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Show 93 Chapter Twelve Suddenly a tiny light reflected from the hole. With gasps of relief, both boys edged closer to the open shaft where so-called Detective Rollins had fallen. Now a flickering match illuminated the shaft, so that the boys carefully peered over the edge they saw Rollins sprawled on a ledge twenty feet below. At his side the open shaft yawned in blackness. In terror the man cringed on the ledge, holding the match painfully above him. "Careful, he might still have the gun," Cap warned. At Cap's voice, Rollins looked up, his face flooded with relief. "Boys. . . boys, is that you?" His voice quavered with fear- "Help me, please help me! I nearly. . . . " His voice broke into a shudder- "Can you throw me a rope, fellas?" Josh watched the match grow dim. He had almost got used to the darkness. "Where's the gun?" he called. "I. . .. dropped it-down there," Without looking down, Rollins pointed. "Please help me," he pleaded. "You can have anything you want!" He lit another match and examined the sides of the shaft. There was no ladder, no scaffolding, no way up. The cables that had once lifted the men and ore were long since gone. By the reflection of the tiny light, Josh glanced around the room where the boys stood. There were no ropes or cables here either-just a few pieces of machinery. The man was stuck there, all right, even if they wanted to help him. |