That is what we've come to say." Philip was touched.

If he had had money enough to buy three days' "grub" he would have accepted the generous offer, but as it was, he could not consent to be less magnanimous than the men, and so he declined in a manly speech; shook hands all around and resumed his solitary communings.
The men went back to the tunnel and "put in a parting blast for luck" anyhow.

They did a full day's work and then took their leave.

They called at his cabin and gave him good-bye, but were not able to tell him their day's effort had given things a mere promising look.
The next day Philip sold all the tools but two or three sets; he also sold one of the now deserted cabins as old, lumber, together with its domestic wares; and made up his mind that he would buy, provisions with the trifle of money thus gained and continue his work alone.

About the middle of the after noon he put on his roughest clothes and went to the tunnel.