"It's Conway!" cried some one; "he's come across by the sump. Ralph! ho, Ralph!"
"Why, where's Ralph?" asked Conway, as he crowded on to the carriage.
"Gone to the plane to warn ye," was the answer."
"Wait the hoisting bell, then, till I get 'im."
But the carriage was already moving slowly upward.
"You can't do it!" shouted some one.
"Then I'll stay with 'im!" cried Conway, trying to push his way off.
"Ralph, oh, Ralph!"
But the man was held to his place by strong arms, and the next moment the smoking, burning carriage was speeding up the shaft for the last time.
Ralph reached the foot of the plane and looked up it, but he saw no light in the darkness there. Before he had time to think what he should do next, he heard a shout from the direction of the shaft:—
"Ralph! oh, Ralph!"