"Oh, yes, sir; I am strong enough. I could go to work and I think I shall to-morrow."
"We'll see about that."
Steve related briefly what he knew of the accident, but his story shed no new light on the affair. He could not even guess how it had happened, beyond what Mr. Penton himself told the boy.
"There is one thing I should like to do, sir," said Steve.
"And what is that?"
"I wish you would give me permission to examine the shaft where I fell in."
"That already has been done. Something gave way, and——"
Steve smiled faintly.
"I have reason to know that something gave way," he said. "I wish I could satisfy myself, though, just how it happened."