Then, taking a lamp from the hands of one of the men, he proceeded with a rapid step along the principal passage of the Dochart pit.

The others all followed him.
In a quarter of an hour the party arrived at the excavation in which stood Simon Ford's cottage.

There was no light in the window.

Ryan darted to the door, and threw it open.

The house was empty.
They examined all the rooms in the somber habitation.