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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/21863-h.zip b/21863-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b329eba --- /dev/null +++ b/21863-h.zip diff --git a/21863-h/21863-h.htm b/21863-h/21863-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..805d717 --- /dev/null +++ b/21863-h/21863-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6612 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Derrick Sterling, by Kirk Munroe. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + margin-top: 0em; + text-align: center; + font-size: 90%; + font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i16 {display: block; margin-left: 16em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Derrick Sterling, by Kirk Monroe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Derrick Sterling + A Story of the Mines + +Author: Kirk Monroe + +Release Date: June 19, 2007 [EBook #21863] +[Last updated on October 24, 2007] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DERRICK STERLING *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Brett Fishburne, Mary Meehan +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1>DERRICK STERLING</h1> + +<h3>A STORY OF THE MINES</h3> + +<h2>BY KIRK MUNROE</h2> + +<h4>Author of "<span class="smcap">The Flamingo Feather</span>"</h4> + +<h4>ILLUSTRATED</h4> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 368px;"><a name="ill-1" id="ill-1"></a> +<img src="images/ill-1.jpg" width="368" height="500" alt="In the burning breaker." title="" /> +</div> +<p class="caption">In the burning breaker.</p> + +<h4>NEW YORK AND LONDON<br /> +HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS<br /> +COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY HARPER & BROTHERS<br /> +COPYRIGHT, 19l6, BY KIRK MUNROE</h4> + +<h4>PRINTED IN THE U. S. A.</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. <span class="smcap">In the Burning Breaker</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">A Fearful Ride</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">The Mine Boss Takes Derrick into his Confidence</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">Introducing Harry, the Bumping-mule</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">Attacked by Enemies, and Lost in the Mine</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">The Secret Meeting.—A Plunge down an Air shaft</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">A Cripple's Brave Deed</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">Derrick Sterling's Splendid Revenge</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">Socrates, the Wise Mine Rat</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. <span class="smcap">In the Old Workings.—Misled by an Altered Line</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. <span class="smcap">A Fatal Explosion of Fire-damp</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <span class="smcap">The Mine Boss in a Dilemma</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. <span class="smcap">Ladies in the Mine.—Harry Mule's Sad Mishap</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. <span class="smcap">A Life is Saved and Derrick is Promoted</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. <span class="smcap">A "Squeeze" and a Fall of Rock</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. <span class="smcap">Bursting of an Underground Reservoir</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. <span class="smcap">Imprisoned in the Flooded Mine</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. <span class="smcap">To the Rescue!—A Message from the Prisoners</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. <span class="smcap">Restored to Daylight</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. <span class="smcap">Good-by to the Colliery</span></a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<h4>[Transcriber's note: Illustrations were not available]</h4> + + +<p><a href="#ill-1">In the burning breaker</a></p> + +<p><a href="#ill-2">"Here, lad, lead this mule down the rest of the way, will ye?"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#ill-3">Suddenly there came a blinding flash, a roar as of a cannon</a></p> + +<p><a href="#ill-4">Good-by to the colliery</a></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>DERRICK STERLING: A STORY OF THE MINES</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>IN THE BURNING BREAKER</h3> + + +<p>"Fire! Fire in the breaker! Oh, the boys! the poor boys!" These cries, +and many like them—wild, heartrending, and full of fear—were heard on +all sides. They served to empty the houses, and the one street of the +little mining village of Raven Brook was quickly filled with excited +people.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon of a hot summer's day, and the white-faced +miners of the night shift were just leaving their homes. Some of them, +with lunch-pails and water-cans slung over their shoulders by light iron +chains, were gathered about the mouth of the slope, prepared to descend +into the dark underground depths where they toiled. The wives of the day +shift men, some of whom, black as negroes with coal-dust, powder-smoke, +and soot, had already been drawn up the long slope, were busy preparing +supper. From the mountainous piles of refuse, of "culm," barefooted +children, nearly as black as their miner fathers, were tramping homeward +with burdens of coal that they had gleaned from the waste. High above +the village, sharply outlined against the western sky, towered the huge, +black bulk of the breaker.</p> + +<p>The clang of its machinery had suddenly ceased, though the shutting-down +whistle had not yet sounded. From its many windows poured volumes of +smoke, more dense than the clouds of coal-dust with which they were +generally filled, and little tongues of red flame were licking its +weather-beaten timbers. It was an old breaker that had been in use many +years, and within a few days it would have been abandoned for the new +one, recently built on the opposite side of the valley. It was still in +operation, however, and within its grimy walls a hundred boys had sat +beside the noisy coal chutes all through that summer's day, picking out +bits of slate and tossing them into the waste-bins. From early morning +they had breathed the dust-laden air, and in cramped positions had +sorted the shallow streams of coal that constantly flowed down from the +crushers and screens above. Most of them were between ten and fourteen +years of age, though there were a few who were even younger than ten, +and some who were more than sixteen years old.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>Among these breaker boys two were particularly noticeable, although they +were just as black and grimy as the others, and were doing exactly the +same work. The elder of these, Derrick Sterling, was a manly-looking +fellow, whose face, in spite of its coating of coal-dust, expressed +energy, determination, and a quicker intelligence than that of any of +his young companions. He was the only son of Gilbert Sterling, who had +been one of the mining engineers connected with the Raven Brook +Colliery. The father had been disabled by an accident in the mines, and +after lingering for more than a year, had died a few months before the +date of this story, leaving a wife and two children, Derrick and little +Helen.</p> + +<p>For nearly five years before his father's death Derrick had attended a +boarding-school near Philadelphia; but the sad event made a vast +difference in his prospects for life, and compelled his return to the +colliery village that he called home.</p> + +<p>Mr. Sterling had always lived up to his moderate income, and though his +salary was continued to the time of his death, the family then found +themselves confronted by extreme poverty. They owned their little +vine-covered cottage, at one end of the straggling village street, and +in this Mrs. Sterling began to take boarders, with the hope of thus +supporting her children. Her struggle was a hard one, and when one of +the boarders, who was superintendent of the breaker, or "breaker boss," +offered Derrick employment in his department, the boy was so anxious to +help his mother that he gladly accepted the offer. Nothing else seemed +open to him, and anything was better than idleness. So, after winning a +reluctant consent from his mother, Derrick began to earn thirty-five +cents a day, at that hardest and most monotonous of all forms of +youthful labor, picking slate in a coal-breaker.</p> + +<p>He had been brought up and educated so differently from any of his +companions of the chutes that the life was infinitely harder for him +than for them. He hated dirt, and loved to be nice and clean, which +nobody could be for a minute in the breaker. He also loved the sunlight, +the fields, and the woods; but no sunshine ever penetrated the thick +dust-clouds within these walls. In the summer-time it shone fierce and +hot on the long sloping roof, just above the boys' heads, until the +interior was like an oven, and in winter they were chilled by the cold +winds that blew in through the ever-open windows.</p> + +<p>Here, and under these conditions, Derrick must work from seven o'clock +in the morning until six in the evening. At noon the boys were allowed +forty minutes in which to eat the luncheons brought in their little tin +pails, and draw a few breaths of fresh air. During the first few weeks +of this life there were times when it seemed to Derrick that he could +not bear it any longer. More than once, as he sat beside the rattling +chute, mechanically sorting the never-ending stream, with hands cut and +bruised by the sharp slate, great tears rolled down his grimy cheeks. +Over and over again had he been tempted to rush from the breaker, never +to return to it; but each time he had seemed to see the patient face of +his hard-working mother, or to feel the clinging arms of little Helen +about his neck. He would remember how they were depending on his two +dollars a week, and, instead of running away, would turn again to his +work with a new energy, determined that, since he was to be a breaker +boy, he would be the best in the colliery.</p> + +<p>In this he had succeeded so well as to win praise, even from Mr. Guffy, +the breaker boss, who usually had nothing but harsh words and blows for +the boys who came under his rule. He had also been noticed by the +superintendent of the colliery, and promised a place in the mine as soon +as a vacancy should occur that he could fill. In the breaker he had been +promoted from one seat to another, until for several weeks past he had +occupied the very last one on the line of his chute. Here he gave the +coal its final inspection before it shot down into the bins, from which +it was loaded into cars waiting to carry it to cities hundreds of miles +away. Above all, Derrick was now receiving the highest wages paid to +breaker boys, and was able to hand his mother three big silver dollars +every Saturday night.</p> + +<p>The first time he did this seemed to him the proudest moment of his +life, for, as she kissed him, his mother said that this sum was +sufficient to pay all his expenses, that he was now actually supporting +himself, and was therefore as independent as any man in the colliery.</p> + +<p>It was a wonderful help to him, during the last few weeks of his breaker +boy life, to think over these words and to realize that by his own +efforts he had become a self-supporting member of society. It really +seemed as though he increased in stature twice as fast after that little +talk with his mother. At the same time his clothes appeared to shrink +from the responsibility of covering an independent man, instead of the +boy for whom they had originally been intended.</p> + +<p>Beside Derrick Sterling, that hot summer afternoon, sat Paul Evert, a +slender, delicate boy with a fine head set above a deformed body. He did +not seem much more than half as large as Derrick, though he was but a +few months younger, and his great wistful eyes held a frightened look, +as of some animal that is hunted. He too had been compelled by poverty +to go into the cruel breaker, and try to win from it a few loaves of +bread for the many little hungry mouths at home, which the miner father +and feeble mother found it so hard to feed.</p> + +<p>For a long time the rude boys of Raven Brook had teased and persecuted +"Polly Evert," as they called him, on account of his humped back and +withered leg, and for a long time Derrick Sterling had been his stanch +friend and protector. While the even-tempered lad used every effort to +avoid quarrels on his own behalf, he would spring like a young tiger to +rescue Paul Evert from his persecutors. Many a time had he stood at bay +before a little mob of sooty-faced village boys, and dared them to touch +the crippled lad who crouched trembling behind him.</p> + +<p>On this very day, during the noon breathing-spell, he had been compelled +to thrash Bill Tooley, the village bully, on Paul's behalf. Bill had +been a mule-driver in the mine, but had been discharged from there a few +days before, and taken into the breaker. He now sat beside Paul, and +during the whole morning had steadily tormented him, in spite of the +lad's entreaties to be let alone and Derrick's fierce threats from the +other side.</p> + +<p>That Derrick had not escaped scot-free from the noon-hour encounter was +shown by a deep cut on his upper lip. That Bill Tooley had been much +more severely punished was evident from the swollen condition of his +face, and from the fact that he now worked in sullen silence, without +attempting any further annoyance of the hump-backed lad beside him. Only +by occasional glances full of hate cast at both Derrick and Paul did he +show the true state of his feelings, and indicate the revengeful nature +of his thoughts.</p> + +<p>This was Paul's first day in the breaker, where he had been given work +by the gruff boss only upon Derrick Sterling's earnest entreaty. Derrick +had promised that he would initiate his friend into all the details of +the business, and look after him generally. He had his doubts concerning +Paul's fitness for the work and the terrible life of a breaker boy, and +had begged him not to try it.</p> + +<p>Paul's pitiful "What else can I do, Derrick? I have got to earn some +money somehow," completely silenced him; for he knew only too well that +in a colliery there is but one employment open to a boy who cannot drive +a mule or find work in the mine. Therefore he had promised to try and +secure a place for his crippled friend, and had finally succeeded.</p> + +<p>Paul was struggling bravely to finish this long, weary first day's work +in a manner that should reflect credit upon his protector; but the hours +seemed to drag into weeks, and each minute he feared he should break +down entirely. He tried to hide the cruel slate cuts on his hands, nor +let Derrick discover how his back ached, and how he was choked by the +coal-dust. He even attempted to smile when Derrick spoke to him, though +his ear, unaccustomed to the noise of the machinery and the rushing +coal, failed to catch what was said.</p> + +<p>While the crippled lad, in company with a hundred other boys, was thus +anxiously awaiting the welcome sound of the shutting-down whistle, at +the first blast of which the torrents of coal would cease to flow, and +they would all rush for the stairway that led out-of-doors, the air +gradually became filled with something even more stifling than +coal-dust—something that choked them and made their eyes smart. It was +the pungent smoke of burning wood; and by the time they fully realized +its presence the air was thick with it, and to breathe seemed wellnigh +impossible. Then, just as the boys were beginning to start from their +seats, and cast frightened glances at each other, the machinery stopped; +and amid the comparative silence that followed they heard the cry of +"Fire!" and the voice of the breaker boss shouting, "Clear out of this, +you young rascals! Run for your lives! Don't you see the breaker's +afire?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke a great burst of flame sprang up one of the waste chutes +from the boiler-room beneath them, and with a wild rush the hundred boys +made towards the one door-way that led to the open air and safety.</p> + +<p>Obeying the impulse of the moment, Derrick sprang toward it with the +rest. Before he could reach it a faint cry of "Derrick, oh, Derrick, +don't leave me!" caused him to turn and begin a desperate struggle +against the mass of boys who surged and crushed behind him. Several +times he thought he should be borne through the door-way, but he fought +with such fury that he finally won his way back out of the crowd and to +where Paul was still sitting.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Polly," he cried, "we haven't any time to lose."</p> + +<p>"I can't, Derrick," was the answer; "my crutch is gone."</p> + +<p>Surely enough, the lame boy's crutch, which had been leaned against the +wall behind him, had disappeared, and he was helpless.</p> + +<p>At first Derrick thought he would carry him, and made the attempt; but +his strength was not equal to the task, and he was forced to set his +burden down after taking a few steps towards the door.</p> + +<p>He called loudly to the last of the boys, who was just disappearing +through the door-way, to come and help him. At the call the boy turned +his face towards them. It was that of Bill Tooley, and it bore a grin of +malicious triumph.</p> + +<p>The next instant the great door swung to with a crash that sounded like +a knell in the ears of Derrick Sterling, for he knew that it closed with +a powerful spring lock, the key of which was in Mr. Guffy's pocket.</p> + +<p>The crash of the closing door was followed by a second burst of flame +that came rushing and leaping up the chutes, and above its roar the boys +heard shrill voices in the village crying, "Fire! Fire in the breaker!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A FEARFUL RIDE</h3> + + +<p>As Derrick and Paul realized that they were left alone in the burning +breaker, in which the heat was now intense, and that they were cut off +from the stairway by the closed and bolted door, they remained for a +moment speechless with despair. Then Derrick flung himself furiously +against the heavy door again and again, with a vague hope that he might +thus force it to give way. His efforts were of no avail, and he only +exhausted his strength; for the massive framework did not even tremble +beneath the weight of his body.</p> + +<p>Still he could not believe but that somebody would open it for them, and +he would not leave the door until tiny flames creeping beneath it warned +him that the stairway was on fire and that all chances of escape in that +direction were gone. He tried to make himself seen and heard at one of +the open windows, but was driven back by the swirling smoke. Then he +turned to Paul, who still sat quietly where he had been left. The +crippled lad had not uttered a single cry of fear, though the eager +flames had approached him so closely that he could feel their hot +breath, and knew that in another minute the place where he sat would be +surrounded by them.</p> + +<p>As Derrick sprang to his side, with the intention of dragging him as far +as possible from them, he said,</p> + +<p>"The slope, Derrick! If we could only get to the top of the slope, +couldn't we somehow escape by it?"</p> + +<p>"I never thought of it!" cried Derrick. "We might. We'll try anyhow, for +if we stay here another minute we shall be roasted to death."</p> + +<p>Stooping, he lifted Paul in his lithe young arms, and with a strength +born of despair began to carry him up the long and devious way that led +to the very top of the lofty building. He had scarcely taken a dozen +steps, and was already staggering beneath his burden, when he stumbled +and nearly fell over some object lying on the floor. With an +exclamation, he set Paul down and picked it up.</p> + +<p>It was the crutch, Paul's own crutch; and it was so far above where they +had sat at work that it seemed as though it must have been flung there.</p> + +<p>The boys did not pause to consider how the crutch came to be where they +found it, but joyfully seizing it, Paul used it so effectively that they +quickly gained the top of the building and stood at the upper end of the +long slope.</p> + +<p>It was a framework of massive timbers supported by high trestle-work, +that led from the highest point of the breaker down the hill-side into +the valley, where it entered the ground. From there it was continued +down into the very lowest depths of the mine. On it were double tracks +of iron rails, up which, by means of an immensely long and strong wire +cable, the laden coal cars were drawn from the bottom of the mine to the +top of the breaker. As a loaded car was drawn up, an empty one, on the +opposite track, went down. The angle of the slope was as steep as the +sharply pitched roof of a house, and its length, from the bottom of the +mine to the top of the breaker, was over half a mile.</p> + +<p>This particular slope was provided with a peculiar arrangement by which +a car loaded with slate or other refuse, after being drawn up from the +mine to a point a short distance above the surface, could be run +backward over a vertical switch that was lowered into place behind it. +This vertical switch would carry it out on the dump or refuse heap. The +top of the dump presented a broad, level surface for half a mile, on +which was laid a system of tracks. Over these the waste cars were drawn +by mules to the very edge of the dump, where their contents were tipped +out and allowed to slide down the hill-side. During working hours a boy +was stationed at this switch, whose business it was to set it according +to the instructions received from a gong near him. This could be struck +either from the bottom of the mine or the top of the breaker, by means +of a strong wire leading in both directions from it. One stroke on the +gong meant to set the switch for the mine, and two strokes to set it for +the dump. A flight of rude steps led up along the side of the slope from +the mouth of the mine to the top of the breaker.</p> + +<p>Derrick and Paul thought that perhaps they might make their way down +this flight of steps and thus escape from the blazing building; but when +they reached the end of the slope, and looked down, they saw that this +would be impossible. Already the steps were on fire, and the whole +slope, as far as they could see, was enveloped in a dense cloud of +smoke. Through it shot flaming tongues that were greedily licking the +timbers of the tall trestle-work.</p> + +<p>If Derrick had been alone he would have made the attempt to rush down +the steps, and force his way through the barrier of smoke and flame; but +he knew that for his companion this would be impossible, and that even +to try it meant certain death.</p> + +<p>As he hesitated, and turned this way and that, uncertain of what to +attempt, an ominous crash from behind, followed by another and another, +warned them that the floors of the building were giving way and letting +the heavy machinery fall into the roaring furnace beneath. They knew +that the walls must quickly follow, and that with them they too must be +dragged down into the raging flames.</p> + +<p>Paul, sitting on the floor, buried his face in his hands, shutting his +eyes upon the surrounding horrors, and prayed.