The three walked quickly along the tunnel to the little mine car, which they boarded. Harding became the motorman and the car moved off.
“The men at the top will wonder what has become of the fourth inspector, won’t they?” asked Chester, as they alighted from the mine car at the edge of the shaft.
“We’ll have to trust to luck there,” said Harding.
The three stepped in the elevator that was to carry them aloft, and Harding gave the signal to pull up by tugging sharply at the cable.
“Keep your caps down over your head and your heads lowered,” Harding cautioned, as the car began to go up.
The lads nodded in the semi-darkness, but said nothing.
Suddenly the elevator shot out into the light and came to a stop. From beneath their caps, the three friends glanced sharply about them, and Chester gave a sigh of pure relief.
At the top of the mine there were, at that moment, only three German guards and the man who stood on watch at the elevator. The three guards were engaged in animated conversation and apparently were not interested in the appearance of the car from below. There remained only the fourth man.
Harding stepped from the car. Hal and Chester followed him.