cuts off our escape until the cables can be put in motion and the
cages started. I wish I had him by the neck!"

"We'll get him by the neck, all right, before many days," Sandy cut
in, "if we can only get a sight of him so as to be sure of his
identity."

Presently the man ceased working, and they heard him ascending the
ladders, step by step. In a moment the saw which he had been using
dropped from his hands and clattered to the bottom of the shaft.

Then they heard him springing swiftly forward, and directly they knew
that he had reached the top. The boys all looked disgusted.

"And we never caught sight of him!" exclaimed Tommy.

Will now walked around to the front of the shaft and looked down. The
saw which had been used lay shining on the lower level.

"I'm going down after that!" he said in a moment.

"Yes, you are!" whispered Tommy.

"I got to have it!" insisted Will.

"Well, go on and get it, then," laughed Sandy. "You've got to show
me!"

"I don't think he cut the rungs between this level and the next one,"
George interposed. "It may be safe to use the lower ladders."