What the deuce did it mean?
Crawling along the new drive, which was much smaller than the Rainbow’s, I at length emerged into a shaft that struck me as familiar.
The ‘Snake,’ or I was a Dutchman!
I knew it by the ladders, for one thing; for another, by a piece of timber at the entrance to the opposite drive—the one in which we had made our three-ounce rise.
I tried the rungs of the rude ladders. Not half so rotten as we had taken them to be. Also covered with fresh earth left by recent boots.
Only fifty feet to the top, and up I went safely enough. Treloar was sitting smoking, with his back towards me as I approached.
I startled him finely when I spoke.
[85]
]‘This is the hole the old man wants,’ he remarked, after hearing my story. ‘He knew he couldn’t very well get down our rope and climb up it again. But he knew that one of the ‘Snake’ drives ran nearly into one of these. I suspect he must once have been employed in one or other of the claims. Either that, or he’s been fossicking here before. You know we’ve come across plenty of traces of such. Cunning old dodger! But what can he be after? I tell you what. We’ll both go down and try another of the drives. We’ll leave Kálee on top to watch. I’ll bet you she’ll sing out pretty soon.’
I said nothing, for I was beginning to have doubts respecting ‘Brummy’s’ veracity.
This time I lowered Treloar first. Then, whilst he held the rope taut, I slipped comfortably down.