The boys could now hear the strokes of the oarsman who was in the lead
quite regularly and distinctly. Now and then he turned into
crossheadings and chambers, as if to escape from their surveillance,
but they kept steadily on after him, not taking into account the fact
that they were leaving the light they had set at the shaft far out of
view.

"Perhaps we ought to turn back now," George proposed, in a short time,
seeing that they came no nearer to the boat in advance. "We left the
main gangway some time ago, and we ought not to get too far away from
it."

Will turned and looked back, facing only inky blackness.

"We should have stuck to the main gangway," he said. "I don't even
remember when we left it. Is it very far back?"

"Some distance," answered George. "You see we followed this other
boat without thinking what we were doing."

"Perhaps, if we continue to follow the other boat,' it will lead us
somewhere. The fellow rowing must know something about the interior
of the mine or he probably wouldn't be here!"

"I've been listening for a minute or more, trying to catch sound of
the fellow's oars," George went on, "but there's nothing doing. I
guess he's led us into a blind chamber and slipped away!"

"We don't, seem to be lacking for excitement," Will suggested with a