Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours. If they are not
brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives. However, rescue
operations are proving difficult. If explosives are used, vibrations will
cause the roof of the mine to collapse. Rescue workers are therefore drilling
a hole on the north side of the mine. They intend to bring the men up in a
special capsule. If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil,
they would have completed the job in a few hours. As it is, they have been
drilling for sixteen hours and they still have a long way to go. Meanwhile, a
microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, has enabled the men
to keep in touch with the closest relatives. Though they are running out of
food and drink, the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out
soon. They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly. If
they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose
heart.&