He had the prudence, however, to listen to their revelations without making any of his own, and would not even explain how he came to be left behind in the pit.

He went up in the ascending skip, and, escaping from the curiosity of the people on the bank, he darted as straight as an arrow to Stephen's cabin.
'I'm nigh clemmed,' were his first words, as he seized the brown loaf and cut off a slice, which he devoured ravenously.

'It seems like a year,' he continued; 'thee'lt never catch me being left behind anywhere again.

Eh, Stephen, lad! many a time I shouted for fear I'd never see daylight again; it's awful down there in the night.

Thee hears them as thee can't see punning agen the coal; and then there comes a downfall like a clap of thunder.