</p> + +<p>Derrick stood up, gazing steadily at the rushing flames, and thought +with the rapidity of lightning. Suddenly his eye fell upon an empty +coal-car standing on the track at the very edge of the slope, and he +cried,</p> + +<p>"Here's a chance, Paul! and it's our only one. Get into this car, quick +as you can. Hurry! I feel the walls shaking."</p> + +<p>As Paul clambered into the car in obedience to his friend's +instructions, though without an idea of what was about to happen, +Derrick sprang to one side, where a brass handle hung from the wall, and +pulled it twice with all his might; then back to the car, where he cast +off the hooks by which the great wire cable was attached to it. Again he +pulled furiously, twice, at the brass handle.</p> + +<p>He had done all that lay in his power, and was now about to make one +last, terrible effort to escape. The red flames had crept closer and +closer, and were now eagerly reaching out their cruel arms towards the +boys from all sides. Beneath them the supports of the building tottered, +and in another moment it must fall. Down the slope the shining rails of +the track disappeared in an impenetrable cloud of smoke, and Derrick +could not see whether his signal to the switch-tender had been obeyed or +not.</p> + +<p>As Paul crouched on the bottom, at one end of the car, his companion +said,</p> + +<p>"I'm going to push her over and let her go down the slope, Polly. If the +trestle hasn't burned away she'll take us through the fire and smoke +quick enough. If there's anybody down there and he's heard the gong and +set the switch, we'll go flying off over the dump. I guess I can stop +her with the brake before she gets to the edge. It's half a mile, you +know. If the switch is open, we'll go like a streak down into the mine +and be smashed into a million pieces. It won't be any worse than being +burned to death, though. Now good-by, old man, if I don't ever see you +alive again. Here goes."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, dear Derrick."</p> + +<p>Then the crippled lad closed his eyes and held his breath in awful +expectation. Derrick placed one shoulder against the car, gave a strong +push, and, as he felt it move, sprang on one of the bumpers and seized +the brake handle that projected a few inches above its side.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the two boys had been missed in the village, and as it +became known that they were still within the breaker, the entire +population, frenzied with excitement, gathered about the blazing +building, making vain efforts to discover their whereabouts, that they +might attempt a rescue.</p> + +<p>No men on earth are braver in time of danger, or more ready to face it +in rescuing imperilled comrades, than the miners of the anthracite +collieries. Had they known where to find Derrick and Paul, a score of +stalwart fellows would willingly have dashed into the flames after them. +As it was, no sign that they were still in existence had been +discovered, and the spectators of the fire were forced to stand and +watch it in all the bitterness of utter helplessness.</p> + +<p>One man indeed ran up the blazing stairway, and with a mighty blow from +the pick he carried crashed open the door against which Derrick had so +vainly flung himself. Only a great burst of flame leaped forth and drove +him backward, with his clothing on fire and the hair burned from his +face. He was Paul Evert's father.</p> + +<p>Upon receipt of the tidings that her boy was shut up in the burning +breaker, without any apparent means of escape, Mrs. Sterling had fallen +as though dead, and now lay, happily, unconscious of his awful peril. +Little Helen sat by her mother's bedside, too stunned and frightened +even to cry.</p> + +<p>In Paul's home a crowd of wailing women surrounded Mrs. Evert, whose +many children clung sobbing to her skirts.</p> + +<p>Suddenly two sharp strokes of a gong rang out, loud and clear, above the +roar of the flames and the crash of falling timbers. The crowd of +anxious spectators heard the sound, and from them arose a mighty, joyous +shout. "They're alive! They're alive! They're at the top of the slope!"</p> + +<p>But what could be done? The trestle was already blazing, and the upper +end of the slope was hidden from the view of those below by dense +volumes of ink-black smoke.</p> + +<p>Again the gong rang out, "one, two," and one man of all that throng +thought he knew what it meant. Springing to the mine entrance, the old +breaker boss threw over the switch bar, and set the vertical switch for +the dump.</p> + +<p>Then came a crash of falling walls, and out of the accompanying burst of +fire and smoke, down along the shining track of the slope, shot a +thunder-bolt.</p> + +<p>It seemed like a thunder-bolt to the awe-stricken spectators, as it +rushed out of the flames, leaving a long trail of smoke behind it. In +reality it was a coal-car, bearing in one end a crouching figure and a +crutch. At the other end stood Derrick Sterling, bareheaded, with rigid +form and strained muscles, and with one hand on the brake handle.</p> + +<p>With a frightful velocity the car crossed the vertical switch and shot +out over the level surface of the dump. Derrick felt the strength of a +young giant as he tugged at that brake handle. The wood smoked from the +friction as it ground against the wheel; but it did its duty. On the +very edge of the dump, half a mile from the vertical switch, the car +stopped, and Derrick sat down beside it, sick and exhausted from the +terrible nervous strain of the few minutes just past.</p> + +<p>It seemed hours since the machinery had stopped in the breaker and the +rush of boys had been made for the door-way; but it was barely ten +minutes since the first alarm had been given. From the time he stood +face to face with death at the top of the slope, and started that car on +its downward rush through the flame and smoke, less than two minutes had +passed, but they spanned the space between life and death.</p> + +<p>As yet Derrick could not realize that they had escaped nor did he until +he felt a pair of arms thrown about his neck and heard Paul's voice +saying,</p> + +<p>"Derrick, dear Derrick! you have saved my life, and as long as it lasts +I shall love you. If ever I have a chance to show it, you shall see how +dearly."</p> + +<p>Then Derrick stood up and looked about him. A crowd of men and boys were +running along the top of the dump towards them. In another minute they +had both been placed in the car, and amid the joyous cries and exultant +cheers it was being rapidly rolled back towards the village.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Sterling began to recover consciousness she smiled at the boy +whom she saw standing beside her, and said, faintly,</p> + +<p>"I've had an awful dream, Derrick, and I thank God it was only a dream."</p> + +<p>And Derrick said, "Amen, mother."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE MINE BOSS TAKES DERRICK INTO HIS CONFIDENCE</h3> + + +<p>In a mining community serious accidents, and even terrible disasters, +are of such frequent occurrence that in Raven Brook the burning of the +old breaker soon ceased to furnish a topic of conversation.</p> + +<p>It was not until the day after that of the fire that Derrick learned of +the presence of mind displayed by the old breaker boss in comprehending +his signal on the gong and setting the vertical switch for the dump. As +soon as the old man came home that evening, Derrick went to his room +prepared to pour out his heartfelt thanks. He had hardly begun when the +breaker boss interrupted him with,</p> + +<p>"There, that'll do, an' I don't want to hear no more on it. Any fool +knows that two gongs means 'dump switch,' an' when one's been in the +mines forty year, man an' boy, as I have, he don't take no credit to +himself for doing fool's work. When you get older you'll know better'n +to mention sich a thing."</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Guffy—"</p> + +<p>"That'll do, I tell ye!" roared the irascible old man. "Clear outen +here, and go over to Warren Jones's; he wants to see ye. Hold on!" he +added, as Derrick was about to leave the room. "On your way stop and +tell that hunchback butty<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> of yourn to be on hand in the new breaker +at sharp seven to-morrow morning, if he wants to keep his job. Do ye +hear?"</p> + +<p>As he went out Derrick smiled to think of the old man's pride, which +would not allow him to accept thanks or praise from a boy for performing +a creditable action.</p> + +<p>At the same time the breaker boss was muttering to himself, "He's a fine +lad. If he'd 'a' come to grief through any fault of mine I'd never got +over it. 'Twon't do, though, to let him see that I think more of him +than of any others of the young scoundrels. Boys allus gets so upperty +if they thinks you're a-favorin' of 'em. They must be kep' down! Yes, +sir! kep' down, boys must be."</p> + +<p>Derrick could not help wondering why he too had not been ordered to +report at the new breaker the next morning, but thought it better not to +ask any questions. After supper he went over to see Mr. Jones, in +obedience to the instructions received from the breaker boss.</p> + +<p>Warren Jones, the assistant superintendent, or, as he was generally +termed, the "mine boss," of the Raven Brook Colliery, was a +pleasant-faced, outspoken young man of about thirty. At present he was +acting as superintendent, and the burden of responsibility bore heavily +upon him. He had a host of warm friends, but had made some bitter +enemies among the miners by his direct honesty of purpose and +determination to deal out even-handed justice to all over whom he +exercised authority. Although generally good-natured and slow to find +fault, he could be quick and stern enough when occasion demanded.</p> + +<p>Such was the man who greeted Derrick Sterling cordially that evening, +showed him into his library, and made him sit down, saying that he +wished to have a little talk with him. He spoke in terms of such praise +of Derrick's behavior on the previous day as to bring a blush of +pleasure to the boy's cheeks.</p> + +<p>"By-the-way, Derrick," he asked, "how did the breaker catch fire?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't the least idea, sir," answered Derrick, looking up in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Oh, all right," said the other, carelessly. "I didn't know but what you +might have heard something said about it."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I haven't; that is, not anything that I thought amounted to +anything. I have heard some of the boys talking about 'Mollies,' and +saying that they beat the world for floods and fires. What are 'Mollies' +anyway, Mr. Jones?"</p> + +<p>The mine boss looked at him curiously for a moment before replying,</p> + +<p>"If you really don't know, it's time you did, for you're likely to see +and hear a great deal of them if you decide to make mining your business +in life. All that I know about them is this:</p> + +<p>"Many years ago a young woman named Mary, or Mollie Maguire, was +murdered in Ireland, and several young fellows belonging to an order +called 'Ribbonmen' bound themselves by an oath to avenge her death and +kill her murderer. They succeeded so well in this undertaking, and +escaped detection so easily, that they proceeded to redress other +wrongs, real and fancied. They were joined by other men of their own way +of thinking, and finally they became a widely spread and powerful +society. In course of time, whenever anybody was mysteriously killed in +Ireland, it came to be said that the Mollie Maguires had done it, and so +the name clung to them.</p> + +<p>"At last the murderous order was introduced into this region by some +Irish miners who wished to get rid of an objectionable overseer, and +also to control the labor unions among the miners. It has so spread that +now its members are known to exist in every mining community of the +anthracite country. It is one of the most cowardly organizations ever +formed by men, and one of the most cruel. Its victims are given no +warning of the fate in store for them, but are struck down in the dark, +or from an ambush, by unseen hands.</p> + +<p>"Often the murderer has no previous acquaintance with, or knowledge of, +the man whom he kills. He blindly obeys the command of his infernal +order, and is thus made a tool to avenge some petty grievance or fancied +injury.</p> + +<p>"The Mollies have become a plague-spot that threatens the health and +life of this region. It is the duty of every honest man and boy who is +brought into any sort of contact with them to thwart their evil designs +in every possible way."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Derrick, drawing a long breath, "I had no idea that there +were such wicked men in this country."</p> + +<p>"No," he answered the mine boss, "you are but a boy, and have had but +little experience in the wickedness of this world; but I know you are +brave, and I believe you to be honest and loyal. I am therefore going to +trust you, and tell you something that I had no intention of mentioning +when I sent for you this evening. It is this:</p> + +<p>"I have every reason to believe the Mollies are strong in this colliery, +and that they intend to make trouble here. I have lately received +several anonymous letters making demands that cannot possibly be +granted, and containing vague threats of what will happen in case they +are not satisfied. This morning I found this note pinned to my door."</p> + +<p>Here Mr. Jones opened a drawer of his desk, and took from it a dirty +sheet of paper, which he handed to Derrick. On it was scrawled the +following:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Bosses take Wornin'. New breakers can burn as well as old. Fires +cost munny. Better pay it in wage to</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Mollie</span>."</p></div> + +<p>As the boy finished reading this strange communication which was at the +same time an admission and a threat, he looked up in surprise and began, +"Then you think, sir—"</p> + +<p>"Yes," interrupted the mine boss. "I not only think, but I feel +convinced, that the mischief has begun. Moreover, I am determined that +it shall end before it goes any further. I am most anxious to discover +who is at the bottom of it, and in this I want you to help me."</p> + +<p>"Want <i>me</i> to help!" exclaimed Derrick, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you," answered Mr. Jones, smiling. "Your very youth and +inexperience will render you less likely to be suspected than an older +person. I am certain that I can count upon the son of my old friend +Gilbert Sterling to perform truly and faithfully any duty which his +employers may see fit to intrust him with. Is it not so, Derrick?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, it is," cried the boy. "Just tell me what you want me to do, +and if I don't succeed it won't be because I haven't tried my best."</p> + +<p>"That is just what I expected you to say," remarked the mine boss, +quietly. "Now we will lay our first plans. I suppose you have had enough +of the breaker, haven't you?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I have, sir."</p> + +<p>"Very well. For a change I am going to offer you a job in the mine where +I will give you a bumping-mule to drive. Your wages will be five dollars +a week."</p> + +<p>"A bumping-mule?" queried Derrick, in a tone of perplexity not unmixed +with disappointment. From the preceding conversation he had expected to +be intrusted with something very different from mule-driving; nor had he +any idea what sort of an animal the one in question might be.</p> + +<p>This time Mr. Jones not only smiled but laughed outright; for, from the +boy's face and tone, he easily understood what was passing in his mind.</p> + +<p>"A bumping-mule," he explained, "is the animal that draws the loaded +coal-cars from the chambers, or breasts, to where they are made up into +trains. These trains are then hauled by a team of mules to the foot of +the slope. Then, when the empty cars are brought back, the bumping-mule +distributes them to the several places where they are required. I +suppose his title comes from his causing the cars to bump together as he +makes them up into trains. In attending to your duties as driver of this +most important mule, I can assure you that your time will be fully +occupied from the minute you go into the mine until you leave it.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," he added, with a humorous twinkle in his eyes, "that our +conversation led you to think you were to be appointed 'air boss' of the +mine, or placed in charge of a gang at the very least?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," answered Derrick, a little hesitatingly; "I ain't quite such +a greeny as that. But I don't see how I can help you very much by just +driving a bumping-mule."</p> + +<p>"You can help me in two ways: first, by doing your duty so faithfully +that I may be able to depend on you at all times; second, while I am in +doubt as to whom I may trust, it will be of great assistance to me to +know that there is at least one person constantly in the mine who will +be true to the interests of his employers, and on the alert to detect +any attempt to injure them."</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't mean that I am to be a spy in the mine, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No, my boy, I do not. I want you to attend strictly to your duties as +driver of a bumping-mule. At the same time I want you to consider that +your eyes and ears are acting in the place of my eyes and ears. If at +any time they see or hear anything which according to your best judgment +I ought to know, I hope you will be man enough to tell me of it."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," answered Derrick, "I am glad of a chance to go into the +mine and to earn five dollars a week. If you will let me do whatever I +think is right about telling you things without making any promises, I +will keep my eyes and ears wide open."</p> + +<p>"That is all that I want you to do, my boy."</p> + +<p>"All right, sir, then I'll do my best; and I hope I sha'n't have +anything to tell you except about the bumping-mule."</p> + +<p>"So do I hope so with all my heart, Derrick," said the mine boss, +gravely; "for I am inclined to think that if you have anything else to +tell me it will be something very serious and unpleasant. Now you may +take this order for a pair of rubber boots and a miner's cap and lamp +over to the store and get the things. Be on hand to go down with the +first gang of the morning shift. You will find me in the mine, and I +will see that you are properly set to work. Good-night."</p> + +<p>"Good-night," answered Derrick, as, with the store order in his hand, +and his mind full of conflicting emotions, he left the house.</p> + +<p>Several miners of the day shift were in the store when Derrick went to +present his order. By questioning him as to what he wanted with mine +clothes, they soon learned that he was to begin life underground the +next day as driver of a bumping-mule.</p> + +<p>"De young bantam'll find it a tougher job than riding empty cars down de +slope," sneered one big ugly-looking fellow, whose name was Monk Tooley, +and who was Bill Tooley's father.</p> + +<p>"I reckon you've laid in a big supply of cuss-words as a stock in trade! +Eh, lad?" asked another.</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't," said Derrick, flushing hotly. "I don't believe in +swearing, and if I can't drive a mule without it I won't drive him at +all."</p> + +<p>"Then I reckon you'll hunt some other business putty quick," answered +the miner with a coarse laugh in which the others joined. "Mules won't +work without they hears the peculiar langwidge they's most fond of."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Derrick, "we'll see." And leaving the store with his +purchases he started homeward. On the way he stopped to deliver Mr. +Guffy's message to Paul Evert, and to tell his friend the great news +that on the following day he was to begin the life of a miner.</p> + +<p>"I wish I was going with you," said Paul.</p> + +<p>"I wish you were, Polly," answered Derrick. "Perhaps there will be a +chance for you down there before long, and by that time I will have +learned all the ropes, and can tell you what's what."</p> + +<p>Although Derrick had lived much among collieries, he had never been +allowed to go down into a mine. His parents had kept him as much as +possible from associating with the rough mine lads of the village. Thus, +until he went into the breaker to earn his own living, he had held but +slight intercourse with them. His friend Paul, being the son of a miner, +knew far more of underground life than he, and often smiled at his +ignorance of many of the commonest mine terms.</p> + +<p>Derrick was a peculiar boy in one respect. He disliked to ask questions, +and would rather spend time and patience in finding out things for +himself, if it were possible for him to do so. What he thus learned he +never forgot.</p> + +<p>He was thoroughly familiar with the surface workings of a colliery, and +could explain the construction of the great pumps that kept the mine +free from water, the huge, swiftly revolving fan that drew all foul air +from it, or any of its other machinery. His father's profession had long +seemed to him a most desirable one, and he spent much of his spare time +in studying such engineering books as still remained in the house. He +loved to pore over his father's tracings and maps of the old workings. +With these he had become so well acquainted that he believed he could +locate on the surface the exact spots beneath which ran the gangways, +headings, and breasts of the abandoned portions of the mine.</p> + +<p>By means of these old maps he had also discovered on the mountain side, +more than a mile away, the mouth of a drift leading into a vein worked +out and abandoned more than twenty years before. This discovery he kept +to himself as a precious secret bequeathed to him by his father, though +he had not the slightest idea that it would ever be of any practical +value to him.</p> + +<p>After leaving Paul, Derrick hurried home to tell his mother the great +news that he was to work in the mine and earn five dollars a week, and +to show her his mine clothes. He was greatly disappointed that instead +of rejoicing over his brightening prospects she only gazed at him +without speaking, until the tears filled her eyes and rolled down her +pale cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Why, mother," he said, "aren't you glad? Only think—five dollars a +week!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my boy, my boy," she exclaimed, drawing him to her, "I can't let +you go down into that horrible place! 'Twas there your father met his +death."</p> + +<p>"Shall I go back to the breaker, then, mother?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; I didn't mean what I said. God has delivered you from one +fearful peril, and he can guide you safely through all others. Yes, I am +glad, Derrick—glad of any step that you take forward; but oh, my boy, +be very careful wherever you go. Remember how precious your life is to +me."</p> + +<p>Dressed in his new mine clothes, Derrick hurried through breakfast the +next morning, and started for the mouth of the slope bright and early.</p> + +<p>On his way he met Bill Tooley, who stopped him by calling out, "Look +a-here, young feller. They say yer a-going down ter drive my mule."