e wick; and the flame burned in the open air。
As they had expected; there was no explosion; but; what was more serious; there was not even the slight crackling which indicates the presence of a small quantity of firedamp。 Simon took the stick which Harry was holding; fixed his lamp to the end of it; and raised it high above his head; up to where the gas; by reason of its buoyancy; would naturally accumulate。 The flame of the lamp; burning straight and clear; revealed no trace of the carburetted hydrogen。
〃Close to the wall;〃 said the engineer。
〃Yes;〃 responded Ford; carrying the lamp to that part of the wall at which he and his son had; the evening before; proved the escape of gas。
The old miner's arm trembled whilst he tried to hoist the lamp up。 〃Take my place; Harry;〃 said he。
Harry took the stick; and successively presented the lamp to the different fissures in the rock; but he shook his head; for of that slight crackling peculiar to escaping fire…damp he heard nothing。 There was no flame。 Evidently not a particle of gas was escaping through the rock。
〃Nothing!〃 cried Ford; clenching his fist with a gesture rather of anger than disappointment。
A cry escaped Harry。
〃What's the matter?〃 asked Starr quickly。
〃Someone has stopped up the cracks in the schist!〃
〃Is that true?〃 exclaimed the old miner。
〃Look; father!〃 Harry was not mistaken。 The obstruction of the fissures was clearly visible by the light of the lamp。 It had been recently done with lime; leaving on the rock a long whitish mark; badly concealed with coal dust。
〃It's he!〃 exclaimed Harry。 〃It can only be he!〃
〃He?〃 repeated James Starr in amazement。
〃Yes!〃 returned the young man; 〃that mysterious being who h