"Into the old mine," said Conway, earnestly, "into old No. 1. The boy saw it yisterday. I told 'im where it wint. He's broke it in, and crawled through, he has, I'll bet he has. Come on; we'll find 'im yet!" and he started rapidly down the hill toward the mouth of the shaft.
Bachelor Billy rose from the bench and stumbled slowly after him; while the man who had told them about the mule lifted himself to his elbows, and looked down on them in astonishment.
He could not quite understand what Conway meant.
The superintendent of the mine had gone. The foreman in charge of the windlass and fan stood leaning against a post, with the light of a torch flaring across his swarthy face.
"Let me down!" cried Conway, hastening to the opening. "I know where the boy is; I can find 'im."
The man smiled. "It's against orders," he responded. "Wait till Martin comes back an' the next gang goes in; then ye can go."
"But I say I know where the boy is. I can find 'im in half an hour.
Five minutes delay might cost 'im his life."—
The man looked at Conway in doubt and wonder; he was hesitating between obedience and inclination.
Then Bachelor Billy spoke up, "Why, mon!" he exclaimed, "what's orders when a life's at stake? We mus' go doon, I tell ye! An ye hold us back ye'll be guilty o' the lad's daith!"
His voice had a ring of earnestness in it that the man could not resist. He moved to the windlass and told his helpers to lower the bucket. Conway entreated Bachelor Billy not to go down, and the foreman joined in the protest. They might as well have talked to the stars.