</p> + +<p>"Didn't know you had a mule," answered Derrick, pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I did have a mule; an' what's more, I'm going ter have him again. +Any feller that goes to driving him before I get back will be sorry he +ever done it, that's all. I don't care if he is the bosses' pet, and did +take a ride in a hand-car."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>INTRODUCING HARRY, THE BUMPING-MULE</h3> + + +<p>As Derrick walked towards the entrance to the mine, he wondered what the +bully whom he had just met meant by what he said. He did not then know +that Bill Tooley had been discharged from the mine by Mr. Jones for +brutal treatment of the mule he had driven, and for general laziness and +neglect of his duties.</p> + +<p>At the mouth of the "travelling-road," down which the early arrivals +were compelled to make their way into the mine, Derrick was greeted by a +little group of miners who were lighting their lamps and preparing to +descend.</p> + +<p>"'Tis bonny to see thee, Derrick lad," called out one of them.</p> + +<p>"'Twill be luck to the mine to have such as you in her," said another.</p> + +<p>"My lad would ha' been your age an' he'd lived," said a third. "'Twould +ha' been a proud day for me to ha' seen him alongside o' thee, lad, +lighting his bit lamp, and ready to take up the life of an honest +miner."</p> + +<p>In the group was Tom Evert, Paul's father, a brawny, muscular man, who +was considered one of the best miners in Raven Brook. Taking Derrick a +little to one side, he said,</p> + +<p>"They tell me, lad, thou'rt to drive Bill Tooley's mule."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about Bill Tooley's mule," answered Derrick. "I +only know that Mr. Jones said I was to drive a bumping-mule, and I +intend to do exactly what he tells me."</p> + +<p>"Of course, lad, of course; but the bumping-mule he has in mind will be +Bill Tooley's, I doubt not, and I'd rather 'twould be another than you +had the job. Bill Tooley, with his feyther to back him, is certain to +take it out, some way or another, of the lad that steps into his place."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of Bill Tooley, as you ought to know, Mr. Evert," said +Derrick, somewhat boastfully, as he thought of the thrashing he had so +recently given the young man in question.</p> + +<p>"Of course not, lad, of course not. I know you can lick him fast enough +in fair fight. My poor little Paul can bear ready witness to that, for +which I'm under obligations to you. It's not fair fighting I mean; for +when it comes to argyfying with them Tooleys, it's foul play you must +look out for; and what the young un lacks in pluck he makes up in +inflooence."</p> + +<p>Derrick was about to ask what he meant, but was interrupted by a +movement of the miners towards the entrance. In another moment he found +himself rapidly descending the steep steps of the travelling-road, and +feeling that the attempt to keep pace with the long-limbed fellows ahead +of him must certainly result in his pitching headlong into the unknown +depth of blackness.</p> + +<p>The travelling-road was a gigantic stairway, leading at a steep angle +directly down into the earth. It was high enough for a man to stand +upright in without hitting his head against the roof, and it was +provided with steps. They were cut or dug out of the rock, earth, or +coal down through which the road passed, and were very broad and very +high. The front edge of each was formed of a smooth round log. From the +roof and sides of the road dripped and trickled little streams of water +that made everything in it wet and soggy, and rendered the edges of the +steps particularly slippery.</p> + +<p>The air in the road was chilly in comparison with that of the warm +summer's morning in which the outside world was rejoicing, and Derrick +shivered as he first encountered its penetrating dampness. Of course the +darkness was intense, but at first it was partially dispelled by the +lights of the half-dozen miners in whose company he had entered the +road. As they gradually left him behind, their twinkling lights grew +fainter and fainter, until at last they vanished entirely, and Derrick +found himself stumbling alone down the apparently interminable stairway.</p> + +<p>While yet in company with the miners, he had passed through one door +made of heavy planks, that completely closed the road, and now he came +to another. Through its chinks and cracks there was a rush of air from +outside inward that hummed and whistled like a small gale. It took all +of Derrick's strength to pull this door open, and it closed behind him +with a crash that reverberated in long, hollow echoes down the black +depths before him.</p> + +<p>Some distance below he was startled by a heavy booming sound from above, +which was followed by a tremendous clattering, mingled with shouts and +cries. In the first of these sounds he recognized the closing of the +door through which he had recently passed, but he could not account for +the others.</p> + +<p>They were continued, and grew louder and louder as they approached, +until at length they were close at hand, and he saw lights and a +confused mass of struggling forms directly above him. Stepping to one +side, Derrick flattened himself against the wall to let them pass; but +just as the miner who came first reached that point, he tossed the end +of a rope into the boy's hands, saying, "Here, lad, lead this mule down +the rest of the way, will ye? I'm in a powerful hurry myself."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 420px;"><a name="ill-2" id="ill-2"></a> +<img src="images/ill-2.jpg" width="420" height="500" alt=""Here, lad, lead this mule down the rest of the way, will ye?"" title="" /> +</div> +<p class="caption">"Here, lad, lead this mule down the rest of the way, will ye?"</p> + +<p>In another instant he had gone, leaping with immense strides down the +precipitous steps, and Derrick found himself staring into the comical +face of a large mule which, with his fore-feet on one step and his hind +ones on that above, looked as though he were about to stand on his head.</p> + +<p>"Go on, can't yer!" called out an impatient voice from behind the mule. +"Do ye think I can hang onto this 'ere blessed tail all day? A mule's no +feather-weight, let me tell yer."</p> + +<p>Then Derrick realized that another man held the mule by the tail, and +was exerting all his strength to prevent him from going down too fast. +Accepting the situation, he started ahead, encouraging the mule to +follow; but this arrangement did not seem to suit the animal, for he +refused to budge a step from where he stood, nor could the man in the +rear push him along.</p> + +<p>"Here, you!" the man called out to Derrick, "come back here and steer +him while I take his head. When he gets started, hang on to his tail +with all your might, and hold back all yer can."</p> + +<p>So they changed places, and the mule was so greatly pleased at having +got his own way that he began to plunge down the stairs with great +rapidity. Derrick felt almost as though he were being rushed through +space on the tail of a comet, and shuddered to think of the broken limbs +and general destruction that must inevitably follow such reckless +travelling. The mule, however, seemed to know what he was about as well +as the man who led him, and took such good care of himself that Derrick +soon plucked up courage, and even began to enjoy the situation.</p> + +<p>As he was thinking that they must be somewhere near the centre of the +earth, the mule gave an unusually violent plunge forward, and then +stopped so suddenly that poor Derrick found himself sprawling on the +animal's back, with both arms clasped tightly about his neck. With this +the mule began to caper and shake himself so violently that the boy was +forced to loose his hold and fall to the ground, amid roars of laughter +from a score of miners who witnessed the scene.</p> + +<p>Greatly confused, Derrick scrambled to his feet, gave a reproachful +glance at the mule, which was calmly gazing at him with a wondering look +in his wide-open eyes, and turned to see in what sort of a place he had +been so unceremoniously landed. At the same moment Mr. Jones, dressed in +miner's costume, and looking as grimy as any of the others, stepped from +the laughing group and said,</p> + +<p>"My boy, I congratulate you on being the first person who ever rode into +this mine on mule-back, I am glad you found the travelling-road so good. +Came on your own mule too. How did you know this was the bumping-mule +you were to drive?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know what sort of a mule he was until just as we got here and +he bumped me off his back," replied Derrick; "and I begin to think that +he knows more about driving than I do."</p> + +<p>"Well, you have made a notable beginning," said the mine boss, "and I am +sure you two will get along capitally together. Harry Mule, this is +Derrick Sterling, who is to be your new driver, and I want you to behave +yourself with him." Then to Derrick he said, "Harry has the reputation +of being the most knowing, and at the same time the most perverse, mule +in the mine. I believe though he only shows bad temper to those who +abuse him, and I have selected you to be his driver because I know you +will treat him kindly, and give him a chance to recover his lost +reputation. If he does not behave himself with you, I shall put him in +the tread-mill. Now stand there out of the way for a few minutes, and +then I will show you where you are to work."</p> + +<p>Derrick did as he was directed, and quickly found himself intensely +interested in the strange and busy scene before him. The travelling-road +entered the mine in a large chamber close beside the foot of the slope +that led upward to the new breaker. From this chamber branched several +galleries, or "gangways," in which were laid railway-tracks. Over these, +trains of loaded and empty coal-cars drawn by mules were constantly +coming and going. By the side of the track in each gangway was a ditch +containing a stream of ink-black water, flowing towards a central well +in one corner of the chamber, from which it was pumped to the surface. +Opposite to where he stood, Derrick saw the black, yawning mouth of +another slope, which, as he afterwards learned, led down into still +lower depths of the mine. The men around him were handling long bars of +railroad iron, which they were loading with a great racket on cars, and +despatching to distant gangways in which new tracks were needed. Two +large reflector lamps in addition to the miners' lamps made the chamber +quite bright, and with all its noise and bustle it seemed to Derrick the +most interesting place he had ever been in. He was sorry when the mine +boss called and told him to bring along his mule and follow him.</p> + +<p>They entered one of the gangways, leading from the central chamber, +which the mine boss said was known as Gangway No. 1. He also told +Derrick something about his mule, and said that by its last driver, Bill +Tooley, the poor animal had been so cruelly abused that he had sent it +to the surface for a few days to recover from the effects.</p> + +<p>"I guess he has recovered," said Derrick, "judging from the way he +brought me into the mine."</p> + +<p>They had not gone very far before they came to a closed door on one side +of the gangway beyond which the mule absolutely refused to go, in spite +of all Derrick's coaxings and commands.</p> + +<p>"It is the door of his stable," said the mine boss, who stood quietly +looking on, without offering any assistance or advice, waiting to see +what the boy would do.</p> + +<p>Tying the end of the halter to one of the rails of the track on which +they were walking, Derrick started into the stable, where he quickly +found what he wanted. Coming out with a handful of oats, he let the mule +have a little taste of them; and then, loosening the halter, tried to +tempt him forward with them. This plan failed, for Harry declined to +yield to temptation, and remained immovable. Then Derrick turned a +questioning glance upon the mine boss, who said,</p> + +<p>"Never again hitch an animal to a track along which cars are liable to +come at any moment. Now, why don't you beat the mule?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no, sir!" exclaimed Derrick, in distress. "I don't want to do that."</p> + +<p>"Neither do I want you to," laughed the other. "I only asked why you +didn't?"</p> + +<p>"Because," said Derrick, "I want him to become fond of me, and my mother +says the most stubborn animals can be conquered by kindness, while +beatings only make them worse."</p> + +<p>"Which is as true as gospel," said the mine boss. "Well, the only other +thing I can suggest is for you to go into the stable, get the harness +that hangs on the peg nearest the door, and put it on him."</p> + +<p>Acting upon this hint, Derrick had hardly finished buckling the last +strap of the harness when the mule began to move steadily forward of his +own accord.</p> + +<p>"That's his way," said the mine boss. "In harness he knows that he is +expected to work, but without it he thinks he may do as he pleases."</p> + +<p>Presently the mule stumbled slightly, and again he stopped and refused +to go ahead.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what is the matter now, sir?" asked Derrick.</p> + +<p>"I think perhaps he wants his lamp lighted," replied the mine boss.</p> + +<p>A miner's lamp, attached to a broad piece of leather, hung down in front +of the mule from his collar.</p> + +<p>The boy lighted this lamp, and immediately the mule began to move on, +showing that this was exactly what he had wanted.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me he knows almost as much as folks," cried Derrick, highly +delighted at this new proof of his mule's intelligence.</p> + +<p>"Quite as much as most folks, and more than some," answered his +companion, dryly.</p> + +<p>During their long walk they passed through several doors which, as +Derrick was told, served to regulate the currents of air constantly +flowing in and out of the mine, and kept in motion by the great fan at +its mouth. Whenever they approached one of these the mine boss called, +loudly, "Door," and it was immediately opened by a boy who sat behind it +and closed it again as soon as they had passed. Each of these boys had +besides his little flaring lamp, such as everybody in the mine carried, +a can of oil for refilling it, a lunch-pail and a tin water-bottle, and +each of them spent from eight to ten hours at his post without leaving +it.</p> + +<p>Finally Derrick and the mine boss came to a junction of several +galleries, a sort of mine cross-roads, and the former was told that this +was to be his headquarters, for here was where the trains were made up, +and from here the empty cars were distributed. At the farther end of +each of the headings leading from this junction two or more miners were +at work drilling, blasting, and picking tons of coal from between its +enclosing walls of slate. They were all doing their best to fill the +cars which it was Derrick's business to haul to the junction and replace +with empty ones. There were also a number of miners at work in breasts, +or openings at the sides of the gangways that followed the slant of the +coal vein, who expected to be supplied with empty cars and have their +loaded ones taken away by Derrick. These breast miners filled their cars +very quickly, as the moment they loosened the coal it slid down the +slaty incline, above which it had been bedded, to a wooden chute on the +edge of the gangway that discharged it directly into them.</p> + +<p>As Derrick was told of all this, he realized that he and Harry Mule +would have to get around pretty fast to attend to these duties, and +supply empty cars as they were needed.</p> + +<p>What interested him most in this part of the mine was an alcove hewn +from solid rock near the junction, in which was a complete smithy. It +had forge, anvil, and bellows, and was presided over by a blacksmith +named Job Taskar, as ugly a looking fellow, Derrick thought, as he had +ever seen. Here the mules were shod, tools were sharpened, and broken +iron-work was repaired. It was a busy place, and its glowing forge, +together with the showers of sparks with which Job Taskar's lusty blows +almost constantly surrounded the anvil, made it appear particularly +cheerful and bright amid the all-pervading darkness. Nearly every man +and boy in that section of the mine was obliged to visit the smithy at +least once during working hours. Thus it became a great news centre, and +offered temptations to many of its visitors to linger long after their +business was finished.</p> + +<p>After pointing out to Derrick the several places at which his services +would be required, the mine boss left him, and the boy found himself +fully launched on his new career.</p> + +<p>He soon discovered that Harry Mule knew much more of the business than +he did, and by allowing him to have his own way, and go where he thought +best, Derrick got along with very few mistakes. Among the miners upon +whom he had to attend he found brawny Tom Evert, stripped to the waist, +lying on his side, and working above his head, but bringing down the +coal in glistening showers with each sturdy blow of his pick. When he +saw Derrick he paused in his work long enough to exchange a cheery +greeting with him and to dash the perspiration from his eyes with the +back of his grimy hand; then at it he went again with redoubled energy.</p> + +<p>At the end of one of the headings Derrick found another acquaintance in +the person of Monk Tooley. He scowled when he saw the new driver, and +growled out that he'd better look sharp and see to it he was never kept +waiting for cars, or it would be the worse for him.</p> + +<p>Twice Derrick started to leave this place, and each time the miner +called him back on some trivial pretext. The boy could not see, nor did +he suspect, what the man was doing, but as he turned away for the third +time, Monk Tooley sprang past him with a shout, and ran down the +heading. Derrick did not hear what he said, but turning to look behind +him, he saw a flash of fire, and had barely time to throw himself face +downward, behind his car, when he was stunned by a tremendous explosion. +Directly afterwards he was nearly buried beneath an avalanche of rock +and coal.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>ATTACKED BY ENEMIES, AND LOST IN THE MINE</h3> + + +<p>Although Derrick was terribly frightened by the explosion, and +considerably bruised by the shower of rocks and coal that followed it, +the car had so protected him that he was not seriously hurt. Had his +mule started forward the heavily loaded car must have run over and +killed him. Fortunately Harry was too experienced a miner to allow such +a trifling thing as a blast to disturb his equanimity, especially as the +two false starts already made had placed him at some little distance +from it. To be sure, he had shaken his head at the flying bits of coal, +and had even kicked out viciously at one large piece that fell near his +heels. The iron-shod hoof had shattered the big lump, and sent its +fragments flying over Derrick, but in the darkness and confusion the boy +thought it was only part of the explosion, and was thankful that matters +were no worse.</p> + +<p>As Derrick cleared himself from the mass of rubbish that had fallen on +him, and staggered to his feet, he was nearly suffocated by the dense +clouds of powder-smoke from the blast. He was also in utter darkness, +both his lamp and that of Harry Mule having been blown out. In his +inexperience he had not thought to provide matches before entering the +mine, and now he found himself in a darkness more dense than any he had +ever dreamed of, without any means of procuring a light. His heart grew +heavy within him as he realized his situation, for he had no idea +whether the miner who had played so cruel and dangerous a trick upon him +would return or not.</p> + +<p>An impatient movement on the part of Harry Mule suggested a plan to him. +Casting off the chain by which the mule was attached to the car, and +holding the end in his hand, he said, "Go on, Harry, and take me out of +this place." At this command the intelligent animal started off towards +the junction as unhesitatingly as though surrounded by brightest +daylight, and Derrick followed.</p> + +<p>They had not gone far before they met Monk Tooley, leisurely returning +to the scene of his labors.</p> + +<p>"Hello! Mr. Mule-driver," he shouted, "what are you a-doing here in de +dark, an' how do yer like mining far as ye've got? Been studying de +effect of blarsts, and a-testing of 'em by pussunal experience?"</p> + +<p>Derrick felt a great lump rising in his throat, and bitter thoughts and +words crowded each other closely in his mind. He knew, however, that the +man before him was as greatly his superior in wordy strife as in bodily +strength, so he simply said,</p> + +<p>"The next time you try to kill me you'd better take some surer means of +doing it."</p> + +<p>"Kill you! Who says I wanted to kill you?" demanded the miner, fiercely, +as he stopped and glared at the boy. "Didn't I holler to ye to run? +Didn't I give yer fair warnin' that I was shootin' a blarst? Didn't I? +Course I did and yer didn't pay no 'tention to it. Oh no, sonny! 'twon't +do. Ye mustn't talk 'bout killin' down in dese workin's, cause 'twon't +be 'lowed. Come back now, an' git my wagon. Here's a light for yer, but +don't let me hear no more talk 'bout killin', or ye may have a chance to +wish yer was dead long before yer really is."</p> + +<p>Derrick made no reply to this, but turning Harry Mule about, they went +back after the car. He was convinced that this man was his bitter and +unscrupulous enemy, and made up his mind that he must be constantly on +his guard against him. He did not tell anybody of this startling +incident of his first day's experience in the mine for a long time +afterwards; as, upon thinking it over, he realized that the peril, which +he had so happily escaped might readily be charged to his own +carelessness.</p> + +<p>At lunch time he let Harry Mule make his own way back to the mine stable +for oats and water. He had been told by the mine boss that the knowing +animal would not only do this, but would afterwards return to his place +of duty when started towards it by one of the stable-boys. While the +mule was gone, his young driver went into the blacksmith's shop to eat +his own lunch in company with Job Taskar, who had invited him to do so. +Job questioned Derrick closely as to his acquaintance among the men and +boys of the colliery, and asked particularly in regard to his likings or +dislikings of the several overseers.</p> + +<p>"I hear thee's a great friend o' t' mine boss," said Job.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," answered Derrick. "Mr. Jones was a friend of my father's, +but I hardly know him."</p> + +<p>"All says thee's boss's favorite."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know why they should. Of course it was good of him to +give me a job; but he had to get somebody to drive the mule. It doesn't +seem to me that I've got any easier place than anybody else."</p> + +<p>Here Derrick put one hand up to his badly aching head, which had been +bruised by a flying chunk from Monk Tooley's blast.</p> + +<p>Noting the movement, Job asked what was the matter, for although he had +heard about the blast from Monk Tooley, he wanted to learn what the boy +thought of it.</p> + +<p>"I got hit by a falling chunk," replied Derrick, guardedly.