"Did Mike come out?" he asked. "Mike Conway?"
As he spoke a huge fire-brand fell from the shaft at their feet, scattering sparks and throwing out smoke. The men drew back a little, and no one answered Ralph's question.
"Has Mike Conway come out yet?" he repeated.
"Yes, long ago; didn't he, Jimmy?" replied some one, turning to the footman.
"Mike Conway? no it was Mike Corcoran that went out. Is Conway back yet?"
"He is!" exclaimed Ralph, "he is just a-comin'. I'll tell 'im to hurry."
Another blazing stick fell as the lad darted out from among the men and ran toward the foot of the plane.
"Come back, Ralph!" shouted some one, "come back; ye've no time; the carriage is here!"
"Hold it a minute!" answered the boy, "just a minute; I'll see 'im on the plane."
The carriage struck the floor of the mine heavily and threw a shower of blazing fragments from its iron roof. At the same moment a man appeared from a lower entrance and hurried toward the group.