Most of us ran past the old shaft and got clear.

A few was caught by the falling shaft, for I looked back and saw it.

But I never saw Master Hope among them.

If he was, he is buried under the shaft; but I do really think that he was that taken up with his girl, and that darned villain that fired the mine, as he's like to be in the hall either alive or dead." He could say no more, but fell into a sort of doze, the result of the powerful stimulant on his enfeebled frame and empty stomach.

Then Bartley, with trembling hands, brought out a map of the mine and showed Walter where the second party had got to.
"See," said he, "they are within twenty feet of the bottom, and the hall is twenty-three feet high.