“Did ye see the hole in the face when ye were there; a hole the size o’ your head walled up with stone-coal?”

“I took no note o’ such a thing.  What for had ye such a hole there, an’ where to?”

“Into the old mine,” said Conway, earnestly, “into old No. 1.  The boy saw it yisterday.  I told ’im where it wint.  He’s broke it in, and crawled through, he has, I’ll bet he has.  Come on; we’ll find ’im yet!” and he started rapidly down the hill toward the mouth of the shaft.

Bachelor Billy rose from the bench and stumbled slowly after him; while the man who had told them about the mule lifted himself to his elbows, and looked down on them in astonishment.

He could not quite understand what Conway meant.

The superintendent of the mine had gone.  The foreman in charge of the windlass and fan stood leaning against a post, with the light of a torch flaring across his swarthy face.

“Let me down!” cried Conway, hastening to the opening.  “I know where the boy is; I can find ’im.”

The man smiled.  “It’s against orders,” he responded.  “Wait till Martin comes back an’ the next gang goes in; then ye can go.”

“But I say I know where the boy is.  I can find ’im in half an hour.  Five minutes delay might cost ’im his life.”—­

The man looked at Conway in doubt and wonder; he was hesitating between obedience and inclination.

Then Bachelor Billy spoke up, “Why, mon!” he exclaimed, “what’s orders when a life’s at stake?  We mus’ go doon, I tell ye!  An ye hold us back ye’ll be guilty o’ the lad’s daith!”

His voice had a ring of earnestness in it that the man could not resist.  He moved to the windlass and told his helpers to lower the bucket.  Conway entreated Bachelor Billy not to go down, and the foreman joined in the protest.  They might as well have talked to the stars.

“Why, men!” said Billy, “tha’s a chance as how the lad’s alive.  An that be so no ither body can do for ’im like me w’en he’s foond.  I wull go doon, I tell ye; I mus’ go doon!”

He stepped carefully into the bucket, Conway leaped in after him, and they were lowered away.

At the bottom of the shaft they found no one but the footman, whose duty it was to remain steadily at his post.  He listened somewhat incredulously to their hasty explanations, he gave to them another lighted lamp, and wished them good-luck as they started away into the heading.

In spite of his determination and self-will, Bachelor Billy’s strength gave out before they had reached the head of the plane, and he was obliged to stop and rest.  Indeed, he was compelled often to do this during the remainder of the journey, but he would not listen to any suggestion that he should turn back.  The air was still very impure, although they could at times feel the fresh current from the shaft at their backs.

They met no one.  The searching parties were all south of the shaft now, this part of the mine having been thoroughly examined.