He had one free hand, with which, when he found that other exertions did not avail, he tried to dig himself out; but the more he dug, the more the great pile of adobe above him slid down on his face, till he was in such imminent danger of being smothered that he was forced to desist.
It was almost all he could do to breathe with such a weight upon him, but after a few moments' rest he tried to shout for help.

His shouts were not very loud, and soon he had to stop.

He lay breathing heavily and looking up at the pile of dull earth.
"I wish," he panted, "I hadn't--come here." He fervently hoped that some sight-seer like himself might be attracted to the old, out-of-the-way adobe, for Jo was now convinced that it was impossible for him to set himself free.

He tried again and again, but always with the same result of semi-suffocation under the sliding debris.
The forenoon passed away.

The sun, mounting higher, shone over the dilapidated walls, and fell full on Jo's face.