"I reckon you'll have some to pay as it is," muttered the man below. "I hope this costs you a million!" The door through which Spooner had entered the shaft was closed with a bang and he heard no more of the voice above him. "I've got to look sharp or I'll be caught. I haven't had a signal from Marvin yet, so everything must be clear above us." Once more the steady rasp of the saw began on the other side of the post, and a few minutes later the contractor used his candle to examine his work. "I guess that will do the business," he chuckled. "And now I must be getting out of here lively." Instead of taking the saw with him, the fellow tossed it over to one side, then began climbing the ladder. Very soon he was at the door opening on to the sub-level where his contract had been located. Spooner opened it ever so little and listened. He could hear subdued voices. He opened the door a little wider, and, as he did so, Steve Rush and Bob Jarvis sauntered by. "Keep your eyes open, old chap," was Bob's parting salutation. "I will," answered Steve, starting down the ladder to his post. Jarvis returned to the drift where he was working--Spooner's old place. This was the chance for the other man to get out of the shaft. He knew it was time for the afternoon shift to go to work, and just as he slid from the shaft and closed the door behind him the whistle blew the signal to resume operations. The contractor ran along the drift, gathering up his tools and starting down the same ladder that young Rush had taken. Reaching the main level, the man took his time in going to the cage. At the bottom of the shaft he was joined by Marvin. "Did you fix it?" whispered the latter. "Sh-h-h!" warned Spooner. The men ascended to the surface without exchanging further words. Once in the open, however, Marvin said in a low tone: "Tell me about it." "It's done; it's all fixed." "You think it will work?" "I am sure of it." "Then somebody's stock will go down, and I don't know as I care a rap whose it is." "I don't think we'll have to guess far to know whose it will be," answered Spooner, with a grin. "What are you going to do?" "I am going over to Tracy to get a job. We can both get work there, but they haven't lost us yet. No, sir; the Cousin Jack has not done with you and me, by a long shot. We've got a few tricks left up our sleeves that will open their eyes. But we have made a mighty good start; yes, sir, a mighty good start." Chuckling at his own villainy, Spooner hurried along, the other man by his side. Steve and Bob had returned to their work at once. The former was now filling the place of the man Marvin at the tally-board, and at the same time dumping the cars. The two jobs kept him continually moving, but this Steve, true to his name, thoroughly enjoyed. He liked to be driving ahead every minute of the day.