Yet such vague suspicions were perfectly useless.

He must have absolute, convincing proof, and such proof could be obtained nowhere excepting at the bottom of the "Independence" shaft.
He talked over the situation frankly with the two partners in the little single-roomed cabin perched on the cliff edge, while the obedient though grumbling Mike, rifle in hand, sat solemnly on the dump pile without.

Little by little the three conspirators worked out a fairly feasible plan.

There were numerous chances for failure in it, yet the very recklessness of the conception was an advantage.

Winston, his face darkened as a slight disguise, and dressed in the rough garments of a typical miner, was to hide beside the footpath leading between the "Independence" bunk-house and the shaft.