The first edition of this book is dated 1896. The edition used is dated 1899. The publisher was S.W. Partridge & Co. Ltd, Grosvenor Gdns, London. The number of pages is 312.

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General information

This must be one of Manville Fenn’s very best books. The suspense is totally gripping, right to the very end. Normally Fenn places his moments of terror at the very end of a chapter, so that this book with 52 chapters must have quite a few of them.

When preparing this book for publication on the web, the editor was truly sorry when the work ended, so greatly had he enjoyed every moment of it.

The action takes place in Cornwall, in and around an old tin-mine, possibly dating back to Roman and Phoenician days, for these people obtained much of the tin they needed to make bronze, from Cornwall, and many of the mines are still there, with many miles of workings, often going out far beneath the sea.

You should enjoy reading or listening to this book very much— as much, I hope, as the editor of it has done.

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Contents

Chapter I.
Bass for Breakfast.

Chapter II.
A Deep Investigation.

Chapter III.
At Agony Point.

Chapter IV.
Joe hears a Cry.

Chapter V.
Fishing for a Boy.

Chapter VI.
At an Awkward Corner.

Chapter VII.
Sam Hardock laughs.

Chapter VIII.
The Mine Fever.

Chapter IX.
Doctor Joe.

Chapter X.
Finding an Intruder.

Chapter XI.
Fighting the Enemy.

Chapter XII.
The Major has Strange Symptoms.

Chapter XIII.
The Compact Sealed.

Chapter XIV.
A Suspicion of Evil.

Chapter XV.
In the Engine-House.

Chapter XVI.
An Attack of Heroes.

Chapter XVII.
Gwyn shows his Mettle.

Chapter XVIII.
An Ignominious Ascent.

Chapter XIX.
A Brutal Threat.

Chapter XX.
A Doubtful Acquaintance.

Chapter XXI.
Sam Hardock Disapproves.

Chapter XXII.
A Mental Kink.

Chapter XXIII.
Grip takes an Interest.

Chapter XXIV.
Anxious Times.

Chapter XXV.
True to the Core.

Chapter XXVI.
To the Bitter End.

Chapter XXVII.
Reversal of Position.

Chapter XXVIII.
Down in the Depths.

Chapter XXIX.
The Position Darkens.

Chapter XXX.
In Darkness.

Chapter XXXI.
Gwyn gives it up.

Chapter XXXII.
A Novel Nightmare.

Chapter XXXIII.
Man’s Good Friend

Chapter XXXIV.
Too Eager by Half.

Chapter XXXV.
The Help at Last.

Chapter XXXVI.
Grip’s Antipathy.

Chapter XXXVII.
Gwyn’s Error.

Chapter XXXVIII.
Sam Hardock brings News.

Chapter XXXIX.
Grip’s Bad Luck.

Chapter XL.
A Bit of Surgery.

Chapter XLI.
A Man’s Pursuits.

Chapter XLII.
Mining Matters.

Chapter XLIII.
After a Lapse.

Chapter XLIV.
Tom Dinass shows his Teeth.

Chapter XLV.
Crystal, but not Clear.

Chapter XLVI.
A Dog’s Opinion.

Chapter XLVII.
For Life.

Chapter XLVIII.
In Dire Peril.

Chapter XLIX.
Sam Hardock at his Worst.

Chapter L.
News from Grass.

Chapter LI.
In the Light.

Chapter LII.
The General Wind-Up.

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