Men were passing and re-passing on every hand, and in the darkness no one saw a small figure, in whose cap the lamp was not lighted, run swiftly from the foot of the slope up the drift where the sentinels should have been.
On either side of the passage shallow cuttings had been made that the miners might step aside to avoid the cars as they were drawn to and fro. Into one of these the figure with the unlighted cap glided, and, crouching in the farthest corner was screened from view unless a careful search should be made.
When the day shift came on duty Chunky reported to the breaker boss that Skip Miller could not come to work on this day.
"Why not?" Donovan asked sharply.
"'Cause he's got to do somethin' at home. He told me to tell you."
"When did you see him?"
"Last night."
"Where?"
"Over by Taylor's."
"What were you doin' at that grogshop?"