The other miners growled. These two made no complaint, but ate their
suppers, then took their beds and spread them in the cross-cut. Sedgwick
and Browning went farthest into the cross-cut, made their beds together,
and lay down. When they knew by the breathing of the miners nearest them
that they were asleep, in low tones they began to talk.

Browning was the first to speak. "By Jove, Jim," he said, "that cage
story is too thin. It worked all right up to ten o'clock, for Mackay and
Fair both came down and spent a good quarter of an hour in the end of the
drift and kept tapping around with their hammers. I was mean enough to
watch them on the sly and saw them both taking samples. If you keep
awake, you will see John Mackay down here again by six o'clock in the
morning, and you may make up your mind not to see any more daylight for
three days or a week to come; that is, if the drift keeps on improving."

"I believe it, Jack," said Sedgwick; "did you notice that the last blast
left nearly the whole face of the drift in ore? Then, did you notice as
we met the car coming out, it had long drills in it, and the shift boss
was following it up close? No blasting will be done to-night, but the
drillings will be saved for assay, and I tell you the plan is that we
shall tell no tales out of school. Believe me, that cage will not be
safe again till as much stock shall be taken in as is needed by those
in control."

"And so," said Browning, "when we get to the surface our little money
will not buy enough stock to make it any object."

"I have been thinking of that," said Sedgwick, "and it makes me hot, for
all day I have been dreaming of doubling my money."