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" growled Job; "better keep clear o' they chunks. One on 'em +might hit ye once too often some time."</p> + +<p>Job held no more conversation with the boy, but lighted his pipe, and +sat at one side of the forge, scowling and smoking. Derrick also kept +silence, as he sat on the opposite side of the forge, rubbing his aching +head with a grimy hand.</p> + +<p>While they sat thus, several miners dropped in for a smoke and a chat. +They all looked curiously at Derrick, but none of them spoke to him. +Thus neglected, he felt very unhappy and uncomfortable, and was glad +when the jingling of Harry Mule's harness outside gave notice that it +was again time to go to work.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day passed uneventfully and monotonously, for, with the +exception of burly Tom Evert, who gave the lad a cheery word whenever he +passed him, nobody spoke to him. Even Harry Mule seemed to realize that +his young driver was not having a very pleasant time, and rubbed his +nose sympathetically against his shoulder, as much as to say, "I'm sorry +for you, and I'll stand by you even if nobody else does."</p> + +<p>At last, in some mysterious way, everybody seemed to know all at once, +that it was time to quit work, and Harry Mule knew it as quickly as +anybody. Before Derrick noticed that the miners had stopped work, this +remarkable animal, having just been unhitched from a car, threw up his +head, uttered a prolonged and ear-rasping bray, and started off on a +brisk trot, with a tremendous clatter and jingling of chains, towards +his stable.</p> + +<p>The door-boys heard him coming, opened their doors to let him pass, +closed them after him, and started on a run for the foot of the slope.</p> + +<p>Of course Derrick followed his charge as fast as possible, calling, as +he ran, "Whoa, Harry! Whoa! Stop that mule, he's running away!" Neither +Harry nor anybody else paid the slightest attention to him, and when he +finally reached the stable he found his mule already there, exchanging +squeals and kicks with several other bumping-mules that had come in from +other parts of the mine.</p> + +<p>Then he knew that it was really quitting-time, and went to work, as +quickly as his inexperience would allow, to rub Harry down, water and +feed him, and make him comfortable for the night. Everybody else who had +stable-work to do finished it before he, and when at last he felt at +liberty to leave the mine and start towards the upper world and the +fresh air he longed so ardently to breathe again, he was alone.</p> + +<p>Derrick found his way without difficulty to the large chamber at the +foot of the slope. There, as he did not see any cars ready to go up, he +turned towards the travelling-road, with the intention of climbing the +steep stairway he had descended that morning.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there arose cries of "There he is! There he is! Head him off!"</p> + +<p>Before the startled lad knew what was about to happen, he was surrounded +by a score of sooty-faced boys. Cutting him off from the +travelling-road, these boys pushed him, in spite of his opposition and +protests, into a far corner of the chamber, where, with his back against +the wall, he made a stand and demanded what they wanted of him.</p> + +<p>"A treat! a treat!" shouted several.</p> + +<p>Then room was made for one who seemed to exercise authority over them, +and who, as he stepped forward, Derrick recognized with surprise as Bill +Tooley, ex-mule driver, and now breaker boy.</p> + +<p>"What are you down here for, and what does all this mean, Bill?" asked +Derrick, as calmly as he could.</p> + +<p>"It means," answered Bill, putting his disagreeable face very close to +Derrick's, "dat yer've got ter pay fer comin' down inter de mine, an' +fer takin' my mule, when I told yer not ter; dat's what it means. An' it +means dat we're goin' ter initerate yer inter de order of 'Young +Sleepers,' what every boy in de mine has got ter belong ter."</p> + +<p>Derrick had heard of this order of "Young Sleepers," and knew it to be +composed of the very worst young rascals in the coal region. He knew +that they were up to all kinds of wickedness, and that most of the petty +crimes of the community were charged to them. In an instant he made up +his mind that he would rather suffer almost anything than become a +member of such a gang.</p> + +<p>While these thoughts were passing through his mind the cry of "A treat! +a treat!" was again raised, and Bill Tooley again addressed Derrick, +saying,</p> + +<p>"Ter pay yer way inter de mine, de fellers says yer must set up a kag er +beer. Ter pay fer drivin' my mule, I say yer got ter take a lickin', an' +after that we'll initerate yer."</p> + +<p>Now, both Derrick's father and mother had taught him to abhor liquor in +every form; so to the boy's first proposition he promptly answered,</p> + +<p>"I haven't got any money, and couldn't afford to buy a keg of beer, even +if I wanted to. I don't want to, because I'm a blue ribbon, and wouldn't +buy even a glass of beer if I had all the money in the world. I won't +join your society either, and I don't see how you can initiate me when I +don't choose to become a member. As for a licking, it'll take more than +you to give it to me, Bill Tooley!"</p> + +<p>With these bold words the young mule-driver made a spring at his chief +tormenter, in a desperate effort to break through the surrounding group +of boys. In the distance he saw the twinkling lights of some miners, and +thought if he could only reach them they would afford him protection.</p> + +<p>Derrick's defiant speech for an instant paralyzed his hearers with its +very boldness; but as he sprang at Bill Tooley they also made a rush at +him with howls of anger. He succeeded in hitting their leader one +staggering blow, but was quickly overpowered by numbers and flung to the +ground, where the young savages beat and kicked him so cruelly that he +thought they were about to kill him.</p> + +<p>He tried to scream for help, but could not utter a sound, and the miners +who passed on their way to the slope thought the fracas was only a +quarrel among some of the boys and paid no attention to it.</p> + +<p>At length Bill Tooley ordered the boys to cease from pummelling their +victim, and stooping over him, tied a dirty cloth over his eyes; then he +gave a whispered order, and several of the boys, lifting the helpless +lad by his head and feet, bore him away.</p> + +<p>After carrying him what seemed to Derrick an interminable distance, and +passing through a number of doors, as he could tell by hearing them +loudly opened and closed, his bearers suddenly dropped him on the hard +ground. Then Bill Tooley's voice said,</p> + +<p>"Yer'll lie dere now till yer make up yer mind ter jine de Young +Sleepers. Den yer can come an' let me know, an' I'll attend ter yer +initeration. Till then yer'll stay where yer are, if it's a thousand +years; fer no one'll come a-nigh yer an' yer can't find de way out."</p> + +<p>While Bill was thus talking the other boys quietly slipped away. As he +finished he also moved off, so softly that Derrick did not hear the +sound of his retreating footsteps. It was not until some minutes had +passed that he realized that he had been left, and was alone.</p> + +<p>Meantime those who had thus abandoned their victim to the horrors of +black solitude, in what to him was an unknown part of the mine, were +gathered together at no great distance from him. There they waited to +gloat over the cries that they hoped he would utter as soon as he +realized that he was abandoned. In this they were disappointed, for +though they lingered half an hour not a sound did they hear; then two of +the boldest among them decided to take a look at their prisoner. +Shielding the single lamp that lighted their steps so that its rays +should not be seen at any great distance, they crept cautiously to where +they had left him.</p> + +<p>He was gone!</p> + +<p>This had not been expected, and with an ill-defined feeling of dread +they hurried back to the others and made their report.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, let him go!" exclaimed Bill Tooley, brutally. "'Twon't hurt +him to spend a while in de gangway. Let's go up to supper, and +afterwards come down an' hunt him."</p> + +<p>As none of them dared to object to any proposal made by the bully, the +whole gang of begrimed and evil-minded young savages hurried to the foot +of the slope. Here they tumbled into a car, and in a few minutes were +drawn up to the surface, where they scattered towards their respective +homes and waiting suppers.</p> + +<p>Paul Evert, who ever since work had ceased in the breaker, more than an +hour before, had lingered near the mouth of the slope, waiting for the +appearance of his friend, ventured to ask one of them if he had seen +Derrick.</p> + +<p>"Don't know nothing about him," was the reply, as, greatly alarmed to +find the lad whom he had helped to persecute already made an object of +inquiry, the Young Sleeper hurried away.</p> + +<p>Bill Tooley had overheard Paul's question, and stepping up to him, he +said, "Look a-here, young feller, yer ain't got no call as I knows on to +be a meddling wid what goes on in de mine and don't concern you. I don't +mind tellin' yer, though, that yer butty's doin' overwork, and mebbe +won't come up all night. I heerd one of de bosses orderin' him to it."</p> + +<p>Although Paul thought this somewhat strange, he knew that the miners +frequently stayed down to do overwork, and was much relieved at such a +plausible explanation of his friend's non-appearance. On his way home he +stopped to tell Mrs. Sterling what he had heard. He found her very +anxious, and just about to go out and make inquiries concerning her boy. +The information that Paul brought relieved her mind somewhat, and +thanking him for it, she turned back into the house with a sigh, and +gave little Helen her supper, at the same time setting aside a liberal +portion for Derrick when he should come.</p> + +<p>Until nearly ten o'clock she waited, frequently going to the door to +look and listen; then she could bear the suspense no longer. Throwing a +shawl over her head, and bidding Helen remain where she was for a few +minutes, the anxious mother started to go to the house of the mine boss +to gain certain information of her boy. As she opened her own front +door, something that she saw caused her to utter a cry and stand +trembling on the threshold.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE SECRET MEETING—A PLUNGE DOWN AN AIR-SHAFT</h3> + + +<p>What Mrs. Sterling saw was her own son Derrick, who was just about to +enter the house. As the light from behind her shone full upon him, he +presented a sorry spectacle, and one well calculated to draw forth an +exclamation from an anxious mother. Hatless and coatless, his face +bruised, swollen, and so covered with blood and coal-dust that its +features were almost unrecognizable, he could not well have presented a +more striking contrast to the clean, cheerful lad whom she had sent down +into the mine with a kiss and a blessing that very morning.</p> + +<p>"Why, Derrick!" she exclaimed, the moment she made sure that it was +really he. "What has happened to you? has there been an accident? They +said you were kept down for overwork. Tell me the worst at once, dear! +Are you badly hurt?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, mother," answered the boy in as cheerful a tone as he could +command. "I am not much hurt, only bruised and banged a little by a +blast that I carelessly stayed too close to. A little hot water and soap +will put me all right again after I've had some supper; but, if you love +me, mother, give me something to eat quickly, for I'm most starved."</p> + +<p>By this time they were within the house, and as Mrs. Sterling hastened +to make ready the supper she had saved for Derrick, he dropped into a +chair utterly exhausted. He might well be exhausted, for what he had +passed through and suffered since leaving home that morning could not +have been borne by a boy of weaker constitution or less strength of +will. He was greatly revived by two cups of strong tea and the food set +before him. After satisfying his hunger he went to his own room, and +took a bath in water as hot as he could bear it, and washed his cuts and +bruises with white castile-soap, a piece of which Mrs. Sterling always +managed to keep on hand for such emergencies. It was fortunate for her +peace of mind that the fond mother did not see the cruel bruises that +covered her boy's body from head to foot.</p> + +<p>The bath refreshed him so much, and so loosened the joints that were +beginning to feel very stiff and painful, that Derrick believed he was +able, before going to bed, to perform the one duty still remaining to be +done. Mrs. Sterling thought he had gone to bed, and was greatly +surprised to see him come from his room fully dressed. When he told her +that he must go out again to deliver an important message to the mine +boss, she begged him to wait until morning, or at least to let her carry +it for him. Assuring her that it was absolutely necessary that he should +deliver the message himself that very night, and saying that he would be +back within an hour, Derrick kissed his mother and went out.</p> + +<p>On the street he met with but one person, a miner hurrying towards the +slope, to whom he did not speak, and who he thought did not recognize +him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones had closed his house for the night, and was about to retire, +when he was startled by a knock at the outer door. Recent events had +rendered him so suspicious and cautious that he stepped to his desk and +took from it a revolver, which he held in his hand as he stood near the +door, and without opening it, called out,</p> + +<p>"Who's there? and what do you want at this time of night?"</p> + +<p>As softly as he could, and yet make himself heard, Derrick answered,</p> + +<p>"It is I, sir, Derrick Sterling, and I have got something important to +tell you."</p> + +<p>At this answer a man who had stolen up behind Derrick, unperceived by +him in the darkness, slipped away with noiseless but hurried footsteps.</p> + +<p>"Is anybody with you?" demanded the mine boss, without opening the door.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I am all alone."</p> + +<p>Then the door was cautiously opened, Derrick was bidden to step inside +quickly, and it was immediately closed again and bolted. Leading the way +into the library, the mine boss said, not unkindly, but somewhat +impatiently,</p> + +<p>"Well, Sterling, what brings you here at this time of night? working +boys should be in bed and asleep before this."</p> + +<p>While Derrick is explaining to the mine boss why he is not abed and +asleep, and giving his reasons for disturbing him at that late hour, we +will return to the mine, and see for ourselves what befell him there, +after the events narrated in the last chapter.</p> + +<p>The Young Sleepers had left him blindfolded, alone, and in total +darkness, lying on the floor of an unfamiliar gangway. The boy's first +impulse, when he realized that his persecutors had departed and left him +alone, was to tear the bandage from his eyes and fling it far from him. +Of course this did not enable him to see anything, but he felt more free +now that the cloth was removed, and was thankful they had not bound his +wrists so that he could not have reached it.</p> + +<p>His next impulse was to shout for help, but an instant's reflection +decided him not to do so. It was not at all probable that anybody except +his tormentors would hear him, and they would only rejoice at this +evidence of his distress. He knew that all his shoutings would not bring +them to him until they were ready to come, and he felt that he had too +little strength left to waste it thus uselessly.</p> + +<p>He could not bear to remain where he was without at least making an +attempt to help himself; so he rose to his feet, and feeling his way +very cautiously, began to walk along the gangway. Although he did not +know it, he involuntarily turned in the opposite direction from the +place where Bill Tooley and his companions were waiting and listening to +hear from him.</p> + +<p>For some time Derrick expected to reach a door, behind which he should +find a boy, or to meet a train of mule-cars, or a miner who would lead +him to the foot of the slope. At length, however, when he had walked a +long distance, and yet found none of these, his courage began to leave +him and a wild terror to take its place.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, like a flash, it occurred to him that he had not struck any +rails in walking, nor felt any indications of a car-track. Filled with a +new dread, he stooped down, and with trembling hands felt every inch of +the wet floor from one side of the gangway to the other. There was no +sign of a track, and he knew, what he had already suspected, that it had +been torn up, and that he was in an abandoned gangway, which another +human being might not enter for years.</p> + +<p>This revelation of the full horror of his situation was too much for the +overstrained nerves of the poor lad. He uttered a loud cry, which was +echoed and re-echoed with startling distinctness through the silent, +rock-walled gallery, flung himself on the wet floor, and burst into +bitter sobbings.</p> + +<p>How long he lay there, in a sort of semi-stupor after this first +outburst of his despair, he had no means of knowing, but he was finally +roused into an attitude of eager attention by what sounded like a +distant murmur of voices. He sat up, and then sprang to his feet, +rubbing his eyes and staring in a bewildered manner into the darkness of +the gangway ahead of him. Did he see a light only a few paces before +him? It seemed so. Yet he was not sure, for it was not a direct ray, as +from a lamp, but a sort of dim, flickering radiance that appeared to +rise from the very floor almost at his feet.</p> + +<p>For several minutes Derrick stared at it incredulously, unable to fathom +the mystery of its appearance. Was it a light produced by human agency, +or was it one of those weird illuminations that sometimes arise from the +dampness and foul air of old mines? He stepped towards it to satisfy +himself of its true character, and as he did so was confronted by a +danger so terrible that, although he had escaped it, his heart almost +stopped beating as he realized its full extent.</p> + +<p>By the vague light proceeding from it he saw a pit-hole occupying the +entire width of the gangway, and apparently of great depth. Around its +edge had been built a barrier of logs breast-high. Through age these had +so decayed and fallen that, had Derrick continued a few steps further on +his way, instead of stopping to indulge his grief, he must have walked +into the pit and fallen to the bottom.</p> + +<p>The sound of voices that he had heard came up through this opening, and +he was just about to call for help, to whoever was down there, when his +attention was arrested by one voice louder and harsher than the others. +It sounded like that of Job Taskar, the blacksmith, and it said, as +though in settlement of some dispute,</p> + +<p>"I don't care a rap who does it, or how it is done, Jones must be put +out of the way somehow or other."</p> + +<p>Another voice, which was hardly audible, asked, "What about the kid?"</p> + +<p>To this came answer in a voice which there was no mistaking for other +than Monk Tooley's,</p> + +<p>"De Young Sleepers is lookin' arter him. Dey're givin' him a big scare. +Blinded him, and toted him back and for'ard, going in and out t'old +gangway door between whiles to make him think he was a long ways off. +Den dey left him just inside t'old gangway, nigh de slope. He thinks +he's at de far end of nowhere by dis time. Dey'll soon drive him from de +mine."</p> + +<p>"If they don't, others will," said Job Taskar's voice. "We don't want no +boss's pets spying round this mine. Now, lads, we'll get out of this. +Remember, next regular meeting's on the 27th. We'll fix then how all's +to be done."</p> + +<p>There was a confused murmuring after this, but Derrick could make +nothing out of it, and in a few minutes a strong draught of air sucked +down the hole over which he hung, and the dim light disappeared. As it +did so, the poor lad gave one wild cry for help. It only reached the +ears of the last of those below as he was leaving the chamber in which +they had held their meeting. To him it sounded so awful and supernatural +that he was greatly frightened, and hurried on after the others, leaving +the door open behind him, whereby the strong draught down the air-shaft +was continued.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes Derrick thought he was indeed lost, and gave himself +up to despair. Then he gradually recalled the words of Monk Tooley that +referred to himself, and received a gleam of hope from them. If indeed +he had been left just inside the door of an old gangway, near the foot +of the slope, might he not find his way back to it and escape? He +shuddered as he thought of the long walk through the awful darkness, but +he was no better off where he was. So, with much thinking and +hesitation, he finally started back on the road he had come, carefully +feeling his way and making but slow progress.</p> + +<p>He thought he should never reach the end; but at last he came to a door, +beyond which he heard the sound of human voices, and through the +crevices of which air was rushing outward. Cautiously he pulled it open, +fearing lest some of his late persecutors might be waiting to seize him. +The way was clear, and though he saw several lights in the distance, +none was near him. Gently closing the door, he darted towards the +travelling-road down which he had come that morning, and entered it +without having been observed.</p> + +<p>The climb up the gigantic stairway was a tedious one for the weary lad, +and called for such frequent rests that it occupied him nearly an hour. +When he finally reached the top he had barely strength enough left to +drag himself home.</p> + +<p>This was the story that Derrick Sterling told the assistant +superintendent in the library of the latter's house that night.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones listened to it with the gravest and most earnest attention, +only interrupting now and then to ask a question concerning some point +that was not made quite clear, or to give utterance to an expression of +sympathy as Derrick related some of his sufferings.</p> + +<p>The brave lad had not intended to say anything regarding his treatment +by the Young Sleepers, but was obliged to do so in answer to questions +as to how he happened to be left in the old gangway.</p> + +<p>When he had finished, the mine boss grasped him warmly by the hand, and +said,</p> + +<p>"My boy, by this timely information, so miraculously obtained, you have +doubtless given me a chance for my life which I should not otherwise +have had. Your adventures have been most thrilling, and your deliverance +wonderful. Now go home and to bed; you must not think of going to work +again until I give you permission to do so."</p> + +<p>Once more Derrick found his mother anxiously awaiting his return. He +told her that the mine boss had been very kind to him, and that as he +was not going to work the next day she need not waken him in the +morning. Then he threw himself, all dressed as he was, upon his bed, and +while trying to relate to her some of the events of his first day in the +mine, fell into a profound sleep.