By and by the I dull report came, and he was about to walk back mechanically and see what was accomplished; but he halted; presently turned on his heel and thought, rather than said: "No, this is useless, this is absurd.

If I found anything it would only be one of those little aggravating seams of coal which doesn't mean anything, and--" By this time he was walking out of the tunnel.

His thought ran on: "I am conquered.

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