The news caused Fairchild to recoil and stand gasping.

And before he could speak, a new voice had cut in, one full of excitement, tremulous, anxious.
"Drowned?
Where 's his body ?" "How do I know ?" Squint Rodaine turned upon his questioner.

"Guess it's at the foot of the shaft.

All I saw was his hat.

What 're you so interested for ?" The questioner, small, goggle-eyed and given to rubbing his hands, stared a moment speechlessly.