“It’s straight!” Nolan protested. “It’s dead straight! Pull me out o’ here an’ I’ll tell you.”
“Wait a minute,” said the other, and disappeared.
Nolan waited with an anxiety that deepened with every passing second; but at last the light appeared again at the edge of the pit, and this time four faces looked down at him instead of one. The rope was lowered, he slipped it under his arms, and three minutes later stood again facing his captors.
“’IT B’LONGS T’ TH’ MINE COMPANY,’ SAID NOLAN.”
Without speaking, they led him back to the place where their fire was still burning and motioned him to sit down.
“Now,” said one of them, “let’s have the story.”
“And if it’s straight, you’ll let me go?”