"We know whether——"
Sam ceased speaking very suddenly, for at that moment the sound of distress came with great distinctness.
The men looked around, each trying to hide his fear, and then a regular search was begun.
The noise could not have come from the old drift, and the level was examined thoroughly, but without success.
"It beats me," one of the miners said at length. "I'm sure there's nothing beneath here but the solid earth."
"Let the boys tell Wright," the other suggested, and his companion assented.
"We'll hang around here till he comes or you get back; but don't stay very long, for I don't like the looks of things."
"Why not?"
"It may be a warnin' for some of us. I've heard tell of such."
Fred laughed heartily, and the man replied impatiently: