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"I AM responsible for what happened," said Miriam Longmore. "I suppose you were all amazed to find my uncle above ground. I noticed your astonishment when the man Shuter appeared on the verandah. The matter is easily explained. When I left you this morning it was with a determination to do all in my power to rescue the three prisoners in the mine.
"I succeeded. It was not very difficult, provided you knew nothing of the entrance through the top of the cavern. You did not know. When I left your camp I returned home, and waited for the night. At about midnight I ventured forth again. I went alone to the mine, I knew the spot quite well where it was possible to gain admittance to the cavern through the roof. The roof at this place was only a few feet thick, and Uncle Jo had arranged an opening in a clump of saplings, carefully masked. There was a rope ladder worked with a hidden string from the inside, which could be let down or drawn up in a moment. When drawn up it folded into a niche, and the bottom was fitted with a flat piece of lead, painted the color of the roof, and not discernible from the floor."