</p> + +<p>Meantime other events, equally thrilling with those just related, were +taking place in the mine.</p> + +<p>Bill Tooley's brutal disposition was mainly the result of his home +training and influences, for he could not remember having had a single +gentle or kind word spoken to him in all his stormy life. In spite of it +he was troubled with some prickings of conscience, and a sort of pity +that evening, as he reflected upon the unhappy condition of the lad whom +he had left to wander alone amid the awful blackness of the abandoned +gangway. He had not intended to do anything so cruel as this when he +first left Derrick where he did. He thought the boy would certainly cry +out for help, and after allowing him to suffer thus for a short time he +meant to go to him and offer to release him upon condition of his +joining the Young Sleepers. This plan had been upset by Derrick's +disappearance, and then it was more to assert his authority over his +companions than with the idea of inflicting further cruelty upon their +victim that he had ordered him to be left for a while. Now he began to +feel anxious concerning the fate of the lad, and eager to effect his +release.</p> + +<p>Feeling thus, as soon as he had finished an uncomfortable supper in his +wretched home, filled with quarrelling children, and ruled by a +slatternly, shrill-voiced mother, he hurried out to try and induce some +of his companions to accompany him down into the mine in a search for +Derrick. He had some difficulty in doing this, for the other boys were +badly frightened by what had taken place, and dreaded to return into the +mine. It was more than an hour after he started out before he had +persuaded four of the boldest among them to join him in the proposed +search.</p> + +<p>As this little party gathered at the mouth of the slope, and prepared to +descend in a car that was about to start down with some timbers for +props, a timid voice said,</p> + +<p>"Can't I go too, Bill? Please let me! I know you are going to look for +Derrick. Please, Bill!"</p> + +<p>It was Paul Evert, who, with an undefined feeling of dread and fear for +the safety of his friend, had hung on the outskirts of various groups of +boys in the village street until from their conversations he had learned +the whole story. With senses sharpened by anxiety and love, he had +discovered that Bill Tooley and his companions were going in search of +the missing lad. Now, with his father's mine cap bearing its tiny lamp +on his head, he begged to be allowed to go with them.</p> + +<p>Bill hesitated for a moment, and then, for fear lest if he refused Paul +would spread the story of what he had discovered, or perhaps, moved by +some better feeling, he said, "Yes, pile in if yer want to, dough I +don't see what good you can do."</p> + +<p>Overjoyed to receive this permission, Paul hastily scrambled into the +car just as it began to move, and in a few minutes was landed with the +rest at the foot of the slope.</p> + +<p>Some time before this Derrick had emerged from the old gangway, and +turned into the travelling-road, up which he was now laboriously making +his way.</p> + +<p>There did not happen to be an overseer at the bottom of the slope just +then, and to the one or two men who observed them the presence of boys +in the mine at all hours of the day and night was too common to attract +comment; so the little party had no difficulty in entering the old +gangway without being noticed or questioned.</p> + +<p>For some reason which he could not explain Paul had brought with him a +new clothes-line, which he now carried, coiled and hung about his neck. +Bill Tooley took the lead, and Paul, with the aid of his crutch, hobbled +along close after him, while the others walked fearfully in a bunch at +some little distance behind.</p> + +<p>They had not gone far when Bill stopped and picked up a piece of cloth +from the ground.</p> + +<p>"Here's what was over his eyes," he said, "an' as it's a bit furder dan +where we left 'im, it shows he's gone furder in."</p> + +<p>The boys gazed at the cloth in awe-struck silence, as though it were +something to be dreaded; and, when Bill called out, "Come on, fellers, +yer won't never find nothing a-standin' dere like a lot o' balky mules," +they followed him even more reluctantly than before.</p> + +<p>Lighted by their lamps, they made far more rapid progress than poor +Derrick had in the darkness, and soon approached the place where he had +discovered the dim, reflected light above the mouth of the old +air-shaft. Just here the oil in their leader's lamp began to give out, +and its flame to burn with a waning and uncertain light.</p> + +<p>All at once a strong draught of air extinguished it entirely. He took a +step forward in the darkness towards a log which he had barely seen, and +thought might be Derrick Sterling lying down. Then came a terrible cry, +and Paul's light showed nothing in front of him save the yawning mouth +of the shaft down which Bill Tooley had pitched headlong!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>A CRIPPLE'S BRAVE DEED</h3> + + +<p>As Bill Tooley thus met the fate Derrick had so narrowly escaped, and +the Young Sleepers who followed him were left without a leader, they +were thrown into a sad state of confusion. Two of them started to run +back, another threw himself on the floor and burst into loud +lamentations, while the fourth stood motionless and silent from fear. Of +them all, only Paul Evert, the crippled lad, retained his presence of +mind.</p> + +<p>As upon all such occasions he who retains full command of his faculties +and remains calm at once assumes the position of a leader, so it was +now.</p> + +<p>In a voice that sounded loud and stern as compared with his ordinary +gentle tone, Paul commanded the runaways to stop and return at once. +They hesitated a moment and then obeyed him. He ordered the boy who lay +upon the floor to cease his outcries and get up. Then the little fellow +approached as close to the air-shaft as he dared, and lying down, with +his head beyond its edge, he listened. In a moment he was rewarded for +his pains, for he heard a faint moan. There came another more +distinctly, and he knew that wherever Bill Tooley was he was still +alive, and might possibly be saved.</p> + +<p>Taking the lamp from his cap, and the coil of line from about his neck, +where it seemed to have been placed for this very emergency, he tied the +one to an end of the other and gently lowered it into the shaft. Before +doing this he ordered two of the boys to hold him tightly by the legs, +and thus prevent him from slipping over the edge. Quieted, and with some +of their courage restored by his coolness, they did as he directed, and +held him with so firm a grip that for many days afterwards his legs bore +black and blue imprints of their fingers.</p> + +<p>As the little lamp swung downward the draught of air caused it to flare +and flicker as though it were about to be extinguished, but it was +nearly full of oil, and the wick had just been pricked up, so it +continued to burn and throw an uncertain light upon the glistening +masses of coal that formed the sides of the shaft. It had not been +lowered more than ten feet when its feeble rays disclosed a dark object, +apparently suspended in mid-air, in the centre of the shaft. It was Bill +Tooley, and Paul saw that by some means his downward plunge had been +arrested, and that he was now clinging to an invisible support.</p> + +<p>Hastily pulling up the lamp, Paul replaced it on his cap, and doubling +his line, made one end of it fast to an old timber prop or support of +the gangway roof that stood a short distance from the shaft. Knotting +the loose end about his body, and bidding the boys place one of the old +logs close to the edge of the shaft and hold it there to prevent the +rope from being chafed or cut, the brave little hump-backed lad, who, +like most of those in his condition, was unusually strong in his arms, +swung himself into the dark hole. Down he slid into the blackness, +slowly and cautiously, until he came to the object of his search. It was +Bill Tooley's limp body hanging across a stout timber brace, which, +extending from side to side of the shaft and firmly bedded in its walls +at each end, had been left there by the miners who cut this air-channel.</p> + +<p>As Paul's withered leg was of no assistance to him in clinging to the +timber, he lashed himself securely to it before attempting to do +anything for the boy who had so recently been his enemy and tormentor, +and was now dependent upon his efforts for even a chance for life. Bill +was not unconscious, though so weak from pain and fright as to be nearly +helpless. Under the influence of Paul's cheering words, and after the +line had been securely fastened about his body, he was induced to let go +his desperate hold of the timber and grasp the rope. Then Paul called +out to the boys above to pull up very slowly and carefully, as the least +carelessness might result in dashing both Bill and him to the bottom of +the shaft.</p> + +<p>Bill Tooley was a heavy weight for the frightened boys at the top to +manage, and several times, even in the short distance of ten feet, his +upward progress was arrested, and Paul feared that they were about to +let him slip back. Obeying his instructions, two of the boys walked away +with the rope, instead of trying to pull up hand-over-hand, while the +other two held the log at the edge in place, and made ready to catch +hold of Bill's arm as soon as he should come within reach.</p> + +<p>Finally his head appeared above the surface, and he was dragged, +screaming with pain, over the edge, and laid groaning on the floor of +the gangway. Then the rope was again lowered to the brave little fellow +who was clinging in perfect darkness—for his light had at length blown +out—to the timber brace in the shaft. He was drawn to the surface much +more quickly and easily than Bill Tooley had been; but when he found +himself once more in safety, a reaction from the nervous strain of the +past half-hour set in. Throwing himself down beside Bill, he began to +sob so violently as to greatly astonish the boys, who beheld but could +not comprehend this weakness in one whose strong will had but a minute +before so completely mastered theirs.</p> + +<p>In a few moments Paul recovered his composure sufficiently to ask two of +the boys to go to the chamber at the foot of the slope and procure +assistance to carry Bill Tooley, who was evidently unable to walk. After +a long delay these two returned, in company with several miners, who +brought a stretcher such as is often kept in coal mines in readiness for +the accidents that are so common to them.</p> + +<p>From what the messenger boys had told them, these men knew most of the +facts connected with the accident. They were so loud in their praise of +Paul for his brave deed that he became greatly confused, though it must +be confessed that praise from these great strong men, any one of whom +would be proud to have done what he had, sounded very pleasantly to the +crippled lad. In order to have a little time to think it all over, he +hobbled on ahead of the others, who moved but slowly with their burden.</p> + +<p>When he was thus alone with his thoughts, Paul suddenly remembered the +object for which he had entered the mine. It had been completely lost +sight of in the excitement of the past hour, but now he realized that +they had discovered nothing concerning Derrick's fate. He grew faint and +cold at the remembrance of the air-shaft. Did his dear friend's body lie +at the bottom of it? He trembled as he thought how very possibly this +might be the case, and waiting for the men to overtake him, he asked if +they knew anything of Derrick Sterling.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered one of them, "I saw him come out of his mother's house +as I was passing on my way to the slope, more'n half an hour ago."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" asked Paul, in great surprise.</p> + +<p>"Certainly I am. Why not? was there anything strange in that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we thought he was lost in the mine, and have been hunting for +him."</p> + +<p>"Well, you were mistaken, that's all, and you've had your hunt for +nothing."</p> + +<p>Paul was made very happy by this news, though it greatly puzzled him. +The other boys were relieved to hear that Derrick was safe, but greatly +alarmed as to what fate was in store for them as a punishment for the +injuries they had inflicted upon him. Judging from what they would have +done under similar circumstances, they did not doubt that Derrick had +already spread the story of his wrongs through the village, together +with the names of all those who had persecuted him.</p> + +<p>At length the party reached the foot of the slope, and Bill Tooley, with +his head resting in Paul Evert's lap, and moaning with pain, was sent in +an empty car to the surface. The bully had made himself so unpopular by +his cruelty, and by his overbearing ways, that nobody except Paul felt +very sorry for him. When it was learned that he had received his +injuries in consequence of his persecution of Derrick Sterling, the +general verdict was that he was rightly served.</p> + +<p>The injured boy was carried to his home, whither Paul accompanied him; +but the latter was so frightened by the outcries of Mrs. Tooley when she +learned what had happened that he hurried away without entering the +house. On his way home he stopped at the Sterlings' to inquire if +Derrick were really safe, and was much comforted to learn that he had +just come in and gone to bed—"Where you should be yourself, Paul," said +Mrs. Sterling, kindly, as she bade him good-night.</p> + +<p>As the tired but light-hearted boy hobbled into his own home, his +father, who had sat up waiting for him, without knowing where he had +been, roughly ordered him to bed, saying it was no time of night for +lads like him to be prowling about the street.</p> + +<p>The sensitive little fellow went up-stairs without a word, all his +light-heartedness dispelled by this harsh reception, and the tears +starting to his eyes. His back ached so from his unwonted exertions that +even after he got to bed he tossed and tumbled feverishly for several +hours before falling into a troubled sleep.</p> + +<p>Tom Evert left his house earlier than usual the next morning, and went +to the mouth of the slope, where he found a number of his friends +assembled. They began to congratulate him, and continued to do so until +in great bewilderment he exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"What's it for, mates? Is it a joke?"</p> + +<p>"For thy son, man."</p> + +<p>"For my son? which of 'em?"</p> + +<p>"Thy crippled lad, Paul, of course. Is the man daft?"</p> + +<p>"No; but I think ye must be, to be running on in such a fashion about a +lad that's not only a wellnigh helpless cripple, but I'm afeared is +going bad ways. 'Twas nearer midnight nor sundown before he came in frae +t' street last night, and I sent him to bed wi' a flea in his ear."</p> + +<p>A perfect roar of laughter greeted this speech.</p> + +<p>"Wellnigh helpless, is he?" cried one. "Well, if he's helpless I'd like +to know what you'd name helpful?"</p> + +<p>"Going to the bad, is he?"</p> + +<p>"Out late o' nights! That's a good one."</p> + +<p>"An' yez sint him to bed wid a flea in his ear, an' him just afther +doin' the dade should mak' ye the proudest fayther in de place! Did iver +I moind de likes of that?"</p> + +<p>These and many similar expressions greeted the ear of the astonished +miner, and from them he began to comprehend that his son Paul had done +something wonderful, and had thereby become a famous character in the +village. At length, after much effort, for they would not believe but +that he knew the whole story, he learned of his boy's brave deed of the +night before. Instead of going down the slope the miner hurried home, +where he found Paul, looking very pale and languid, just sitting down to +his breakfast.</p> + +<p>Picking up the frail boy, and holding him in his strong arms as he used +to when he was a baby, the delighted father exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Paul, lad, forgie me this time, and I'll never speak thee rough again. +Thee's made me, I think, the proudest man in the state this day. +Crippled and all, thee's proved thyself worth a score of straight lads, +and to thy fayther thee's worth all the lads in the world. Mither, our +Paul's done that any man in t' mine might be proud of, an' he's the talk +of the colliery."</p> + +<p>Thus was Paul more than repaid for all his suffering of the night +before, and as he hobbled to his work in the new breaker that morning he +was once more happy and light-hearted.</p> + +<p>The evening before, Job Taskar had called Monk Tooley from his house, +and as they walked away together he said, in a low but significant tone,</p> + +<p>"That Sterling lad's not down in the mine, Monk."</p> + +<p>"He must be dere, fer de Sleepers left him where he'd be safe, an' I +know he's not come up de slope since."</p> + +<p>"He's not there, I tell you; for I just now saw him going into Jones's +house, and heard him say he had something important to tell him."</p> + +<p>"If yer saw him and heerd him of course he must be up; but I don't see +how he did it. If he's told de boss anything it must be a blab on de +Sleepers, fer he can't know anything else."</p> + +<p>"Whatever it is, he's dangerous to have round, and we must look out for +him."</p> + +<p>"All right! just leave him to me. I'll have de Sleepers fix him. Dey'll +do anything my boy Bill tells 'em; he's got 'em under his thumb."</p> + +<p>"Look sharp about it, then."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, mate, I'll give Bill de word to-night soon as he comes in."</p> + +<p>Then the two separated, and Monk Tooley went home, thinking over a plan +by which the Young Sleepers, under his son Bill's direction, could +effectually drive Derrick Sterling from the mine. As he opened his own +door he called out in his loud, rough voice,</p> + +<p>"Bill come in yet?"</p> + +<p>Stepping into the front room, he stood still in amazement. The wife of a +neighbor was holding up a warning finger towards him, and saying, +"Sh—h!"</p> + +<p>His own wife and two other women were bending over a bed in one corner, +and the children, whom he had never before known to be quiet when awake, +were standing or sitting silently in various frightened attitudes about +the room.</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" he asked, hoarsely, with an attempt at a whisper.</p> + +<p>"It's Bill," answered one of the women. "He's badly hurted, falling down +a shaft in the mine, and is like to die. They say Paul the cripple saved +him."</p> + +<p>"Bill! my Bill! You're lying!" cried the miner, fiercely. "Bill came out +of de mine wid de day shift. I seen him."</p> + +<p>Rough and cruel as he was, the man had, hidden somewhere in his being, a +deep-seated affection for his son Bill. Although he had never been heard +to speak other than harshly to him, Bill was the pride and joy of his +hard life. A blow aimed at Bill struck him with redoubled force. His +hatred of Derrick Sterling arose from the fact that the lad had thrashed +his boy. Now to tell him that his boy Bill was so badly hurt that he was +likely to die was like wrenching from him all that he held worth living +for.</p> + +<p>The women made way for the rough miner as he strode to where his son lay +on a heap of soiled bedclothing, tossing and moaning, but unconscious, +and in a high fever. One look was enough, and then Monk Tooley left the +house, and set forth on a ten-mile walk through the night to fetch the +nearest doctor.</p> + +<p>By sunrise the doctor had come and gone again, having done what he +could. He said the boy would live if he were kept quiet and had careful +nursing, but that he was injured in such a way that he might be lame for +the rest of his life.</p> + +<p>When Monk Tooley went down into the mine that day—for he must now work +harder and more steadily than ever to support this added burden—he was +a silent, heart-broken man.</p> + +<p>It was nearly noon before Derrick Sterling awoke after his first day of +bitter experience in the mine. Though he was still sore and lame, hot +water and sleep, two of nature's most powerful remedies in cases of his +kind, had worked such wonders for him that he felt quite ready to enter +the mine again, and face whatever new trials it might have in store for +him.</p> + +<p>After dinner the mine boss came to see him, and was amazed to find him +looking so well and cheerful.</p> + +<p>"You seem to come up smiling after every knock down, Derrick," he said. +"I shouldn't wonder if you would even be ready to go down into the mine +again to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I think I must, sir," said Derrick, earnestly. "I don't believe +any one else can get along with Harry Mule as well as I can."</p> + +<p>"Let me see. How many years have you been driving him?" asked Mr. Jones, +gravely.</p> + +<p>"Only one day, sir," replied Derrick laughing, "but I think he's very +fond of me, and I know I am of him."</p> + +<p>"All right; if you insist upon it, you shall go down again to-morrow to +your bumping-mule. Now I want to talk to you seriously."</p> + +<p>The conversation that followed was long and earnest, and it was ended by +Mr. Jones saying, just before he left, "I must manage somehow or other +to be there on the 27th, and I want you to go with me, for I don't know +anybody else whom I dare trust. It only remains for us to discover a +way."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>DERRICK STERLING'S SPLENDID REVENGE</h3> + + +<p>The new breaker, in which Paul Evert now worked as a slate-picker, was +in general appearance very much like the old one, but its interior +arrangement was different, and of such a nature as to make life much +easier for those who worked in it. The greatest improvement was the +introduction of a set of machines called "jigs." The coal from the mine, +after being drawn to the very top of the breaker, first passed between +great spiked rollers, or "crushers;" then through a series of "screens," +provided with holes of different sizes, that separated it into several +grades of egg, stove, nut, pea, buckwheat, etc. From the screens it was +led into the jigs. These are perforated iron cylinders set in tubs of +water, and fitted with movable iron bottoms placed at a slight angle. A +small steam-engine attached to each machine raises and lowers or "jigs" +this iron bottom a few inches each way very rapidly. The contents of the +cylinders are thus constantly shaken in water, and as the slate is +heavier than the coal, most of it settles to the bottom, and is carried +off through a waste chute. The wet coal runs out through other chutes +placed a little higher than that for slate, and extending down through +the length of the breaker to the storage bins at its bottom. Along these +chutes in the new breaker, as in the old one, sat rows of boys picking +out the bits of slate that had escaped the jigs, and among them was Paul +Evert.</p> + +<p>When Derrick Sterling entered the new breaker on the afternoon of the +day following that which had brought such memorable adventures, he was +surprised at the comparative absence of coal-dust. It still rose in +clouds from the crushers and screens, but there was none above the +chutes. He understood the theory of jigs, but had never seen them at +work, and now he was so greatly interested in watching them as almost to +forget the errand on which he had come. It was only when Mr. Guffy spoke +to him that he thought of it, and handed the breaker boss the note he +had come to give him.