ad been extracted the last piece of coal from the Dochart pit。
〃We must attack the dyke；〃 said Ford； raising his pick； 〃for at the other side of the break； at more or less depth； we shall assuredly find the vein； the existence of which I assert。〃
〃And was it on the surface of these rocks that you found out the fire…damp？〃 asked James Starr。
〃Just there； sir；〃 returned Ford； 〃and I was able to light it only by bringing my lamp near to the cracks in the rock。 Harry has done it as well as I。〃
〃At what height？〃 asked Starr。
〃Ten feet from the ground；〃 replied Harry。
James Starr had seated himself on a rock。 After critically inhaling the air of the cavern； he gazed at the two miners； almost as if doubting their words； decided as they were。 In fact； carburetted hydrogen is not pletely scentless； and the engineer； whose sense of smell was very keen； was astonished that it had not revealed the presence of the explosive gas。 At any rate； if the gas had mingled at all with the surrounding air； it could only be in a very small stream。 There was no danger of an explosion； and they might without fear open the safety lamp to try the experiment； just as the old miner had done before。
What troubled James Starr was； not lest too much gas
mingled with the air； but lest there should be little or none。
〃Could they have been mistaken？〃 he murmured。 〃No： these men know what they are about。 And yet……〃
He waited； not without