"There is only one way that I know of in which the mine could be flooded
intentionally," replied the caretaker. "There is a large drain, of
course, in what is known as the sump. Considerable water runs off in
that way, and the rest of the drippings are taken out by the pumps. If
this sump drainage should become clogged, the mine, of course, would
become flooded though not to such an extent, unless the pumps were kept
constantly at work."

"Then I guess you'd better set the pumps going," Will suggested. "We
can't get into the mine in its present condition unless we swim."

"Haven't you got a boat?" asked George.

"Why, yes," replied the caretaker. "There's a couple of boats somewhere
in the mine. The operators placed them here thinking they might come in
handy at some future time, but I haven't any idea where they are now.
Still, I think they're not far away."

"If you'll go and set the pumps in motion," Will advised, "George and
I'll look around for the boats. We may need them before the pumps get
under motion the way the water is pouring in now."

"I guess Tommy and Sandy don't come back because they're penned in by
water," George suggested, as the boys began searching the vicinity of
the shaft for the boats.

"If they're anywhere within hearing distance, they ought to answer us
when we called out, hadn't they?" asked Will.

"We haven't tried that yet," George answered. "Suppose we let out a
couple of yells!"

To think in this case was to act, and the boys did let out a couple of
yells which brought the caretaker running back from the shaft.

The boys were listening for some answer to their shouts when he arrived,
and so they paid little attention to his numerous questions.

"There is no time to lose," Canfield went on. "I'll go to the top at
once and call an engineer and a couple of firemen. When you find the
boat, take a trip down the main gangway here and stick your lights into
all the crossheadings and chambers you see. But, above all," he
continued, "don't fail to leave a light here at a shaft, and be careful
that you never pass out of sight of it."

Canfield hastened away, climbing the ladders two rungs at a time, and
soon disappeared into the little dot of light at the top.

The two boys searched patiently for the boat for a long time, but did
not succeed in discovering it. At last, Will suggested that it might be
in the mule stable and thither they went.

The boat was there, in excellent condit