Jack Ryan went on thus until he got to the twenty…sixth landing； and consequently had two hundred feet between him and the bottom。
Here he put down his leg to feel for the first rung of the twenty…seventh ladder。 But his foot swinging in space found nothing to rest on。 He knelt down and felt about with his hand for the top of the ladder。 It was in vain。
〃Old Nick himself must have been down this way！〃 said Jack； not without a slight feeling of terror。
He stood considering for some time； with folded arms； and longing to be able to pierce the imperable darkness。 Then it occurred to him that if he could not get down； neither could the inhabitants of the mine get up。 There was now no munication between the depths of the pit and the upper regions。 If the removal of the lower ladders of the Yarrow shaft had been effected since his last visit to the cottage； what had bee of Simon Ford； his wife； his son； and the engineer？
The prolonged absence of James Starr proved that he had not left the pit since the day Ryan met with him in the shaft。 How had the cottage been provisioned since then？ The food of these unfortunate people； imprisoned fifteen hundred feet below the surface of the ground； must have been exhausted by this time。
All this passed through Jack's mind； as he saw that by himself he could do nothing to get to the cottage。 He had no doubt but that munication had been interrupted
with a malevolent intention。 At any rate； the authorities must be informed； and that as soon as possible。
Jack Ryan bent forward from the landing。
〃Harry！ Harry！〃 he shouted with his powerful voice。
Harry's name echoed and re…echoed among the rocks； and finally died away in the depths of the shaft。
Ryan rapidly ascende