CHAPTER XXI
DOWN THE OLD SHAFT
"He's gone!" cried Will, aghast.
"What sort of a trap has he dropped into?" exclaimed Frank.
He was a lad of action, and throwing himself down flat he crawled to the very edge of the gaping hole.
"Hello, Jerry!" he shouted.
"I'm all right, fellows; only bruised a little, and my feelings considerably hurt. I deserve something for forgetting this hole," came a voice from out of the depths.
Frank looked down. His eyes being accustomed to the sunlight he could not see anything but darkness there. But even as he was trying to pierce this, a match flamed up, and he discovered his chum kneeling on a pile of dirt, holding up his improvised torch as though curious to look around.
"What is this place, Jerry?" demanded the one above.
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