pit； if necessary； to find Harry； and with him was sure to be the engineer James Starr。
〃They haven't turned up again；〃 said he to himself。 〃Why？ Has anything prevented them？ Could any work of importance keep them still at the bottom of the mine？ I must find out！〃 and Ryan； hastening his steps； arrived in less than an hour at the Yarrow shaft。
Externally nothing was changed。 The same silence around。 Not a living creature was moving in that desert region。 Jack entered the ruined shed which covered the opening of the shaft。 He gazed down into the dark abyss……nothing was to be seen。 He listened……nothing was to be heard。
〃And my lamp！〃 he exclaimed； 〃suppose it isn't in its place！〃 The lamp which Ryan used when he visited the pit was usually deposited in a corner； near the landing of the topmost ladder。 It had disappeared。
〃Here is a nuisance！〃 said Jack； beginning to feel rather
uneasy。 Then； without hesitating； superstitious though he was； 〃I will go；〃 said he； 〃though it's as dark down there as in the lowest depths of the infernal regions！〃
And he began to descend the long flight of ladders； which led down the gloomy shaft。 Jack Ryan had not forgotten his old mining habits； and he was well acquainted with the Dochart pit； or he would scarcely have dared to venture thus。 He went very carefully； however。 His foot tried each round； as some of them were worm…eaten。 A false step would entail a deadly fall； through this space of