"You tell him."
"Not much; I'm not going to be laughed at."
Fred hesitated only a moment; he believed that it was of the utmost importance this possible means of entering the mine should be guarded, and calling Donovan aside told him of his escape from the shaft; but refrained from mentioning Joe Brace's name.
"I reckon you're more frightened than hurt, lad; but at the same time I don't want to run any risks. Since Sam Thorpe knows the way through, take him an' start. One of you could keep a hundred from comin' in at such a small hole as you tell about."
"Are we to stay there?"
"Half an hour'll be long enough; if they don't show theirselves by then we'll know there's nothin' to be feared from that quarter."
Fred repeated to Sam what Donovan had said, and the orders were not received in a cheerful spirit.
"That's all you get for bein' scared. It ain't any joke to travel through the lower level, an' we can count on stayin' there till midnight."
"It's better than being flooded out."
"I'm not so sure of that."