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?"
"Lockard told me he left the hotel in your company."
"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."
"I'll warrant, there's some mischief here!" exclaimed Burdoch. "Hawk has been deceiving me."
"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."
Burdoch strode back and walked up to the superintendent.
"Mr. Hawk," he said, "you have shut up the boy in the mine. Unless you release him I will shoot you!"
"You are mistaken," he said. "At any rate, I won't be talked to in this style."
"What motive could I have for confining the boy?"
"You have probably found out that he represents your partner, old Tom Nixon, and that he has come here to find out the real state of the mine."
"You astonish me, and I don't believe you. Nixon wouldn't send a kid like that."
"We won't argue the point. That boy must be released!"
In reply, Burdoch put a pistol to the side of his head.
"Be careful," said the affrighted superintendent, "it might go off!"
They started, Burdoch watching Hawk closely, ready at the slightest sign of treachery to shoot him.
But Hawk had made up his mind to deceive him if he could. He did not dare to resort to violence in the case of a man so strong and determined as Joshua Burdoch. They descended to the bottom of the mine, and the party got out.
"Now," said Hawk, waving his hand, "you are at liberty to search for yourself, and if you can find the boy, do so!"
Burdoch and his friend went about the mine, peering everywhere, but no trace of Gerald's presence could be found.
Burdoch became uneasy and discouraged. He had no confidence in the superintendent. He felt convinced that he was being deceived, but how could he prove it?