that length of time. However, I had a kind of empty satisfaction in knowing that Uncle Herbert was in the darkness, while I, although penned in, had the benefit of a feeble light.
Notwithstanding that my uncle kept up a desultory conversation, the time passed very slowly; but before the rescue party returned I learnt that the explosives had been safely transported to the reef, and that, on my failing to return, the boat's crew had explored the cave, finding the clue of seaming-twine and following it till it disappeared between the debris. I then told him of my adventure, relating the cause of the roof caving-in, and cautioning him to prevent the others making too much noise.
At length the rescuers arrived, and, without delay, they attacked the rocks with crowbars, trying to dislodge and remove the huge boulders. For a long time they worked incessantly and energetically, but finally they desisted, and I could hear a consultation taking place, though the words were inaudible.
"I've sent for some blasting powder, Reggie," said my father. "The rocks are too large and too tightly wedged together to shift otherwise."
"Won't the explosion bring down more of the roof?" I cried out in my anxiety.
"We must take the chance. Wait a little longer and I'll tell you what to do."
There was a lull in the conversation, and I heard a dull, grinding sound, as if some steel instrument was being bored into the rock. Then, after a considerable time, my father spoke again.