The big rock runs over at least five feet, and the stone turns out harder than I thought of." These were not cheering words to Walt Wilder.
"But," continued Hamersley, his speech changing to a more hopeful tone, "I've noticed something that may serve better still; perhaps save us all the quarrying.

I don't know whether I'm right; but we shall soon see." "What hev ye noticed ?" was the question put by Wilder.
"You see there's still some smoke around us." "Yes, Frank, my eyes tell me that plain enuf.

I've nigh nibbed 'em out o' thar sockets." "Well, as soon as I had scooped out the crack that let in the daylight.
I noticed that the smoke rushed out as if blasted through a pair of bellows.

That shows there's a draught coming up.

It can only come from some aperture below, acting as a furnace or the funnel of a chimney.