"That boy," said Goodlaw, "is Mrs. Burnham's son."
"Is it possible! Has he been identified, then, since the trial?"
"Fully, fully! My dear sir, I beg that you will do all that lies in your power to save this life for your company's sake, then double your effort for this lady's sake. She has no such fortune as this boy is to her."
Mrs. Burnham had sat there pale-faced and eager-eyed. Now she spoke:—
"What is the prospect? What are the chances? Can you surely save him?
Tell me truly, Mr. Martin?"
"We cannot say certainly," replied the superintendent; "there are too many factors in the problem of which we are yet ignorant. We do not know how badly the shaft is choked up; we do not know the condition of the air in the mine. To be frank with you, I think the chances are against rescuing the boy alive. The mine soon fills with poisonous gases when the air supply is cut off."
"Are you doing all that can be done?" she asked. "Will more men, more money, more of anything, help you in your work?"
"We are doing all that can be done," he answered her. "The men are working bravely. We need nothing."
"How soon will you be able to go down and begin the search?"
The man thought for a moment before replying.