again. Thought I'd better not; the
fellow's nerve had gone. Anyhow, if he hates the rapid, why does he stop
here and live near the bank?"

"Steve is primitive; I guess you don't understand him yet. He's an old
trapper and one gets superstitious in the bush. For all that, he's
stubborn, and if he has an object, he'll persist until he carries it
out."

"But what object has he got?"

Scott made a vague gesture. "I can't tell you that. Hadn't you better
get out the plates? I want some food."

Thirlwell put a frying-pan on the stove and they talked about something
else.

CHAPTER XVI

THE PIT-PROP

Driscoll was sorting pit-props, throwing them on to piles at the bottom
of the shaft, when Thirlwell stopped to hook a small, flat lamp to his
hat. The man sometimes worked in the mine for a few weeks when the
trapping season was over, and Scott was generally willing to engage him
because he was skilful with the axe and labor was scarce. He made no
friends among the men, and gave Thirlwell a sour look without speaking
when the latter picked up his lamp.

Thirlwell went on down the inclined gallery. Water splashed upon his
slickers and trickled about his feet; the tunnel was narrow and the air
was foul. Here and there a smoky light burned among the props lining the
walls, and the dim illumination touched the beams that crossed the roof,
but the gaps between the spots were dark. The timbers were numerous, and
where one could see a short distance, ran on into the gloom in rows so
closely spaced that they seemed continuous.

By and by Thirlwell found Scott looking up at a massive beam a few
inches overhead. The beam was not quite level, and the prop beneath one
end had bent, while a threatening crack extended across the roof.

"We may have a bad fall here," Scott remarked. "The prop's getting
shaky and the pressure's pretty fierce. I reckon we'd better shore her
up as quick as we can. It's lucky our lumber doesn't cost us much."

Thirlwell examined the crack and thought it dangerous. There were one or
two transverse splits, which indicated a heavy mass of rock was ready to
come down. None of the men were near the spot, and he knew they were
occupied, but Driscoll had left a few props between the timbers, ready
for use where the roof was weak. Thirlwell found one and dragged it to
the spot.

"We'll put this up and then I think I'll get a fresh beam across."

Scott helped him to raise the timber. It was a few inc