The Killer Mine

'My word,' he answered. 'I've never gone back on my word, Pryce. You'll sail on the Arisaig Monday night if the Mermaid's opened up by then.'

'And get murdered by that swine Mulligan,' I said.

His face darkened and he caught hold of my arm. 'I told you I never went back on my word, didn't I? He'll have instructions to land you at Naples.'

He met my gaze and I knew that he would do what he said. 'All right,' I said.

He nodded and stepped back into the gig. Friar put the lever over and it rattled out of sight down into the bowels of the mine.

'Whatever's happened, man?' Dave said. 'I waited and waited. I thought you'd never come back. I don't like it here at all — not on my own. There's the sound of the water, you know, and it's so quiet.' And when I didn't say anything, he said. 'Is it a row with the Captain you've had?' The sound of the gig ceased. Everything was quiet — only the drip of the water. I shivered and turned towards Dave. He started back. 'It is a ghost you've seen, man?' he said. 'You're as white as a sheet. And your clothes — they're all wet.'

'Yes,' I said, 'I'm cold and wet.'

I went along the gallery to the hideout. Dave stepped aside to let me pass, his hand in his jacket pocket. He was scared of me — scared of Manack — scared of himself. He made me nervous.

As soon as I was inside the hideout, he pulled the slabs to and bolted them. Even then he kept his distance. I stripped and towelled myself down. All the time he plied me with questions. In the end I told him how old Manack had tried to kill me.

'Ter-rible!' he said. 'Ter-rible!' He sat there shaking his head, living the fear that I had suffered with all the emotionalism of his race. 'But why did he do it, man?'

'He didn't want me letting the sea into his beloved mine,' I told him.

'You should have stayed here with me,' he said. 'Worried to death I was about you. I thought maybe the police had come. I went out once. But then I was afraid that if they came, they'd search the mine. I bolted myself in. Like being in a coffin, it was. I got scared. It was so quiet and me not knowing what was happening in the world outside.'

And so he went on whilst I sat and tried to think. The old man was loose in the mine. And Kitty up there alone in the house. How was I to meet her at three in the morning with Dave Tanner sitting there, nervous as a kitten, and his hand on the butt of a gun? And if I did meet her, where were we to go! I was a fool. All I'd been thinking about when I'd told her to meet me was getting out of the place. I'd forgotten I was wanted by the police — forgotten that a description of me had been published. And whilst I tried to sort it out in my mind, that damned little Welshman went on talking. I tried to shut him up. But it was like telling water to stay in a bottle with a broken bottom. He just had to talk. He had to talk because he was scared to sit silent.

In the end I could stand it no longer, 'I'm going outside,' I said. I had to know whether they had located the old man. I got to my feet. In the same instant Dave had leapt to the entrance, the gun in his hand. 'No, you don't,' he said.

'Listen, Dave,' I said, 'I need some fresh air.'

'So do I,' he answered. 'But the Captain said I was to keep you here. And it's not going against the Captain's orders I am.'

'I can't stand this place,' I said. 'It's like a tomb.'

'It is indeed. But — " He shrugged his shoulders.

I said, 'You realise that the old man means to kill me. He's tried already and he'll try again. He's loose in the mine at this moment. For all I know he's outside in the gallery right now. One charge and he could have us walled up in here by a fall of rock.'

Dave's eyes dilated in horror. 'You really think that?'

I nodded. 'And they'd never get us out in time,' I said.

'You think he'd try?'

'He might. You don't want to be trapped down here, do you?'

'Indeed I don't. I've always hated being shut in anywhere, you see.'

'Well, then, let's go up top,' I suggested. 'I won't try and escape if that's what you're scared of. Where the hell would I go? I'm wanted by the police the same as you.

'That's true enough.' He went over the entrance and shot back the bolt. 'We'll wait in the gallery.'

'Why not up top?' I suggested.

'The Captain may return.'

With that I had to be content. At least I could watch for the gig to come up. We dragged a couple of boxes out into the gallery and sat there. Dave was taking no chances and stationed himself well behind me. For a time he talked incessantly. But gradually he grew silent. I felt tired and sleepy. The time dragged by. I think I must have dozed for I started awake and heard the rattle of the gig coming up. Dave turned out his lamp. A faint glow showed at the end of the gallery. It grew bright and the sound of the gig grew louder. Then for a brief instant I had a glimpse of miners' lamps and the bearded skull of the elder Manack standing between Friar and his son.

A match flared in the darkness and Dave relit his lamp.

'I'm going up top,' I said.

'Stay where you are.' Dave's voice was nervous again.

'I want to see the old man safely clear of the mine,' I said. 'For God's sake, man, what's the matter with you; I shan't run with Captain Manack within call.'

That seemed to satisfy him and he followed me without further protest as I went up the cross-cut to the shaft and climbed the ladder to the top. The moon was sinking towards the sea, throwing long shadows across the white landscape. I breathed in the fresh air and, as we sat down on a patch of bracken among the gorse bushes, I sensed that Dave was less nervous up here in the open air.

We hadn't been there a few minutes before figures moved out of the black shadows of the sheds. There were four of them. Friar and Slim each had hold of one of the old man's arms. His son followed behind. They climbed the hill towards us. As they came within earshot Slim was saying, 'Bloody lucky, I call it.'

'It fair makes me sweat ter fink aba't it,' Friar said.

'Well, see that you don't mention it to Pryce,' Captain Manack ordered. 'I don't want him getting scared.'

'I'm all fer goin' back ter the nice peaceful life of makin' kerb stones,' Friar said. 'Wot you say, Slim? Kerb stones is a sort o' restful thing ter be makin'.'

'You didn't think much of the job when we were cutting those ledges,' Slim answered sourly.

'Well, yer can 'ave too much of a good thing. Nah all we fink of is liquor.' He spat. 'Some o' these 'ere ruddy Black Marketeers oughter come an' get their liquor the 'ard way — like we does.'

The sound of their voices died away. I watched them disappear over the brow of the hill, four dark figures against the moon-filled sky. 'What about going up to the top of the hill and seeing him safely inside the house?' I said. 'I won't be happy till I know the old man's safely locked up.' The time was two-thirty. I had to keep him above ground till three.

He hesitated. 'All right,' he said.

We went slowly up the hill. I bore away slightly to the left where there was a gulley that ran up close to the house. We went up this and came out within fifty yards of Cripples' Ease. There was no one about. The house stood square and unbeautiful, looking out with pale eyes to the sea. 'Come on,' Dave said. 'He's safe enough now.'

A light flickered suddenly in the little dormer window. The bars showed clearly against the orange glow. Then the light vanished as though cut off by the closing of a door. Dave was plucking at my elbow. I shook him off impatiently. Something told me what I should see and it fascinated me. For a moment the window remained as blind as the others. Then suddenly I saw what I was waiting for.

Pressed close to the panes was Manack's bearded face. I can see it now — haggard and drawn. He was looking out to the mine and his face caught the light of the sinking moon so that it was white as the face of a ghost.