The boat by this time had drawn into the tiny cove. However, the night was so dark that neither of the girls was able to distinguish the features of the man who crouched in the stern.
He beached the boat and carefully drew it up into the bushes. Next he lighted a lantern, but his back was toward the girls and they did not see his face.
“Who can it be?” Rosanna whispered.
Penny gripped her companion’s hand as a warning to remain silent.
The man with the lantern looked quickly about and then moved swiftly into the mouth of the tunnel.
“We must follow him,” Penny urged.
They waited a minute, then noiselessly stole from their hiding place. As they peered into the dark mine tunnel they could see a moving light far ahead.
Fearing that they might lose sight of the man, the girls hastened their steps. They did not walk as quietly as they imagined, for soon the man ahead paused.
With one accord Penny and Rosanna froze against the tunnel wall.
As the man turned to look back, the light from the lantern shone full upon his face.