ight, what we can manage in the way of tools for chipping away
the big stones that cannot be moved. You had better relieve each
other very often. The three who are not at work should sit down on
the ledge, outside, so that any stone accidentally dislodged will
not fall on anyone. Every ten minutes, one will come up to take the
place of the man at work. Be sure that each, as he passes up or
down, replaces the blanket carefully."

They had, indeed, before beginning to saw up the bamboos, fastened
the blanket to one of the cross pieces of the stretcher and,
cutting this to the width of the passage, had jammed it close up to
the roof; so that the curtain, hanging down, effectually shut off
the light.

Stanley then descended the steps, and rejoined Harry below. Before
going down further, Stanley, who had during the day informed Harry
of his plan, told him of the start that they had made.

"Of course, it all depends upon what stones you meet with," Harry
said. "If you come to a big solid block, I don't see how you are
going to get through it."

"We have the hatchets, and can whittle it away; and perhaps we can
make some chisels, from the ramrods of your guards' guns. A lot can
be done, with patience and plenty of hands."

Stanley then went down below, and explained to the others the plan
proposed. The news gave them great satisfaction; for although
Meinik had told them there was a staircase above blocked with
stones, it had seemed so impossible, to him, to clear it that he
had placed no stress upon the fact; and the preparations made by
the enemy to cut off any possible retreat had greatly depressed
them.

Stanley took one of the iron ramrods and, raking some of the embers
from the fire, placed it in them, about a foot from one end; then
he directed the others to fan the embers, until they raised them
almost to white heat. Taking the ramrod out, he laid the edge of
one of their knives upon it and, striking its back with a stone,
soon cut through the glowing rod. He repeated the operation and
had, then, three short rods of equal length. He now heated one end
of each and, laying it on an axe on the ground, hammered it into
chisel shape with the back of a light hatchet; repeating this
several times, until it had the required shape and sharpness; then
he plunged this into a pot of water. He did the same with the other
two; and had, now, three chisels with which he hoped to be able to
chip away the stones. The other ramro