Tressady hurried to meet him.
By the time the first questions and answers were over, Tressady, looking round for Madan, saw that the manager was speaking angrily to a tall man in a rough coat and corduroy trousers who had entered the pit premises in the wake of Mr. Dixon.
"You take yourself off, Mr. Burrows! You're not wanted here."
"Madan!" called Tressady, "attend to Mr. Dixon, please. I'll see to that man."
And he walked up to Burrows, while the men standing near crowded over the line they had been told to keep.
"What do you want?" he said, as he reached the newcomer.
"I have come to offer myself for the rescue party. I've been a working miner for years. I've had special experience in accidents before. I can beat anybody here in physical strength."
As he spoke the great heavily built fellow looked round him, and a murmur of assenting applause came from the bystanders.
Tressady studied him.
"Are you fit?" he said shortly.