"The fellow who did it came in here." "Thrown into the stoke-hole ?" "Yes." "From where ?" "The grating at the foot of the first ladder." The engineer looked doubtful.
"My dear fellow," he said, "you would have been maimed or killed.

You do not seem to be harmed." Frank realized that the engineer actually doubted his word.
"He might have fallen," said the assistant; "but it would have broken his neck." "I tell you I was attacked from behind and thrown down!" exclaimed Frank.

"I managed to get hold of the ladder and slide, so I was not killed." The engineer looked annoyed.
"This is what comes of letting a passenger in here," he said.

"It's the last time I'll do it on my own responsibility.

Now if you go out and tell you were thrown into the stoke-hole, there'll be any amount of fuss over it." "I am telling it right here," said Frank, grimly, "and I want to know who did the trick.