At the end of a week the invalid was allowed to sit up, but ten days had elapsed before it was considered prudent to permit him to dress and walk about. Bob spent all his evenings with his companion, but they did not discuss the accident. Each lad tacitly avoided the subject. The first day that Rush was allowed to go out of doors he walked over to Mr. Penton's office, a hundred yards away, and asked permission to see the superintendent. Mr. Penton welcomed the young man warmly. "I am glad to see you out, Rush. You had a pretty close call, didn't you?" "I guess so, though I do not remember much about what happened beyond a certain point." "If you feel strong enough I wish you would tell me exactly what occurred leading up to the accident," said the superintendent. "Oh, yes, sir; I am strong enough. I could go to work and I think I shall to-morrow." "We'll see about that." Steve related briefly what he knew of the accident, but his story shed no new light on the affair. He could not even guess how it had happened, beyond what Mr. Penton himself told the boy. "There is one thing I should like to do, sir," said Steve. "And what is that?" "I wish you would give me permission to examine the shaft where I fell in." "That already has been done. Something gave way, and----" Steve smiled faintly. "I have reason to know that something gave way," he said. "I wish I could satisfy myself, though, just how it happened." "Of course. There is no objection to your doing so." "I will ask Bob Jarvis to help me. He is a shrewd boy, and he may see some things that I might not notice." "He will have to be pretty keen if he does," laughed Mr. Penton. "I cannot imagine much of anything escaping your observation. But, my lad, you have some reason for wanting to do this. What is it?" "I want to find out how the accident occurred." "Ah, you suspect something?" "I do not know whether I do or not. Perhaps I am curious. Most boys have some curiosity, you know, sir." "Go ahead, but do not try it until you are well and strong. We can't afford to have you laid up again. We need you, you know." A faint flush stole into Steve Rush's face. He had grown to be very fond of the big-bodied, big-hearted superintendent of the Cousin Jack Mine in the few months that he had known him. "I thank you, sir. You are very kind to me. I want to tell you how much I appreciate it all." "Rubbish!" scoffed Mr. Penton. On the third day following, Steve made his first trip below ground since the accident. The lad was welcomed with enthusiasm by nearly every one he met, many of whom he knew only by sight. "I never knew I was so popular," smiled Steve, after he had looked up Jarvis, who was still at work at level seventeen. Bob grinned. "I reckon there are certain quarters where you are not so popular, eh?" "I should not be surprised if that were true. But those quarters no longer exist, I understand."