Grasping the rope just above a knot over his head, Tom gave a slight heave, then went rapidly up, hand over hand. He was soon lost from the little circle of light thrown by the lanterns at the shaft's bottom.
"Not many men like him," remarked one of the miners named Tibbets, admiringly.
"I've been told that's what young fellers learn at college," said another miner, as he spat on his hands and raised his pick.
For two hours Reade attended to the mending of the walling, as the system of laying walls in shafts is termed. Ladders had to be rebuilt even in order to put temporary walling in place.
Then the young chief engineer deemed it time to run over to the partners' shack. He opened the door softly, peeping in. Feeling the draught Tim Walsh turned and came to the door.
"Mr. Hazelton is doing all right, sir."
"Has he asked for me?"
"No, sir."
"If he does, tell him that I'm putting in all night at the mine.
If he gets worse run over and get me."
Then Tom went back to his labors.