"Haven't seen him."
Bob hesitated. He realized the futility of wandering about the mine not knowing in what part of it he should look for the missing Steve. He then hurried to the time-keeper's office, learning that nothing had been seen of the missing boy.
Bob did not know which way to turn. But by the time he had reached the shaft again Superintendent Penton was there, together with the mine captain, preparing to go below. The cage had just come up and the men were stepping aboard when a boy from the boarding house where the Iron Boys lived came running up out of breath.
"Wait!" cried Bob. "Here comes a boy from our hashery. Maybe Steve has gone home."
"What is it, boy?" called the superintendent.
"Boss wanted me to tell you that the telephone man who lives with us says Mr. Rush got a telephone message from you to meet him at the lower level this afternoon. He says Rush didn't come back."
"I didn't send for him to meet me anywhere," answered the superintendent. "We'll go to the lower level. Shoot us down as fast as is safe," he added, addressing the cage-tender.
The bottom of the car seemed to be dropping from beneath their feet, so rapid was their descent.
Bob, holding to the support rod above their heads, was thinking fast and hard.