Through the centre of
the tunnel ran a railway track.
"Do you know what you are looking at?" asked Hall in my ear.
"I begin to suspect," I replied, "that you have accidentally run into
Dr. Syx's mine."
"If Dr. Syx had been on his guard this accident wouldn't have
happened," replied Hall, with an almost inaudible chuckle.
"I heard you remark a month ago," I said, "that you were changing the
direction of your tunnel. Has this been the aim of your labors ever
since?"
"You have hit it," he replied. "Long ago I became convinced that my
company was throwing away its money in a vain attempt to strike a lode
of pure artemisium. But President Boon has great faith in Dr. Syx, and
would not give up the work. So I adopted what I regarded as the only
practicable method of proving the truth of my opinion and saving the
company's funds. An electric indicator, of my invention, enabled me to
locate the Syx tunnel when I got near it, and I have met it end on,
and opened this peep-hole in order to observe the doctor's
operations. I feel that such spying is entirely justified in the
circumstances.
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