'One,' I told him.
'Okay,' he said. 'We'll get everything ready. As soon as you've placed the charges, ring Slim at the bottom of the shaft. He'll bring you in on the carriage with the compressor.'
I nodded.
He patted me on the shoulder and disappeared down the shaft. Then I started the airflow again and began to drill the last hole. I was halfway through when Friar began tugging at my arm. I stopped the drill. 'Somefink's wrong,' he said. Sheer terror showed in his eyes. He was trembling. He was sweating so much that the water ran off his face as though it had a film of oil on it. 'I don't like it,' he screamed. 'They've all gone.'
I looked down. The gallery was dark. There was nothing there but the roar of the compressor. 'Why've they left us?' he cried. 'It's a trap.' He swung round on me, shaking with fear. 'I tell yer it's a trap.' He started down the ladder then.
I caught him by the shoulder. 'Don't be a fool,' I said.
'Leave go of me,' he shouted. 'I tell yer he means ter kill us. He's goin' ter let the sea in wiv us da'n 'ere.'
I pulled him back. 'We're the only people who can let the sea in,' I shouted. 'Now pull yourself together.' I shook him till I was afraid I'd throw him off the ladder. At length he quietened down. His eyes became more normal. 'Nothing can happen to us so long as this rock stands between us and the sea. Understand?'
He nodded.
'All right then. Let's finish this hole.'