All was darkness, but Frank cautiously opened the slide of his lantern.
The tools of the miners lay about, but none of the latter were in sight.
The coast was clear apparently, and they moved forward, not, however, without great caution.
The passage seemed to extend a great ways through the earth. They followed it for what seemed a good while and yet there was presented no sign of the main shaft.
“That is curious!” exclaimed Frank, in surprise. “There certainly is a main shaft somewhere. We must soon find it.”
“Begorra, maybe there’s none at all,” said Barney, logically. “Perhaps it leads into some koind av a cave or the loikes.”
There was more in Barney’s remark of a pertinent sort than seemed at the moment likely.
Suddenly Frank came to a stop.
“Goodness gracious!” he exclaimed. “What does that mean?”
“Pwhat?” asked Barney.