Giving his orders calmly and encouragingly, the work proceeded with great success. The diggers were gradually boring in under the timber that the jacks were raising.
After a time their shovels and bars poked a hole through the débris into the drift. It was a small hole, so small that the average man would have difficulty in getting through it.
Among those who had hurried to the scene was Bob Jarvis. He had been using a shovel industriously, and when the opening had been made he stepped up to the superintendent.
"I think I can crawl in there now, if you will let me. I want to get that Hurry-up kid out," added Bob.
"Go in, if you think you can get through," nodded the superintendent. "Better tie a rope to one foot before you start, so we can pull you out if you get wedged in."
While Bob was making ready, the official got down on his hands and knees and examined the opening in the attempt to satisfy himself that it would be safe for a man to go through.
A moment more and Bob Jarvis was wriggling through the little tunnel on his stomach. There was still so much smoke in the drift that he nearly choked as he pulled himself up and began groping about in the darkness. Now that he was in he lighted his candle, and there before him lay the man and the boy.
Bob gave Rush a violent shake. Steve opened his eyes.
"Ye--yes. Have--have you come to li--lick me?" mumbled Steve closing his eyes.
"No; I've come to get you out of this hole. We'll talk about the licking later on. Is the other fellow dead?"
Rush pulled himself to a sitting posture at this.
"No; I think not. He was alive when I went to sleep. He may be dead now. Come, we must get him out. How did you get in?"
"Crawled in through that hole. Come along; I'll help you out first. You need looking after, judging from your appearance."
Steve Rush's face was ghastly white and covered with blood in spots. He had sustained a scalp wound where a sharp-edged rock had hit him. It was evident, however, that the powder-man was in much more serious condition. The man was still breathing when Bob peered into his face.
"Yes; he's alive, but I'll help you out now," Jarvis repeated.
"You will do nothing of the sort. This man needs attention first. I'll help you with him. How are we going to get him through that small opening without hurting him?"