James Starr fully
entered into it; but he let Ford rave for them both.
Harry alone remained thoughtful. To his memory recurred
the succession of singular, inexplicable circumstances
314
attending the discovery of the new bed. It made him uneasy
about the future.
An hour afterwards, James Starr and his two companions were
back in the cottage. The engineer supped with good appetite,
listening with satisfaction to all the plans unfolded by the old overman;
and had it not been for his excitement about the next day's work,
he would never have slept better than in the perfect stillness
of the cottage.
The following day, after a substantial breakfast,
James Starr, Simon Ford, Harry, and even Madge herself, took the road
already traversed the day before. All looked like regular miners.
They carried different tools, and some dynamite with which to blast
the rock. Harry, besides a large lantern, took a safety lamp,
which would burn for twelve hours. It was more than was necessary
for the journey there and back, including the time for the working--
supposing a working was possible.
"To work! to work!" shouted Ford, when the party reached the further
end of the passage; and he grasped a heavy crowbar and brandished it.
"Stop one instant," said Starr. "Let us see if any change has
taken place, and if the fire-damp still escapes through the crevices.
Pages:
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73