</p> + +<p>"All right," said the boss reading it. "I'm sorry to lose him, for he is +a quiet, steady lad, and, could in time be made very useful as a picker. +I doubt, though, if his back would hold out long at the work. Yes, you +may take him along now if you want to."</p> + +<p>Stepping over to where his friend sat, Derrick said, "Come, Paul, you're +not to work any more to-day; I want to have a talk with you outside."</p> + +<p>When they had left the breaker, Derrick said, "How would you like to go +down into the mine, Paul, and be a door-tender, very near where I work, +and get twice as much money as you can make in the breaker?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I should like it," answered Paul, gravely; "but I don't think +they want a cripple like me down there."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they do want just exactly such a fellow as you are; they found out +last night what you could do in a mine. Mr. Jones says that if you want +to you can go down with me to-morrow morning, and begin at once without +waiting for the end of the month. You are to go with me to the store +this evening for your mine cap, lamp, and boots. See, here's the order +for them."</p> + +<p>Paul stared at the order for a moment as though he could not believe it +was real. Then exclaiming, "Oh goody, Derrick! I'm so glad to get out of +that hateful, back-aching breaker," he gave a funny little twirl of his +body around his crutch, which was his way of expressing great joy.</p> + +<p>Derrick shared this joy equally with Paul, and to see them one would +have supposed they had just come into fortunes at least. To a stranger +such rejoicings over an offer of monotonous work down in the blackness +of a coal mine would have seemed absurd, but if he had ever been a +breaker boy he could have fully sympathized with them.</p> + +<p>The two boys were standing beside the check-board, near the mouth of the +slope, and after their rejoicings had somewhat subsided Derrick said, +"Let's see who's sent up the most to-day."</p> + +<p>The check-board was something like the small black-board that hangs +behind the teacher's desk in a school-room. It was provided with several +rows of pegs, on which hung a number of wooden tags. Each of these tags, +or checks, had cut into it the initials or private mark of the miner to +whom it belonged. When a miner working in the underground breasts or +chambers filled a car with coal and started it on its way to the slope, +he hung on it one of his checks. When the same car reached the top of +the slope the "check boss" stationed there took the check from it and +hung it in its proper place on the check-board. At the end of +working-hours the number of checks thus hung up for each miner was +counted, and the same number of car-loads of coal credited to him.</p> + +<p>Acting on Derrick's suggestion, the boys turned to the check-board, and +quickly saw that there were more checks marked M. T. than anything else.</p> + +<p>"Why, Monk Tooley has got the most by three loads!" exclaimed Derrick, +counting them.</p> + +<p>"He must have worked all through lunch-hour, and like a mule at that. I +wonder what's got into him?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he's trying to make up for what Bill won't earn now," suggested +Paul, quietly.</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Derrick. "I never thought of that, Polly; and I +haven't thanked you yet for going down into the mine to look for me last +night, or told you what a splendid fellow I think you are."</p> + +<p>"Please don't, Derrick," interrupted Paul, with a troubled expression; +"you mustn't thank me for anything I tried to do for you. Don't I owe +you more than anything I can ever do will pay for? Didn't you bring me +out of the burning breaker? and don't I love you more than most anybody +on earth?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you're a plucky fellow anyway," said Derrick, "and I'd rather +have you down in the mine if there was any trouble than half of the men +who are there. Let's stop and see how Bill Tooley's getting along on our +way home."</p> + +<p>"All right," assented Paul; "only if his mother's there I shall be +almost afraid to go in."</p> + +<p>As the boys walked away from the vicinity of the check-board, a man who +had come up the slope but a few minutes before, and had been watching +them unobserved, stepped up to it. He was Job Taskar the blacksmith, +known to the men who met in the chamber at the bottom of the air-shaft, +in the old workings, as Body-master of Raven Brook. The check boss had +asked him to stop there a minute, and look out for any cars that might +come up, while he stepped inside the breaker.</p> + +<p>Casting a hurried glance around to see that no one was looking, Job +Taskar slipped three of Monk Tooley's checks from their peg, thrust them +into his pocket, altered the chalked figure above the peg, and resumed +his place.</p> + +<p>When Derrick and Paul reached the Tooleys' house it seemed to them even +more noisy than usual. Several women sat gossiping with Mrs. Tooley in +the door-way, while a dozen children and several dogs ran screaming or +barking and quarrelling in and out of the room where the sick boy lay.</p> + +<p>They asked his mother how he was, and what the doctor had said of his +condition.</p> + +<p>"Ye can go in and see for yourselves how he is," was the reply, "there's +naught to hinder. Doctor said he was to be kept perfectly quiet and have +nussin', but how he's going to get either with them brats rampaging and +howling, and me the only one to look after them, is more than I know."</p> + +<p>Accepting this invitation, the boys stepped inside, and picking their +way among the children and dogs to the untidy bed on which Bill lay, +spoke to him and asked him if there was anything they could do for him.</p> + +<p>He was conscious, though very weak and in great pain, and on opening his +eyes he whispered, "Water."</p> + +<p>For more than an hour he had longed for it, until his parched tongue was +ready to cleave to the roof of his mouth, but nobody had come near him, +and he could not make himself heard above the noise of the children.</p> + +<p>Taking the tin dipper that lay on a chair beside the bed Derrick went +out to the hydrant to fill it with the cool mountain water that flowed +there.</p> + +<p>Paul drew a tattered window-shade so that the hot western sun should not +shine full in the sick boy's face, loosened his shirt at the neck, +smoothed back the matted hair from his forehead, and with a threatening +shake of his crutch, drove a howling dog and several screaming children +from the room.</p> + +<p>These little attentions soothed the sufferer, and he looked up +gratefully and wonderingly at Paul. When Derrick returned with the water +he lifted his head, and stretched out his hand eagerly for it. At that +moment Mrs. Tooley came bustling to the bedside to see what the boys +were doing. Catching sight of the dipper she snatched it from Derrick's +hand, crying out that it would kill the boy to give him cold water, "and +him ragin' wid a fever." This so frightened the boys that they hurriedly +took their departure, and poor Bill cast such a wistful, despairing +glance after them as they left the house that their hearts were filled +with pity for him.</p> + +<p>At the supper-table that evening Derrick asked:</p> + +<p>"Does it hurt people who have a fever to give them water, mother?"</p> + +<p>"No, dear; I do not think it does. My experience teaches me to give +feverish patients all the cooling drinks they want."</p> + +<p>Then Derrick told her what he had seen and learned of Bill Tooley's +condition that afternoon. He so excited her pity by his description of +the dirt, noise, and neglect from which the sick lad was suffering that +she finally exclaimed, "Poor fellow! I wish we had room to take care of +him here!"</p> + +<p>"Do you, mother, really? I wanted to ask you, but was almost afraid to, +if he couldn't come here and have my room till he gets well. You see +he's always treated Polly worse than he has me, and yet Polly risked his +life for him. It isn't anywhere near so much to do as that, of course; +but I'd like to give up my room to him, and nurse him when I was home, +if you could look after him a little when I wasn't. I can sleep on the +floor close to the bed, and be ready to wait on him nights. You know I +always liked the floor better than a bed, anyway, and I believe he'll +die if he stays where he is."</p> + +<p>They knew each other so well, this mother and son, that a question of +this kind was easily settled between them. Though both fully realized +what a task they were undertaking, it was decided that if his parents +would consent Bill Tooley should be brought to their house to be nursed.</p> + +<p>When Monk Tooley came up from the mine that evening and examined the +check-board to see how the numbers to his credit compared with the tally +he had kept, he became very angry, and accused the check boss of +cheating him. The latter said he knew nothing about it. There were the +checks to speak for themselves. He had hung each one on the peg as it +came up.</p> + +<p>"Den dey've been stolen!" exclaimed the angry man, "an' if I catch him +as done it, I'll make him smart for it, dat's all."</p> + +<p>The check boss tried to show him how perfectly useless it would be for +anybody to steal another's checks. "You know yourself it wouldn't do him +any good, Tooley," he said. "He couldn't claim anything on 'em, or make +any kind of a raise on 'em; besides I've been right here every minute of +the day, barrin' a couple when I ran inside the breaker on an errand. +Then I left Job Taskar, as honest a man as there is in the colliery, to +keep watch, and he said nothing passed while I was gone."</p> + +<p>"Well," answered Monk Tooley, "I'm cheated outer three loads, and you +know what dat is ter a man what's worked overtime ter make 'em, an' has +sickness and doctor's bills at home. But I'll catch de thief yet, an' +when I do he'll wish he'd never know'd what a check was."</p> + +<p>As he was walking down the street after supper, smoking a pipe and +thinking of his sick boy, who seemed to have grown worse since morning, +and of his lost checks, Monk Tooley was accosted by Derrick Sterling, +who said,</p> + +<p>"Good-evening, Mr. Tooley. How's Bill this evening?"</p> + +<p>"None de better fer your askin'," was the surly answer, for the man felt +very bitter against Derrick, to whom he attributed all his son's +trouble.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to hear that he isn't any better," continued the boy, +determined not to be easily rebuffed.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad yer sorry, an' wish yer was sorrier."</p> + +<p>This did not seem to promise a very pleasant conversation, but Derrick +persevered, saying,</p> + +<p>"It must be very hard for Mrs. Tooley to keep so many children quiet, +and I believe the doctor said Bill must not be troubled by noise, didn't +he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, an' if ye'd muzzle yer own mouth de whole place would be quieter."</p> + +<p>"My mother wanted me to say to you that if you'd like to send Bill over +to our house for a few days, it's so quiet over there that she thought +it would do him good, and she'd be very glad to have him," said Derrick, +plunging boldly into the business he had undertaken to manage.</p> + +<p>"Tell yer mother ter mind her own brats an' leave me ter mind mine, den +de road'll be wide enough for de both of us," was the ungracious answer +made by the surly miner to this offer, as he turned away and left +Derrick standing angry and mortified behind him.</p> + +<p>"That comes of trying to do unto others as you would have others do unto +you," he muttered to himself. "Seems to me the best way is to do unto +others as they do unto you, and then nobody can complain. I declare if I +had as ugly a temper as that man has I'd go and drown myself. I don't +believe he's got one spark of human feeling in him."</p> + +<p>Monk Tooley was not quite so bad as Derrick thought him, but just at +that time everything seemed to go wrong with him, and he was like some +savage animal suffering from a pain for which it can find no relief. He +began to repent of his ugliness to Derrick almost as soon as the latter +had left him, saying to himself, "Maybe de lad meant kindly arter all."</p> + +<p>Going back to his untidy, noisy home, he entered the house, and standing +by his son's bedside gazed curiously at him. The boy was evidently +growing worse each minute, as even the unpractised eye of the miner +could see. He was tossing in a high fever, calling constantly for the +water which in her ignorance his mother would not give him, nor did he +appear to recognize any of those who stood near.</p> + +<p>"I fear me his time's come," said one of the neighbor women, several of +whom, attracted by curiosity, came and went in and out of the house.</p> + +<p>Although the remark was not intended for his ears, Monk Tooley heard it, +and apparently it brought him to a sudden determination. Without a word +he left the house and walked directly to that of the Sterlings. Entering +the open door-way without the ceremony of knocking, which was little +practised in that colliery village, he found the family gathered in +their tiny sitting-room, Derrick poring intently over a plan of the old +workings of the mine, Helen reading, and their mother sewing.</p> + +<p>Bowing awkwardly to Mrs. Sterling, he said, "Derrick tells me, missus, +dat you're willin' to take my poor lad in and nuss him a bit. His own +mither has no knowledge of de trade, an' he's just dyin' over yon. If +yer mean it, and will do fer him, yer'll never want for a man to lift a +hand fer you and yours as long as Monk Tooley is widin call."</p> + +<p>"I do mean it, Mr. Tooley, and if you can only get him here, I'll gladly +do what I can for him," said Mrs. Sterling.</p> + +<p>"I'll bring him, mum, I'll go fer him now;" and Monk Tooley, with +another awkward pull at the brim of his hat, left the house.</p> + +<p>In five minutes he was back, accompanied by another miner, and between +them they bore a mattress on which lay the sick boy.</p> + +<p>He was undressed, bathed, and placed in Derrick's cool, clean bed. +Within an hour cooling drinks and outward applications had so reduced +the fever and quieted him that he had fallen into a deep sleep.</p> + +<p>Within the same time all the village knew, and wondered over the +knowledge, that Monk Tooley's sick lad was being cared for in the house +of the widow Sterling.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>SOCRATES, THE WISE MINE RAT</h3> + + +<p>When Derrick and Paul found themselves descending the slope, together +with a carful of miners, the next morning, it seemed to them a long time +since they had traversed its black depths. So accustomed do the toilers +of the colliery become to exciting incidents that elsewhere would +furnish subject for weeks of thought and conversation, that often a +single day suffices to divert their attention to something new. So it +was with our two boys, in whose minds their recent adventures were +already shorn of their terrors, and only thought of as something +unpleasant, to be forgotten as quickly as possible. Therefore they did +not speak of them as they talked together in low tones, but only of the +present and the future.</p> + +<p>"I think it's awful good of you and your mother to take Bill Tooley into +your own house and nurse him," said Paul.</p> + +<p>"Oh no," laughed Derrick, "it isn't so very good. Revenge is what we are +after, and that is one way of getting it."</p> + +<p>Hearing Bill Tooley's name mentioned between the boys, one of the miners +who rode in the car with them had leaned forward to learn what they were +saying. At Derrick's last remark this man started back and gazed at him +curiously.</p> + +<p>"He's got the very stuff in him to make a Mollie of," he thought. "To +think he's so sly. He's got the fellow he hates into his own house, +pretending that he wants to nurse him, and now he's going to take out +his revenge on him. Perhaps he's going to poison him, or fix pins in the +bed so they'll stick him. Anyway, I'll have to give Monk the hint of +what he's up to." Then, admiringly, and half aloud, he muttered, still +looking at Derrick, "The young villain!"</p> + +<p>From the foot of the slope Derrick set off for the stable to get Harry +Mule, while Paul waited for the making up of a train of empty cars, in +which he was to ride to the junction near the blacksmith's shop. There +Derrick was to meet him, take him to his post of duty, and tell him +about opening and closing the door, and tending the switch of which he +was to have charge.</p> + +<p>In spite of the fact that he and Derrick had been friends but a single +day, Harry Mule appeared to recognize his young driver, and gave him a +cordial greeting as he entered the stable. At least he threw up his head +and uttered a tremendous bray, which went "Haw! he-haw, he-haw, he-haw!" +and sounded so absurdly like a laugh that Derrick laughed from sympathy +until the tears ran down his cheeks. The mule gazed at him with a look +of wonder in his big eyes, and stood so meek and quiet while his harness +was being put on that Derrick thought perhaps his feelings had been +hurt. To soothe them he talked to him, and told him that Paul had come +down into the mine to work.</p> + +<p>As they left the stable, and Derrick stopped to fasten the door, Harry +started in the opposite direction from that in which he should have +gone, and ran down the gangway, kicking up his heels and braying, as +though he were a frisky young colt in a pasture instead of an old +bumping-mule down in a coal-mine. Derrick ran after him, and for some +time could see the reflection of the collar-lamp, which was swung +violently to and fro by the animal's rapid motion. The disappearance of +this light in the distance was followed by an angry shouting and a +muffled crash.</p> + +<p>Derrick was provoked that his mule should have made all this trouble, +and was anxious to discover the full extent of the mischief done, but he +could not help laughing when he reached the scene of confusion. The +first object he saw was Harry himself, standing still and gazing +demurely at him with the wondering look which was his most common +expression. He was hitched in front of a string of mules which were +attached to a train of empty cars, and was evidently prepared to act as +their leader. The boy driver of these mules, with many muttered +exclamations, was trying to disentangle their harness from the snarl it +had got into, and in one of the cars stood Paul Evert, looking somewhat +dilapidated and greatly disgusted.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Derrick!" he called out. "Where did that mule come from?"</p> + +<p>"Why, that's Harry, my bumping-mule," answered Derrick as he came up +laughing.</p> + +<p>"Bumping-mule! I should think he was," said Paul. "He made these cars +stop so quick that I was almost bumped out of 'em, and the skin's all +knocked off my nose. I don't see what he wanted to come bumping along +this way for."</p> + +<p>"Why, I told him you were coming," said Derrick, "and I suppose he +wanted to welcome you to the mine."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sorry you told him, and—"</p> + +<p>Just then the driver shouted "Gee up!" and Harry Mule, anxious to do his +duty in his new position, started ahead so briskly as to pull the other +three mules promptly into line and give a violent jerk to the cars. +Losing his balance with this unexpected motion, Paul sat suddenly down +in the bottom of the car he was in, and there he wisely decided to +remain.</p> + +<p>When they reached the junction, Derrick asked Paul to wait for him until +he and Harry Mule had distributed the empty cars to their several +destinations. Attracted by its cheerful light, Paul stepped inside the +blacksmith's shop, where Job Taskar, who was hammering away as busily as +usual, glanced up as he entered, but paid no further attention to him. A +minute later the smith, who had just begun his day's work, and still +wore his coat, pulled it off and flung it to one side. Something dropped +from one of its pockets unnoticed by him as he did so, and Paul was on +the point of calling his attention to it. He did not, however, because +the smith's helper, a slim, dreary-looking young man, to whom nobody +ever paid much attention, also noticed the falling object, and picked it +up without being seen by Job. Gazing at it curiously for a moment, he +restored it, as Paul thought, to the pocket from which it had fallen. In +reality, he slipped it into a pocket of his own coat which lay under +that of his boss.</p> + +<p>Derrick now came back, and with him Paul went to the door that he was to +tend. Just inside of it, on a platform laid above the ditch of black, +rapidly flowing water, stood a rude arm-chair made out of rough boards. +Above it hung a board full of holes into which several pegs were thrust. +Derrick told Paul that with these pegs he must keep tally of the number +of loaded cars that passed this station, and that he must always be +ready to answer promptly the call of "Door." Within reach from the chair +was a lever by means of which the switch was moved. Paul was told that +after each door call there would come another explaining on which track +the approaching cars were to go, and that he must listen carefully for +it and set the switch accordingly. After showing him the large oil-can +from which he might refill his lamp, Derrick bade him good-by and +returned to his own work.</p> + +<p>This morning passed much more pleasantly to the young mule-driver than +the first one had. Not only did Tom Evert greet him cordially, and thank +him for what he had done for Paul, but Monk Tooley gave him a gruff +"Mornin', lad," and most of the other men spoke pleasantly to him, as +though to atone in a measure for his previous suffering. Above all, he +occasionally had to pass Paul's station, and the mere sight of his +faithful friend leaning on his crutch and holding open the door was a +source of joy.</p> + +<p>As Paul had much spare time on his hands, he occupied it in becoming +acquainted with his surroundings, and was especially interested in the +curious markings on the black slate walls of the gangway near his door. +Many of these were in the form of exquisite ferns, others of curious +leaves such as he had never seen, quaint patterns like the scales and +bones of queer fishes, or the ripplings of water on a smooth beach. In +one place he found tiny tracks, as though a small bird had run quickly +across it, and had stamped the imprint of its feet on the hard surface.</p> + +<p>It was Paul's first lesson in geology, and it gave him his first idea +that this hard slate, and the veins of coal enclosed between its solid +walls, might have had a previous existence in another form. He pondered +upon the length of time that must have passed since those ferns grew, +and since that running bird made those footprints, and finally concluded +to ask Derrick if he knew.</p> + +<p>At noon, after Harry Mule had been sent jingling to his stable, Derrick +rejoined his friend, and they ate lunch together. As they talked of the +strange markings on the walls, and Derrick confessed that he knew no +more concerning their age than Paul, the latter suddenly paused, and +with a slight gesture directed attention to something in the roadway.