The rush of air from below had so far checked the gas, now partially shut off, that the men could also light the lamps in their caps, and the remainder of the task was quickly accomplished.
With a couple of timbers as braces the aperture to the old mine was closed securely, and then the attention of the men was turned to the boy.
"Look out down there!" Bill shouted. "I'm goin' to drop a couple of joists so's we can come back."
"Let them go."
"Now drag 'em out of the way, an' we'll follow."
When this had been done the men and Sam descended, all completely mystified by this new discovery.
"Here's somethin' that I reckon Mr. Wright didn't know about," Bill said, as he surveyed the scene, and then he added with great emphasis as a sudden thought occurred to him. "Now we can come pretty nigh guessing what them noises meant. Some one has been tryin' to get into the other level, an' when a big hole was made Fred put an end to the work by fallin' through."
This could be told by the mound of earth a short distance away, as well as by the marks of a pick around the edges of the aperture; but further proof was found in the shape of a shovel which Sam stumbled over.
"This belongs to the company," he cried, pointing to the brand.
"Yes, an' a blind man can figger who's been here. Cale Billings didn't leave town as he tried to make folks believe."