“They are following us,” said Jack, after two or three quick glances behind him, “but at a distance; we will probably have a nearer view of them later, when we leave the mine.”
As they proceeded through the tunnel of the Lucky Chance mine, they met very few of the miners; they touched their caps to Houston with a sort of sullen civility, and greeted his companions with rough jests, which Jack received with his usual taciturn manner, but to which Van Dorn, from underneath his disguise, responded with bits of Irish blarney and wit, which greatly amused his associates.
Meanwhile, Pete Brody, as he kept his solitary watch before the cabin, was surprised by the sudden return of Jake.
“Have ye found ’im?” he inquired eagerly, “Is he down there with the boss?”
“No, he’s not there.”
“Then, what in hell are you back here for?”
“Bud sent me,” answered Jake; “he said to tell ye they’ve gone into the Lucky Chance, and what do ye be thinkin’ o’ that?”
“The Lucky Chance!” exclaimed Pete, “then there’s some diviltry a goin’ sure, for the old man, he don’t let nobody into that mine ’thout he’s along; and if that Van-what’s-his-name ain’t down there he’s right here, that’s all, and here I stays.”
“And me and Bud, we’re to watch out for the boss?”
“Yes, lay for ’im and overhaul ’im, and find out what the divil is goin’ on.”