CHAPTER XIII

BURIED ALIVE

At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

"Here I am under the timber," he replied.

"Are you hurt much?"

"I think not; but I shall stifle to death if the dirt isn't taken away soon."

"It ain't a sure thing that you won't stifle even then," he heard Bill say sharply. "Take hold, mate, an' let's get him from beneath while we have a chance to breathe."

Then the grating of the shovels was distinguished, and pound by pound the weight was removed until nothing save the timber held him down.

"Can you get out now?" Joe asked, and his voice sounded strangely indistinct.

"Not till the joist is pulled away."

"When that is done it's safe to say tons of the roof will follow," Bill muttered, and Joe asked:

"Does it hurt you much, lad?"

"The edges are cutting into my back terribly."

"Grin an' bear it as long as you can. Our only chance for life is to break through the wall into the old tunnel; but if that timber is taken away it's good-bye for all hands."

Answer the following questions:
1. whats is the chapter name ?
2. whos voices seemed indisrinct ?
3. what was the ? he asked ?
4. who knocked away the joist
5. last name ?
6. what happenes if the dirt is not moved away ?
7. how many people are in this story ?
8. who was at a loss ?
9. who picked up the shovel ?
10. did it save the person ?
11. from what ?
12. who was under the timber ?
13. what was hurting his back ?
14. he had to do what as long as possible ?
15. what was the only chance to live ?
16. in what ?
17. if the timber is taken away what happens ?
18. for what ?
19. who called him by his name ?
20. what covered him a lot ?
1. BURIED ALIVE
2. Joe
3. Can you get out now
4. Skip
5. Miller
6. stifle to death
7. Four
8. Skip
9. Fred
10. yes
11. being instantly killed
12. Skip Miller
13. The edges
14. Grin an' bear it
15. break through the wall
16. old tunne
17. it's good-bye
18. all hands
19. Joe
20. the earth