Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/36

 rested awhile to get their breath, and, as they did so, watched their fellow-miners busily at work. Then they set out in a straightforward direction as usual. They went a long way, their object being to get beyond the crowd and strike some fresh and rare experience for them- selves.

Having reached an out-of-the-way part of the mine, they began to use their picks on some splendid-looking ore. It was very hard work indeed, and they spent the greater part of the day in their efforts. Then, shouldering their well-filled oaskets, they started for the bottom of the shaft.

After they had gone some way—

“Hello!” exclaimed the maker of ghosts, who was leading, “here are two passages. Which shall we take?”

“Oh!” said the other, “this one, to be sure, as it leads straight forward.”

“Hem!” said the maker of ghosts, “I thought myself the other straight forward; but on second thoughts, no doubt you are correct.”

So the two plodded on. But some distance further, again two passages showed themselves. The maker of shadows looked puzzled.

“I’m afraid we’re getting a little mixed,” he observed.

“No,” replied the ghost maker; “this is evidently the straight forward path. We shall be at the foot of the shaft directly, you'll see.”

Still they plodded on, and still no sign of the bottom of the shaft.

“I don’t hear a sound,” said the shadow maker. “Hadn’t we better go back?”

“Perhaps we had,” replied the maker of ghosts, “though I don’t like to be beaten.”

But alas! their efforts only ended in weariness and disappointment. To crown their misfortunes both their lamps went out, and thus they were left in the dark and completely lost.

“How foolish we were not to bring a few candles with us!” said the maker of ghosts. “How foolish we were to come so far and trust to our wits without even a plan of the mines, which, I daresay, we could have easily got!” They shouted for help, but the echoes seemed only to mock them. Time passed: they were hoarse with calling, and knew not what to do. They had nothing to eat and nothing to drink. Afraid to move for fear of falling into some unknown pit, afraid to stay still lest they should slowly starve to death, their plight was indeed terrible.