The other passage proved to be much the same as the one they had tried.
I hope this doesn’t end in nothing,” muttered Hardware as they made their way along it Hong Kong shopping places .
They took a few steps more when Harry Ware gave a sudden yell of alarm and surprise.
W-w-what’s up now?” gasped out Persimmons; but before Harry could reply both boys found themselves tumbling downward. The bottom appeared suddenly to have dropped out of the cavern passage.
We’re lost!” choked out Persimmons as he felt his feet go from under him reenex facial .
Neither boy knew anything more till they found themselves lying on the ground, Persimmons[157] stretched across Hardware’s recumbent body.
Whew! The second tumble to-day,” gasped out young Simmons, this place is as full of holes as a porous plaster. Are you hurt, Harry?” For poor Hardware had given a groan.
Yes, that is, I don’t know. Ouch! I’ve bust my ankle, I think.” The boy gave a loud moan, which rang hollowly against the walls of the dismal place.
Is it badly hurt?” gasped Persimmons in a dismayed tone .
Get up off me and I’ll try to stand up. Give me a hand to rise. That’s it—wow, but it’s painful!”
Do you think you can use it, Harry?”
Y-y-y-yes,” came bravely from poor Hardware, who was suffering excruciating pain, but it feels as if a million little dwarfs were poking needles in it.”
Lean on me a minute. If we could only find[158] some water, I’d bandage it. Say, we seem to be the two most unlucky kids on earth!”
That’s what. I wonder if we’ll ever get out of this?”
Young Simmons made no reply. For the life of him he could not have found words just at that moment. It was all he could do to choke back his sobs. He was a plucky enough lad, yet he could hardly be blamed for feeling a pang of black despair clutching at his heart as he revolved in his mind their truly desperate situation. After a minute he regained control of himself, however.
We’ll light up and have a look around,” he said, as cheerily as he could. I want to see what sort of place it is that we’ve dropped in on so unceremoniously.”
He struck a match; but it was instantly blown out. Both lads now noticed for the first time that quite a stiff breeze was blowing against their[159] faces. The air felt fresh and chilly and evidently came from some opening further along.
Well, this breeze is a good sign,” declared Hardware; it means that this place must open out somewhere along the route.”
