But it wasn't Slim's voice who answered me as I picked up the receiver. It was Kitty's. 'It's you, Jim?' she said. 'Oh, thank God. I didn't know what had happened. They all came out except you and Friar. I've been ringing and ringing.'
Her voice sounded nervous and she was panting. 'What's happened?' I asked.
'Nothing,' she said. 'It was only that I got worried when I saw them coming up out of the gallery. Captain Manack seemed almost — almost scared. I wanted to make certain that you were all right.'
'Yes, I'm all right,' I said. 'Why did Manack come up?'
'I rang him — about ten minutes ago.'
'Anything wrong?'
'Nothing serious. Only that old Mrs Brynd let his father out of that room. The old man came straight down the mine. I saw him going down —"
'You mean old Manack's escaped?' I shouted. 'And he's in the mine?'
'Yes,' she answered.
The strength drained suddenly out of my joints. I glanced into the dark tunnel that stretched away ahead of me. Any moment I expected to hear the roar of water. 'Listen, Kitty,' I said urgently. 'Go straight up to the surface. Understand? Get straight up to the surface.'