The door was pushed again, forcing him aside, and two more men crowded in, both of them carrying revolvers in their hands. The foremost was Pete Hanun, and he also stood staring. The “breaker of teeth” had two teeth of his own missing, and when his prize-fighter’s jaw dropped down, the deficiency became conspicuous. It was probably his first entrance into society, and he was like an overgrown boy caught in the jam-closet. Percy Harrigan’s manner became distinctly imperious. “What does this mean?” he demanded. It was Hal who answered. “I am seeking a criminal, Percy.” “What?” There were little cries of alarm from the women. “Yes, a criminal; the man who sealed up the mine.” “Sealed up the mine?” echoed the other. “What do you mean?” “Let me explain. First, I will introduce my friends. Harrigan, this is my friend Keating.” Billy suddenly realised that he had a hat on his head. He jerked it off; but for the rest, his social instincts failed him. He could only stare. He had not yet got all his breath. “Billy’s a reporter,” said Hal. “But you needn’t worry--he’s a gentleman, and won’t betray a confidence. You understand, Billy.” “Y--yes,” said Billy, faintly. “And this,” said Hal, “is Jeff Cotton, camp-marshal at North Valley. I suppose you know, Percy, that the North Valley mines belong to the ‘G. F. C.’ Cotton, this is Mr. Harrigan.” Then Cotton remembered his hat; also his revolver, which he tried to get out of sight behind his back. “And this,” continued Hal, “is Mr. Pete Hanun, by profession a breaker of teeth. This other gentleman, whose name I don’t know, is presumably an assistant-breaker.” So Hal went on, observing the forms of social intercourse, his purpose being to give his mind a chance to work. So much depended upon the tactics he chose in this emergency! Should he take Percy to one side and tell him the story quietly, leaving it to his sense of justice and humanity? No, that was not the way one dealt with the Harrigans! They had bullied their way to the front; if anything were done with them, it would be by force! If anything were done with Percy, it would be by laying hold of him before these guests, exposing the situation, and using their feelings to coerce him! The Coal King’s son was asking questions again. What was all this about? So Hal began to describe the condition of the men inside the mine. “They have no food or water, except what they had in their dinner-pails; and it’s been three days and a half since the explosion! They are breathing bad air; their heads are aching, the veins swelling in their foreheads; their tongues are cracking, they are lying on the ground, gasping. But they are waiting--kept alive by the faith they have in their friends on the surface, who will try to get to them. They dare not take down the barriers, because the gases would kill them at once. But they know the rescuers will come, so they listen for the sounds of axes and picks. That is the situation.”