He believed that by
resting now and then for a short time, he could use his tools for
sixteen or eighteen hours, after which, if he were without food, his
strength would begin to give way. There was nothing to be done but to
go on patiently, doing his best not to waste time, and yet not
overtaxing his energy so as to break down before he had done the
utmost possible.
He would not think of what must come after that, if he failed, and if
the water did not subside.
Sabina understood very imperfectly what had happened, and there had
been no time to explain. He could not work and yet talk to her so as
to be heard above the roaring of the water and the noise of the iron
bar striking against the bricks. She knew that, and she expected
nothing of him beyond what he was doing, which was all a man could do.
She drew his coat closely round her and leaned back against the damp
wall; and with half-closed eyes she watched the moving shadows of his
arms cast on the wall opposite by the lantern. He worked as steadily
as a machine, except when he withdrew the bar for a moment, in order
to clear out the broken brick and mortar with his hand; then again the
bar struck the solid stuff, and recoiled in his grasp and struck
again, regularly as the swinging of a pendulum.
But no echo came back from an emptiness beyond.
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