y, and he went to his place at the chute very meekly.

While this brief conversation was being held Joe and Bill, with their
helpers, entered the lower level where the careless sentinels reported
matters as being quiet.

"We haven't heard more'n a rat since you left," one of them said. "I
don't believe Billings has got the nerve to try any funny business, an'
in this case Mr. Wright is more frightened than hurt."

"That's a good fault, matey," Bill replied gravely. "It's better to have
half a dozen of us nosin' around for a week or two, than run the risk of
what Cale an' his friends may do."

"Oh, I ain't kickin'; but it don't seem reasonable they could get into
the old drift, for it must be choked with gas."

"By findin' that out we might save a good deal of work," Joe replied,
quickly. "It wouldn't take long to cut through where the wall is
thinnest."

"You're right mate, an' we'll get at it now. Boys, go over to the
blacksmith's for four shovels," Bill added as he pulled the plans from
his pocket.

Sam and Fred obeyed, and while they were absent the two men studied the
drawing for at least the hundredth time.

Save for those who were seated on a block of coal poring over the paper,
the drift was deserted, and the one who had secreted himself in the
cutting crept silently forward until it was possible to see what the
miners were doing.

As a matter of course this party was Skip Miller, and he said to
himself, with a chuckle of satisfaction:

"With all day before me it'll be queer if I can't get what Billings
wants."

When Sam and Fred returned Bill had decided at which point the
excavation should be made, and he said, designating a spot hardly more
than a dozen yards from where Skip was hidden:

"If the plan is co'rect this oughter be our place. We'll try it anyhow.
You boys tell one of the drivers to bring up a car, for we don't want to
choke the drift with dirt."

Then Bill stuck his pick in the wall, which was made up of earth and
slate. Skip, who sat directly opposite, had a full view of all that was
done.

When the car had been brought into position Bill told Sam and Fred to
shovel into it what he and Joe threw from the cutting, and soon all four
were working industriously.

Before the time for "nooning" arrived it became necessary to shore up
the top of the tunnel lest the mass of earth should fall and bury the
laborers, and when this was done both the men entered the excavation,
which was n