صفحة 148 من 439

The stricken fear leaped into his face. He had forgotten her

danger, forgotten everything but the craven terror that engulfed

him. Looking at him, she was struck for the first time with the

thought that he might be on the verge of madness.

His cry still rang through the tunnel when Margaret saw a gleam

of distant light. She pointed it out to Struve, who wheeled and

fastened his eyes upon it. Slowly the faint yellow candle-rays

wavered toward them. A man was approaching through the gloom, a

large man whom she presently recognized as Dunke. A quick gasp

from the one beside her showed that he too knew the man. He took

a dozen running steps forward, so that in his haste the candle

flickered out.

"That you, Miss Margaret?" the mine-owner called.

Neither she nor Struve answered. The latter had stopped and was

waiting tensely his enemy's approach. When he was within a few

yards of the other Dunke raised his candle and peered into the

blackness ahead of him.