</p> + +<p>Looking in the direction indicated, Derrick saw, sitting bolt-upright on +its hind-legs, and gazing steadily at them, an immense rat. He was quite +gray, and evidently very old; nor did he seem to be in the least bit +afraid of them.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't he look wise?" whispered Paul.</p> + +<p>"As wise as Socrates," answered Derrick.</p> + +<p>Not having had Derrick's education, Paul did not know who Socrates was, +but the name pleased him, and he said it over softly to +himself—"Socrates, Soc, Socrates. That's what I'm going to call him, +Derrick—'Socrates.' I've seen him round here two or three times this +morning, and every time he's sat up just like that, and looked as if he +knew all that I was thinking about. I believe he could tell how old the +ferns are."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe they're as old as he is," replied Derrick, laughing.</p> + +<p>The rat did not seem to like this, for at Derrick's laughter he gave a +little squeak and darted away, disappearing beneath the door.</p> + +<p>Within five minutes Paul pointed again, and there sat the rat in +precisely the same position as before.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps this is what he wants," said Paul, throwing a bit of bread +towards the rat. Approaching it cautiously, the beast first smelled of +it, and then seizing it in his mouth again darted beneath the door. +Several times did he thus come for food, but he always carried it away +without stopping to eat even a crumb.</p> + +<p>"He must have a large and hungry family," said Derrick.</p> + +<p>"Or else it isn't his dinner-hour yet, and he is waiting for the proper +time to eat," laughed Paul.</p> + +<p>Always after this Socrates the rat was a regular attendant upon the boys +at lunch-time, and he never failed to receive a share of whatever they +had to eat. Often at other times, when no sound save the steady gurgle +of the black water beneath him broke the tomb-like silence of the +gangway, Paul would see the little beady eyes flashing here and there in +the dim lamplight, and would feel a sense of companionship very +comforting to his loneliness. At such times Paul would talk to the rat +about the queer pictures on the walls, and ask him questions concerning +them. For hours he talked thus to his wise-looking companion, until he +began to believe that the rat understood him, and could really answer if +he chose.</p> + +<p>Sometimes when he was asked a question he could not answer, he would +reply, "I don't know, but I'll speak to Socrates about it"; and at the +first opportunity he would explain the whole difficulty to his +gray-whiskered friend. Frequently, by thus thinking and talking the +matter over, he would arrive at some conclusion, more or less correct, +and this he would report as "What Socrates thinks."</p> + +<p>At noon that day Monk Tooley, as usual, ate his lunch and smoked his +pipe with Job Taskar in the blacksmith's shop; but he was very quiet, +and not inclined to be talkative as was his habit. When he left, the +blacksmith's helper slipped out after him, and saying, "'Ere's summut I +think belongs to you, Mr. Tooley," handed him three bits of wood, on +each of which was deeply scored M. T.</p> + +<p>"My lost checks!" exclaimed the miner. "Where'd yer get 'em, Boodle?"</p> + +<p>"They dropped out hof Taskar's pocket when 'e flung hoff 'is coat this +mornin', and hi picked 'em hup unbeknownst to 'im."</p> + +<p>"So he's de one as stole 'em, is he?" began the miner in a passion. +Then, changing his tone, he added, "But never mind, Boodle; of course he +only took 'em for de joke, and we'll say no more about it. Yer needn't +mention havin' found 'em."</p> + +<p>"Hall right, Mr. Tooley, hit shall be has you says," replied the helper, +meekly, though he was really greatly disappointed at this turn of +affairs. He disliked as much as he feared his boss, and had hoped that +this little incident might lead to a quarrel between him and the miner +whose lost property he had just restored.</p> + +<p>Monk Tooley went back to his work muttering to himself, "All dis means +summut; but we'll just lie low a bit, and mebbe Body-master an me'll +have a score ter settle yet."</p> + +<p>The Young Sleepers had been so badly demoralized by the incidents +following their attempt to extract a treat from Derrick, and especially +by the mishap of their leader, that they had not the courage to repeat +the experiment. Derrick and Paul therefore left the mine that evening +without being molested. They took pains, however, not to be very far +behind two brawny pillars of strength in the shape of Tom Evert and Monk +Tooley when they reached the foot of the slope.</p> + +<p>Before going home Monk Tooley walked with Derrick to the Widow +Sterling's, to inquire after his boy, and was much pleased to learn that +he was getting along nicely.</p> + +<p>"It lightens my heart ter hear yer say dat, missus," he said to Mrs. +Sterling, "an' it's not one woman in ten thousand would do what yer +doin' fer my poor lad."</p> + +<p>"Derrick proposed it," said Mrs. Sterling, with a mother's anxiety that +her son should receive all the credit due him. "Without his help I'm +afraid I should not have been able to invite Bill to come here."</p> + +<p>"He's a fine lad, missus," replied the miner, "an' if de time ever comes +dat I can serve you or him, my name's not Monk Tooley if I don't jump at +de chance."</p> + +<p>After sitting a while with Bill, and doing what lay in his power to make +him comfortable, Derrick again got out his father's plans of the old +workings of the mine, and pored over them intently. Finally he +exclaimed, "It's all right; I am sure of it!"</p> + +<p>"What are you so sure of, my son?" asked his mother, looking up from her +work.</p> + +<p>"Something I have been trying to find out for Mr. Jones, mother, but he +does not want a word said about it; so I must keep the secret to myself, +at any rate until after I have seen him."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me that you and Mr. Jones have a great many secrets together. +You really are becoming quite an important young man, Derrick."</p> + +<p>Although Derrick only smiled in reply, he thought to himself that his +mother was about right, and hoped others would take the same view of his +importance that she did.</p> + +<p>Selecting some tracing-paper from among the things left by his father, +the boy made a tracing from the plan he had been studying. He followed +all the lines of the original carefully, except in one place where the +plan was so indistinct that he could not tell exactly where they were +intended to go. Being in a hurry, and feeling confident that they should +be continued in a certain direction, he drew them so without verifying +his conclusions.</p> + +<p>When he had finished he left the house, and went directly to that of the +mine boss, taking the tracings he had just made with him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>IN THE OLD WORKINGS—MISLED BY AN ALTERED LINE</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Jones was expecting Derrick that evening, and was waiting somewhat +impatiently for him. When the boy at last arrived he was taken into the +library, where, as soon as the door was closed, the mine boss asked:</p> + +<p>"Well, Derrick, have you heard anything more about the meeting?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word, sir."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow is the 27th, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I know it is."</p> + +<p>"And my fate, and perhaps yours too, may be decided within twenty-four +hours from now."</p> + +<p>At this Derrick started; he had not realized that he was in any +particular danger.</p> + +<p>"Do you think, sir, they would pay any attention to a boy like me?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"I certainly do," replied the mine boss. "They would pay attention to +anybody or anything that stood in their way, or seemed likely to +interfere with their plans. I am afraid, from what Job Taskar said the +other day, that they consider your presence in the mine as dangerous to +them. I am sorry that my liking for you, and efforts to promote your +interests, should have placed you in such an unpleasant position. If you +like I will try and get you a place as errand boy in the main office of +the company, where you will be in no danger."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir!" exclaimed Derrick. "Please don't think of such a thing. +I'd rather take my chances with the Mollies in the mine than go into an +office. There I should never be anything but a clerk; while here I may +some day become an engineer, as my father was. Don't you think I may, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the other, smiling at the boy's earnestness, "I think +any boy of ordinary intelligence and blessed with good health can in +time occupy any position he chooses, if he directs his whole energy in +that direction, and makes up his mind that no obstacle shall turn him +from it."</p> + +<p>"I have made a beginning, sir," said Derrick, much encouraged by these +words from one who was so greatly his superior in age, knowledge, and +position, and whose opinion he valued so highly.</p> + +<p>"Have you?" asked the mine boss, with a kindly interest. "In what way?"</p> + +<p>"I am studying my father's books, and trying to work out problems from +some old plans I found among his papers. One of them is a plan of the +very oldest workings of this mine, and I have brought a tracing of a +part of it to show you."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said Mr. Jones, glancing at the tracing carelessly. "I have +no doubt that in time you will become a famous engineer."</p> + +<p>Although this was spoken kindly enough, it was evident that the +speaker's thoughts were far away, probably trying to devise some means +for being present at the approaching meeting in the mine.</p> + +<p>Noting this, Derrick said, "I did not bring the tracing just to show +what sort of work I could do, sir, but because I think it will lead us +to where we can hear what they say at that meeting."</p> + +<p>Instantly the mine boss exhibited a new interest. "Explain it," he said.</p> + +<p>Then Derrick told him of the old drift-mouth he had discovered, and said +he felt confident that if they followed the gangway leading in from it +they would reach the top of the old air-shaft into which Bill Tooley had +fallen, and up which had come the voices of the Mollies at their +previous meeting.</p> + +<p>"If we could get there by this back way it would be capital!" exclaimed +the mine boss. "In that case my presence in the mine would be unknown +and unsuspected; whereas, if we should go in as you did, from the other +end of the old gangway, we could hardly escape discovery. If that route +proves practicable a great load is lifted from my mind; for, somehow or +other, I must find out what these Mollies are up to. You are of course +sure of the correctness of the plans?"</p> + +<p>"My father drew them," answered Derrick.</p> + +<p>"I was not questioning your father's accuracy; I only wanted to know if +this tracing was an exact copy of the original."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, it is," answered Derrick, though with a slight hesitation in +his voice as he thought of the one place he had not been quite sure of. +This was where the plan had been somewhat blotted and blurred, so that +he could not see whether or not two lines joined each other. Having made +up his mind that they ought to be joined, he had thus drawn them on his +tracing. It was such a small thing that he did not consider it worth +mentioning. Thus, without meaning to make a false statement, he said +that his tracing was an exact copy of the original, and by so doing +prepared the way for the serious consequence that followed.</p> + +<p>Derrick was a fine, manly fellow, and was possessed of noble traits of +character, but like many another boy he was inclined to be conceited, +and to imagine that he knew as much if not a little more than his +elders. Nor was he backward in parading his knowledge, or even of +allowing it to appear greater than it really was.</p> + +<p>In the present instance he was proud of the confidence reposed in him by +the mine boss, and of the skill with which he had prepared the plan of +operations they were now discussing. It really seemed to him that he was +about to become the leader in a very difficult enterprise in which the +other was to be a follower.</p> + +<p>The mine boss, with a quick penetration of human character, gained by +years of study and experience, suspected something of this weakness on +Derrick's part, but did not consider that either the proper time or +opportunity had yet come for warning him against it.</p> + +<p>So Derrick's plan was discussed in all its details, and before they +separated that night it was adopted.</p> + +<p>In order that the mistake made by Derrick in his slight alteration of +the plan of the old workings, as shown in his tracing, may be +understood, a few words of explanation are necessary.</p> + +<p>The old drift-mouth, that he had discovered almost hidden beneath a +tangle of vines and bushes, was on a mountain side above a deep valley. +Farther down was the mouth of a second drift, which he had not +discovered, and knew nothing of. On the opposite side of the mountain +was another valley, the bottom of which was on about the same level as +the higher of these drifts. The old workings ran from them through the +mountain, and under this valley in which the present colliery was +located.</p> + +<p>When the gangway from the upper of the two drifts had been opened as far +as the valley, the vein that it followed took a sudden dip. The gangway +was in consequence changed into a slope, which finally led into the +workings beneath. Some time after they had been abandoned a great +"break" or cave-in of the ground above there had occurred at the edge of +the valley, and by it an opening was made into the lower set of +workings. It was on the opposite side of the valley from this break that +the new workings were now being pushed; and somewhere between it and +them was the old air-shaft and the chamber that the Mollies had selected +as their place of secret meeting.</p> + +<p>Now Derrick had got hold of a plan of the lower set of these old +workings which he knew nothing of, and thought it was a plan of the +upper set, which in reality only extended to the edge of the valley. He +knew that the upper drift-mouth was on about the same level as the top +of the old air-shaft, and thought he had a plan showing that the two +were connected. He reasoned that by entering the old gangway at the +break, and following it under the valley, they would not only save +distance, but would be conducted directly to the top of the air-shaft +which they wished to reach. By the joining of those two lines at the +blurred place on the plan it was made to conform so perfectly to this +theory that he felt satisfied his conclusions were correct, and +consequently made his confident statements to Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>The latter had been connected with the Raven Brook Colliery but a few +months, and knew nothing of its old and abandoned workings, not yet +having found time to study their plans or explore them. He did know, +however, that Mr. Sterling had been one of the company's most trusted +engineers, and that Derrick had long been interested in poring over and +tracing his father's plans of these very workings. When, therefore, he +had carefully examined the tracing that the boy had made, and now +assured him was an exact copy of the original plan, and found that it +showed a system of galleries by which the top of the air-shaft might be +gained from the break, he had no hesitation in saying that they would +make the attempt to reach it from that direction. Had he sent for the +original plan he would have quickly discovered Derrick's error. He +thought of doing this, but did not, for fear of wounding the lad's +feelings by appearing to mistrust him.</p> + +<p>It was arranged between them that Mr. Jones should leave the village on +the afternoon of the 27th, as though bound on some distant expedition, +and have it understood that he might possibly be absent all night. An +hour before sundown he was to be at the break, prepared to explore the +old gangway to which it gave entrance. Here Derrick was to meet him, +after having left the mine an hour earlier than usual, gone home for +supper, and told his mother that he should be out late on some business +for the mine boss.</p> + +<p>This plan was successfully followed, without suspicion being aroused, +and the young mine boss met his boy companion at the appointed time and +place. They both had safety-lamps, and each carried a small can of oil, +for they did not know how long they might have to remain in the mine.</p> + +<p>In the break they found a rickety ladder that had been placed there for +the use of the village children, who were accustomed to come here with +baskets, and in a small way mine coal for home use from the sides of the +old gangway. Descending this, they lighted their lamps at the bottom, +and entering the black opening began to follow the path marked out on +Derrick's tracing.</p> + +<p>For some distance the way was comparatively smooth, and they made rapid +progress. Then they began to encounter various obstacles. Here a mass of +rock had fallen from the roof, and they must clamber over it. In another +place a quantity of waste material had so dammed a ditch that for nearly +a quarter of a mile the gangway was flooded with cold, black water, +through which they had to wade. It was above their knees, and, filling +their rubber boots, made them so heavy as to greatly impede their +progress. In several places where the old timber props had rotted out, +such masses of rubbish choked the gangway that they were compelled to +crawl on their hands and knees for long distances through the low spaces +that were still left. Once they were on the point of turning back, but +animated by the importance of their errand they kept on, cheering each +other with the thought that they would not be obliged to come back this +same way in order to leave the mine.</p> + +<p>During the earlier portion of the journey, as they encountered these +obstacles, the mine boss urged, almost commanded, Derrick to go back and +leave him to continue the undertaking alone. In spite of some faults the +lad was no coward, and he begged so earnestly to be allowed to keep on +that the other consented, on condition that no greater danger presented +itself.</p> + +<p>At length they had overcome so many difficulties that the road behind +them fairly bristled with dangers, and the young man felt it would be an +act of cruelty to send the boy back to encounter them alone.</p> + +<p>Now and then, as they crawled over piles of fallen debris, and there was +but little space between them and the roof, the flames within their +safety-lamps burned faint and blue, and they breathed with great +difficulty. The mine boss knew they were passing through spaces filled +with the deadly "fire-damp," and he urged Derrick to make all possible +haste towards more open places where they could keep below its +influence.</p> + +<p>They passed through a door in a fair state of preservation, but fairly +covered with the pure white fungus growth of glistening frost-like +sprays, which in the mine are called "water crystals." Everywhere were +the signs of long neglect and decay, and unenlivened by the cheering +sounds of human toil the place was weird and awful. The very drippings +from the roof fell with an uncanny splash that struck a chill into +Derrick's heart. Long before they reached the end of their journey he +regretted having planned and proposed it; but he bravely kept his fears +and regrets to himself, and plodded sturdily on behind his companion. As +for the latter, his thoughts were also of a most dismal character. He +realized even more fully than Derrick the dangerous position in which +they had placed themselves, and felt that his experience should have +warned him against such an undertaking.</p> + +<p>Meantime those who were to meet in the old chamber at the bottom of the +air-shaft were already gathered together, and were earnestly discussing +the affairs of their order. Job Taskar, as presiding officer, made a +long speech. In it he denounced the mine boss for discharging several of +their members, and refusing to take them back, though petitioned to do +so by a large number of those who remained at work. He also charged him +with placing a spy in the mine in the person of Derrick Sterling, and of +having removed the son of one of their most prominent members to make +room for him. At this point he looked steadily at Monk Tooley.</p> + +<p>"Don't yer say nothin' agin Derrick Sterling," growled that miner, "fer +I won't hear ter it. He's doin' fer my lad this minute what dere isn't +anoder man in de meetin' er in Raven Brook Colliery, nor I don't believe +in de State, would ha' done in his place."</p> + +<p>"Do yer know what he's doing it for?" interrupted another member, +springing to his feet. "No, yer don't, an' yer can't make a guess at it; +but I can tell yer. It's for revenge, an' nothing else. I heerd him say +it his own self to Paul the cripple, coming down the slope, only +yesterday morning. 'I'm taking out my revenge on him,' says he; them's +his very words."</p> + +<p>"All right," replied Monk Tooley, "if yer heerd him say it, den he's +doin' it fer revenge, and it's de biggest kind of revenge I ever knowed +of a man or a boy ter take out on anoder. Do yer know dat he's give up +his own bed ter my Bill, an' dat he sets up nights awaitin' on him an' +a-nussin' of him? No, yer don't know nothin' about it, an' I don't want +ter hear anoder word from yer agin him. I'm his friend, I am."</p> + +<p>An awkward silence followed this announcement, for the members thought +that perhaps if Monk Tooley were Derrick Sterling's friend, he might +also be a friend of the mine boss, whom they had almost decided should +be put out of the way.</p> + +<p>The silence was finally broken by Job Taskar, who asked sarcastically if +Monk Tooley knew who stole his three checks from the check-board two +days before.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," answered the miner, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Then you know it was this same sneaking boss's pet, Derrick Sterling."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't."</p> + +<p>"I tell you I saw him do it!" cried Job, in a rage. "Him and the +hunchback went up to the board together, and when the boss stepped away, +so they thought nobody wasn't looking, the pet slipped 'em into his +pocket. I saw it with my own eyes."</p> + +<p>"An' I tell yer yer lie!" shouted Monk Tooley. "Here's de checks, an' +dey come outen yer own pocket, yer black-hearted old scoundrel!"</p> + +<p>At these astounding words Job Taskar sprang towards Monk Tooley with +clinched fists, as though to strike him, and all present watched for the +encounter in breathless suspense.</p> + +<p>Just then the door behind them was pushed open, and standing on its +threshold they saw the mine boss and Derrick Sterling.