looking at his friend.

"Yes; to-morrow I am going down into that abyss."

"Harry! that will be a tempting of Providence."

"No, Jack, Providence will aid me in the attempt. Tomorrow, you and some
of our comrades will go with me to that shaft. I will fasten myself to
a long rope, by which you can let me down, and draw me up at a given
signal. I may depend upon you, Jack?"

"Well, Harry," said Jack, shaking his head, "I will do as you wish me;
but I tell you all the same, you are very wrong."

"Nothing venture nothing win," said Harry, in a tone of decision.
"To-morrow morning, then, at six o'clock. Be silent, and farewell!"

It must be admitted that Jack Ryan's fears were far from groundless.
Harry would expose himself to very great danger, supposing the enemy
he sought for lay concealed at the bottom of the pit into which he
was going to descend. It did not seem likely that such was the case,
however.

"Why in the world," repeated Jack Ryan, "should he take all this trouble
to account for a set of facts so very easily and simply explained by the
supernatural intervention of the spirits of the mine?"

But, notwithstanding his objections to the scheme, Jack Ryan and three
miners of his gang arrived next morning with Harry at the mouth of the
opening of the suspicious shaft. Harry had not mentioned his intentions
either to James Starr or to the old overman. Jack had been discreet
enough to say nothing.

Harry had provided himself with a rope about 200 feet long. It was not
particularly thick, but very strong--sufficiently so to sustain his
weight. His friends were to let him down into the gulf, and his pulling
the cord was to be the signal to withdraw him.

The opening into this shaft or well was twelve feet wide. A beam was
thrown across like a bridge, so that the cord passing over it should
hang down the center of the opening, and save Harry from striking
against the sides in his descent.

He was ready.

"Are you still determined to explore this abyss?" whispered Jack Ryan.

"Yes, I am, Jack."

The cord was fastened round Harry's thighs and under his arms, to keep
him from rocking. Thus supported, he was free to use both his hands. A
safety-lamp hung at his belt, also a large, strong knife in a leather
sheath.

Harry advanced to the middle of the beam, around which the cord was
passed. Then his friends began to let him down, and he slowly sank into
the pit. As the rope caused him to swing gently round