CHAPTER XXXIII RESCUED IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness. But it was completely dark. It seemed to be an excavation which had been abandoned. It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on. How long he would be kept here he could not conjecture. Whether, indeed, the superintendent would dare to keep him in captivity, perhaps even let him starve to death, he could not tell. He felt it hard to realize the position he was in. Leaving him to his troubled thoughts, we will go back to the hotel where Joshua Burdoch and he were guests. When Gerald left the house with the superintendent, Burdoch was temporarily absent. Twenty minutes later he returned, and looked about for Gerald. Not seeing him he concluded that he had gone out for a walk. But an hour passed, and still Gerald was absent. He did not feel anxious about him, but he and Gerald were such constant companions that he felt lonesome and uneasy without him. He walked up to the desk of the hotel and asked the landlord: "Have you seen anything of the boy?" "Yes, he was here rather more than an hour ago." "Did he go out?" "Yes; he went out with Mr. Hawk." "The superintendent of the mine?" "Yes." This surprised Mr. Burdoch. For, so far as he knew, the two had never held any communication. "Did they appear to be talking together?" he asked. "Yes." "Where do you think they went?" "I believe Hawk proposed that the boy should go with him to the mine." "I wonder what that means?" thought Burdoch, puzzled. He took his hat and walked out in the direction of the mine. Near by he saw Nelson Hawk conversing with one of the miners. "Mr. Hawk," he said, walking up to the superintendent, "where is Gerald Lane?" Nelson Hawk shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he answered. "Lockard told me he left the hotel in your company." "Yes, we walked a little way together." "And then you separated?" "Yes." "Did he go back?" "I presume so." "He did not go down into the mine?" "No. Why should he?" "I don't know. I merely asked." "I am busy. I can't talk with you any more." Joshua Burdoch, more puzzled than ever, walked slowly away. A hundred yards distant he met a man he knew, and asked if he had seen anything of Gerald. "An hour or two ago I saw him with Mr. Hawk." "Where were they?" "Just going down into the mine." "I'll warrant, there's some mischief here!" exclaimed Burdoch. "Hawk has been deceiving me." "You didn't see the two come up again?" "No; but I saw Hawk coming out of the mine alone." This confirmed the suspicion of Burdoch, and he guessed the truth. "McKee," he said, "I scent trouble. That man has left the boy in the mine, and I propose to get him out. Are you with me?" "Yes; I hate Hawk, and I will help you cheerfully." "Then come back with me."