"Perhaps the cry comes from the end of the drift which has been closed."
"It sounds under the ground right here," and Fred stamped with his foot just as the noise was heard for the third time.
"There's no question about it's being a man. Come on; let's bring some of the miners to help find him."
The boys ran down the drift at full speed, and half an hour later returned with two of the miners.
"It was right here that we heard it," Sam said, as he pointed to the shovels they had left behind, in order to mark the spot.
The party listened intently, but no sound save their own breathing could be distinguished.
"I thought you'd been frightened about nothing," one of the miners said with a laugh. "You might as well tell us the mine was haunted as to give out such a yarn. I'll guarantee that nothin' larger'n a mouse could hide here."
"But we surely heard a cry," Fred insisted.
"And it seemed to come from beneath our feet."
"Nonsense. It's foolish to make such talk when we know the thing's impossible," and the men turned away as if angry at having been brought so far on a useless errand.