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A FATAL EXPLOSION OF FIRE-DAMP</h3> + + +<p>At this startling apparition of the last two persons in the world whom +they would have expected to see in that place, the assembled miners +remained for some moments motionless with astonishment. Having stationed +a trusty sentinel at the end of the gangway nearest the new workings, +who was to give them instant warning of the approach of any outsider, +they imagined themselves perfectly safe from interruption. They had not +considered the possibility of an approach from the rear through the +abandoned workings, for they were generally believed to be impassable +owing to deadly gases and the quantity of material that had fallen in +them. Thus the unannounced appearance of the very persons whose fate +they had just been discussing seemed almost supernatural, and a feeling +of dread pervaded the assembly.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, Mr. Jones and his companion were equally, if not more +greatly, dismayed. Having approached the door during a momentary silence +among the miners, they had not been warned by any sound of what they +should find beyond it. Thinking that they were upon an upper level, and +separated from their enemies by many feet of solid rock, they suddenly +found themselves in their very midst.</p> + +<p>At the first view of what was disclosed by the opening door, Derrick +uttered a little frightened cry, and involuntarily drew back as though +about to run away. It was only a momentary impulse. In an instant his +courage returned, the hot blood surged into his face, and stepping +boldly forward he stood beside the mine boss, determined to share +whatever fate was in store for him.</p> + +<p>Among the Mollies the first to recover from his stupefaction was Job +Taskar, who crying "Here they are, lads! Now we've got 'em!" made a +spring at the mine boss, with clinched fist still uplifted, as it had +been to strike Monk Tooley.</p> + +<p>The black muzzle of a revolver promptly presented to his face by the +steady hand of the young man caused him to stagger back with a snarl of +baffled rage. Taking a couple of steps forward, which motion Derrick +followed, and standing in full view of all the Mollies, with the +revolver still held in his hand where it could be plainly seen, the mine +boss said:</p> + +<p>"My men, I want you to excuse this interruption to your meeting, and +listen to me for a few minutes. I think I know why you are thus +assembled in secret. It is to decide upon some means of getting rid of +me and of my young friend Derrick Sterling. You have been taught by this +man that we are your enemies, and are working against your interests. +Let me give you a few facts that will serve to show who are your real +enemies, and who are your true friends.</p> + +<p>"Job Taskar is, I believe, your Body-master and leader. He had told you +that this lad is a spy, sent into the mine to discover your secrets and +work against you. He hates Derrick Sterling. Why?</p> + +<p>"A few years ago Job Taskar was blacksmith to a distant colliery in +another district. This lad's father was engineer in the same mine. +Taskar was paid by the men for sharpening their tools, so much for each +one. They were compelled to go to him by the rules of the colliery. He +so destroyed the temper of the drills and other tools brought to him as +to make them require sharpening much oftener than they would if he had +done his work honestly. He was thus stealing much of the miners' +hard-earned wages. Mr. Sterling found this out, procured Taskar's +discharge from the works, and had an honest man put in his place. When +the same gentleman found the same dishonest blacksmith working in this +mine he warned him that if he caught him at any of his old tricks he +would have him discharged from here. Now Taskar hates that engineer's +son, and wants to have him put out of the way. Do you wonder at it?</p> + +<p>"He wants me removed for a much more simple reason. It is that he would +like to be mine boss in my place. This would so increase his influence +in your society that he might in time be made a county delegate, and +live without further labor upon money extorted from hard-working +miners."</p> + +<p>At this point the members glanced uneasily at each other. They were +amazed at the knowledge showed by the mine boss of their affairs.</p> + +<p>"Now, my men, a few more words and I am through," continued the speaker. +"In regard to those of your number whom I discharged, and refused to +take back, although petitioned to do so, you know who they are, and I +needn't mention names. I will only say that they were detected in an +attempt to injure the pumps and destroy the fans. Had they succeeded the +colliery would have been closed, and all hands thrown out of work for an +indefinite length of time. You would have been in danger from fire-damp +and water. Probably some lives would have been lost. They were +unscrupulous men, and had they succeeded in their villainy you would +have been the greatest sufferers.</p> + +<p>"As for you, sir," he said, sternly, turning to Job Taskar, "I have long +had my eye on you, and have come to the conclusion that this mine and +all employed in it would be better off if you should leave it. I +therefore take this opportunity to discharge you from this company's +service. If after to-night you ever enter this mine again it will be at +your peril."</p> + +<p>The man was too thoroughly cowed by the boldness of this proceeding to +utter a word, and when the young mine boss, saying "Come, Derrick," and +"Good-evening, men," suddenly stepped outside the door and closed it, he +stood for an instant motionless. Then with a howl of "Stop 'em! Don't +let 'em escape!" he tore open the door and sprang into the gangway +beyond. It was silent and dark, not even a glimmer of light betraying +the presence or existence of those who had but that moment left the +chamber.</p> + +<p>For a brief space the man stood bewildered, and then began to run +towards the door that opened into the new workings. Several of the +miners followed him until they came to where their sentinel stood. He, +watchful and on the alert, as he had been ever since they left him +there, was greatly surprised at their haste and the impatient demands +made of him as to why he had allowed two persons to pass. Of course he +stoutly denied having done so, and declared he had seen no living being +since taking his station at that place.</p> + +<p>"Then they're back in the old workings, lads, and we'll have 'em yet," +cried Job Taskar. "They can't get out, for the gangway's choked beyond. +They must have been hid yonder near the place of meeting since +lunch-time, waiting for us, and they're hid now, waiting till we leave, +so's they can sneak out. But they can't fool us any more, an' we'll get +'em this time."</p> + +<p>With this the man, fuming with rage and disappointed hate, turned and +retraced his steps up the gangway, followed by four of his companions. +The rest of the Mollies, feeling that no more business would be +transacted that evening, and having no inclination to join in the human +hunt, dispersed to different parts of the new workings, or went up the +slopes to the surface. Monk Tooley stayed behind, not for the purpose of +joining in the pursuit of the mine boss and his companion, but with a +vague idea of protecting Derrick from harm in case they should be +caught.</p> + +<p>Led by Job Taskar, the four Mollies eagerly and carefully explored every +foot of the gangway, and even climbed up into several worked-out breasts +at its side, thinking the fugitives might be hidden in them.</p> + +<p>After surmounting several minor obstacles, they finally came to one that +was much more serious. It was a mass of fallen debris that filled the +gangway to within a couple of feet of its roof, and extended for a long +distance. Thinking that perhaps it completely choked the passage a few +yards farther on, and that he might now find those whom he sought in +hiding, like foxes run to earth, Taskar eagerly scrambled up over the +loose rocks and chunks of coal, reaching the top while his followers +were still at some distance behind.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 404px;"><a name="ill-3" id="ill-3"></a> +<img src="images/ill-3.jpg" width="404" height="500" alt="Suddenly there came a blinding flash, a roar as of a cannon" title="" /> +</div> +<p class="caption">Suddenly there came a blinding flash, a roar as of a cannon</p> + +<p>Suddenly there came a blinding flash, a roar as of a cannon discharged +in that confined space, a furious rush of air that extinguished every +light and shrouded the gangway in a profound darkness, and the rattling +crash of falling rocks and broken timbers. The Mollies who followed Job +were hurled, stunned and bleeding, to the floor of the gangway. Even +Monk Tooley, who was at a considerable distance behind them, was thrown +violently against one of the side walls. As for Job Taskar, he lay dead +on the heap of debris over which he had been climbing when the uncovered +flame of his lamp ignited the terrible fire-damp that hung close under +the roof. He was burned almost beyond recognition, and the clothes were +torn from his body. Among the fragments of these afterwards picked up +was found a portion of a letter which read:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"<i>It will be impossible to obtain the position until</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>position must be supported by a number of votes wh</i><br /></span> +<span class="i16"><i>when you become mine boss.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"<i>You know as well as anybody that a county delega</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>When the battered and bruised miners had recovered their senses, +relighted their lamps, and ascertained the fate of their leader, they +were content to drag themselves out from the gangway without pursuing +any further the search in which they had been engaged. Fortunately for +them the quantity of gas exploded had been small, else they might have +been instantly killed, or the gangway so shattered as to completely bar +their way of escape, and hold them buried alive between its black walls. +As it was, it brought down a great mass of debris on top of that already +fallen, and so choked the passage beyond where Job Taskar's body lay +that it was effectually closed.</p> + +<p>Although Derrick and the mine boss were far in advance of their +pursuers, and had already passed most of the obstacles to their rapid +progress, they were very sensible of the shock of the explosion when it +occurred. The rush of air that immediately followed was strong enough to +extinguish their safety-lamps, and cause them to stagger, but it did +them no injury.</p> + +<p>When these two had so suddenly stepped from the presence of the Mollies, +and slammed the door in their faces, they had instantly extinguished +their lamps, and started on a run back through the gangway by which they +had come. Of course, in the utter darkness, they could not run fast nor +far, but they were well beyond the circle of light from Job Taskar's +lamp when he sprang out after them, and that was all they wanted. When +they saw the little cluster of flickering lights borne by the Mollies +disappear in the opposite direction from that they were taking, they +felt greatly relieved, and a few minutes later ventured to relight their +own lamps and continue their retreat.</p> + +<p>"Looks as if we'd got to go out the way we came in, after all, doesn't +it, sir?" said Derrick, who was the first to speak.</p> + +<p>"It does rather look that way," answered the mine boss, "but I'd rather +risk it, under the circumstances, than face those fellows just now. They +have had a chance to recover from their surprise at our appearance, and +some of them are as mad as hornets to think they let us go. A moment's +hesitation when we opened that door and found ourselves among them would +probably have cost us our lives. Our very boldness was all that saved +us. A danger boldly faced is robbed of half its terrors.</p> + +<p>"By-the-way, Derrick, our coming on those fellows as we did was a most +remarkable thing. I thought your tracing was leading us to the top of +the air-shaft instead of to the chamber at its bottom. We must be on a +lower level than we thought. How do you account for it? Can you have +made a mistake in regard to the plans?"</p> + +<p>Derrick's heart sank within him as he remembered the weak spot in his +tracing; but he answered, "I don't think so, sir; though it does look as +if something was wrong."</p> + +<p>Here conversation was interrupted by the difficulties of the road, for +they had reached the mass of fallen debris that blocked Job Taskar's way +a little later.</p> + +<p>As they crawled on hands and knees over the obstruction, the mine boss +said, hoarsely, and with great difficulty, "Hurry, boy! there's gas +enough here to kill us if we breathe it many minutes. If we had naked +lights instead of safeties we'd be blown into eternity."</p> + +<p>After they had safely passed this danger he said, "I hope with all my +heart that those fellows won't come that way looking for us; there's +sure to be an explosion if they do. I don't believe they will, though," +he added, after a moment's reflection; "they're too old hands to expose +themselves needlessly to the fire-damp."</p> + +<p>They had again waded through the icy water, which the mine boss said he +must have drawn off before it increased so as to be dangerous, and were +well along towards the opening into the break, when the muffled sound of +the explosion reached their ears.</p> + +<p>"There's trouble back there!" exclaimed Mr. Jones, as he relighted their +lamps, which the rush of air had extinguished, "and I'm afraid that +somebody has got hurt. You go on out, Derrick, and I'll go back and see. +No, I won't, either. I can get there as quickly, and do more good, by +going round outside and down the slope. Come, let us run."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes they had reached the bottom of the break, climbed the +rickety ladder, and once more they stood in safety beneath the starlit +sky of the outer world.</p> + +<p>"Eight o'clock," said Mr. Jones, looking at his watch. "We've been in +there three hours, Derrick, and seen some pretty lively times. What I +can't understand, though, is how we got in on that lower level. Never +mind now; we must run, for I'm anxious about that explosion."</p> + +<p>The news of the disaster in the mine had already reached the surface, +but nobody knew exactly how or where it had taken place. A crowd of +people, including many women and children, was rapidly gathering about +the mouth of the slope, anxious to learn tidings of those dear to them +who were down in the mine with the night shift.</p> + +<p>The voice of the mine boss calling out that the explosion had occurred +in an abandoned gangway, and that nobody who was in the new workings was +hurt, gave the first intimation of his presence among them. His words +carried comfort to the hearts of many who heard them, but filled with +dismay the minds of those who had seen him but a short time before at +the underground meeting. They had thought he must surely be still in the +mine, and could in no way account for his presence, for they knew +positively that he had not come up by the slope or the travelling-road.</p> + +<p>While the mine boss was speaking, Derrick felt a hand on his shoulder, +and turning, he saw Paul Evert, who exclaimed, joyfully, "Oh, Derrick, +I'm so glad! I was afraid you were down in the mine, and I was going to +help hunt for you."</p> + +<p>"No, Polly, I'm all right, as you can see; but I wish you'd run home and +tell mother I am—will you?"</p> + +<p>Paul went willingly to do this, and Derrick prepared to follow the mine +boss once more into the underground depths, to render what assistance he +could.</p> + +<p>They were about to step into an empty car and start down the slope, when +the signal was given from below to pull up a loaded car, and they waited +to see what it might contain. As it came slowly to the surface, and +within the light of their lamps, they saw in it Monk Tooley and four +other miners, who, battered and bruised, had evidently suffered from the +explosion.</p> + +<p>When the first of these was helped carefully from the car, and his +glance fell upon the mine boss, with Derrick Sterling standing beside +him, a look of fear came into his face, he uttered a loud cry, staggered +back, and would have fallen had not Monk Tooley caught him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>THE MINE BOSS IN A DILEMMA</h3> + + +<p>The companions of the Mollie who exhibited such consternation at the +sight of the mine boss were almost as frightened as he to see those for +whom they had been so recently searching through the old workings, and +who they thought must surely have been killed by the explosion, standing +before them. They shrunk back as the young man stepped towards them; but +reassured by his cheery words, they allowed him to help them from the +car, and were almost ready to believe that it was not he, but some other +who had confronted them so boldly at the meeting. He could not have been +kinder to them if they had been his dear friends; and from that hour +they ranked among his firmest supporters and adherents in the colliery.</p> + +<p>Derrick caught hold of Monk Tooley, and insisted upon taking him, as he +said, to see Bill, and show him that he was all right. In reality he +wanted to give the man a chance to rest, and recover somewhat from his +recent trying experience, before meeting with his wife and children.</p> + +<p>Bill Tooley, under kind care, amid quiet and pleasant surroundings, and +aided by his own strong constitution, was in a fair way to recover his +health and strength. The fever had left him, and he was able to sit up +for a few minutes at a time. The only serious trouble seemed to be with +his right leg. It gave him great pain, and was threatened with a +permanent lameness. He already seemed a different boy from what he had +been, and would hardly be recognized for the bully of a short time +before. He gave way to occasional outbursts of impatient anger, but +these were always quieted by the gentle presence and soothing words of +either Mrs. Sterling or little Helen; and in his rough way he would +express sorrow for them by saying, "Don't yer mind me, mum; I don' mean +nothin'; only dis ere blessed leg gits de best of me sometimes." Or to +Helen, "Don't yer be afeared, sissy; I know I talks awful ugly; but I +ain't. It's only de pain of de leg breakin' out in bad words."</p> + +<p>The meeting between father and son that night, when Derrick persuaded +Monk Tooley to go home with him, was curious to witness. Bill was as +fond of his father, in his way, as the latter was of him, and had been +very anxious when he knew he was in the mine at the time of the +explosion. Both were much affected when Monk stepped to his son's +bedside; but they had no words to express their feelings. The father +said,</p> + +<p>"Well, lad, how goes it?"</p> + +<p>Bill answered, "Middlin', feyther. I heerd yer got blowed up."</p> + +<p>"Well, yer see I didn't. Job Taskar's killed, though."</p> + +<p>"Better him nor anoder."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Yer want ter be gittin' outen dis, son. Times is hard, an' idlin's +expensive."</p> + +<p>"All right, feyther; I'll soon be in de breaker agin."</p> + +<p>This was all; but the two were assured of each other's safety and +well-being, and for them that was enough.</p> + +<p>Monk Tooley accepted a cup of tea from Mrs. Sterling, and departed with +a very warm feeling in his heart towards those who were doing so much +for his boy.</p> + +<p>His wife and the neighbor women, who as usual were gathered in her +house, were loud in their exclamations of pleasure and wonder at seeing +him safe home again from "the blowing up of the mine," but he gruffly +bade them "be quiet, and not be making all that gabble about a trifle."</p> + +<p>The mine boss took an early opportunity to examine the plans of the old +workings, and soon discovered the slight difference between them and +Derrick's tracing that they had followed in their recent expedition. +Summoning the boy, he pointed it out, and asked him whether he had made +a mistake in copying the plan, or had purposely made the alteration that +had led to such serious consequences.</p> + +<p>Derrick confessed that he had added a little to one line of the plan, +because he thought the line was intended to go that way, and when he +drew it so it seemed to make everything come out all right.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Jones, "the result shows that instead of making +everything come out all right, you made it come all wrong. Now, Derrick, +I want this to be a lesson that you will remember all your life. By +making that one little bit of a change in a single line you placed +yourself and me in great peril. In consequence of the situation to which +it led one man has lost his life, and several others came very near +doing so. You thought you knew better than your father who drew that +plan, and in your ignorance undertook to improve upon his work.</p> + +<p>"I won't say that good may not come out of all this, for I believe that +with the loss of their leader the society of Mollies is broken up, in +this colliery at least, for some time to come, but that does not make +your fault any the less.</p> + +<p>"Remember, my boy," he added, somewhat more gently, as he saw great +tears rolling down the lad's cheeks, "that the little things of this +life lead to and make up its great events, and it is only by paying the +closest attention to them that we can ever hope to achieve good +results."</p> + +<p>This was all that was ever said to Derrick upon this subject, but it was +enough, and he will never forget it. When he left the presence of the +mine boss he was overwhelmed with shame, and was angry to think that +what he considered so trifling a thing as to be unworthy of mention +should be treated so seriously. For an hour he walked alone through the +woods back of the village, and gave himself up to bitter thoughts. +Gradually he began to realize that every word the mine boss had said was +true, and to see what he had done in its proper light. He thought of all +the kindness Mr. Jones had shown him, and the confidence reposed in him. +Finally he broke out with, "I have been a conceited fool, and now I know +it. If I ever catch Derrick Sterling getting into a scrape of this kind +again for want of paying attention to little things, or by thinking he +knows more than anybody else, he'll hear from me, that's all."</p> + +<p>This was only a vague threat, but it meant a great deal, and from that +day to this neither of these failings has been noticed in the young +miner, even by those most intimately acquainted with him.</p> + +<p>Nearly two weeks after this, upon returning home one evening from his +day's work in the mine, Derrick found a message from Mr. Jones awaiting +him. It asked him to call that evening, as the mine boss wished to see +and consult him upon business of importance.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sterling was greatly pleased at this, for it showed that her boy +still enjoyed the confidence of the man who had it in his power to do so +much for him, and that his favor was not withdrawn in consequence of the +recent affair of the tracing. Derrick had told his mother the whole +story, without making any effort to shield himself from blame; and +though she had trembled at the resulting consequences of his fault, and +the knowledge of how much worse they might have been, she had rejoiced +at the manner in which he accepted its lesson. She had only feared that +Mr. Jones, upon whom so much depended, would never trust her boy again, +or take him into his confidence as he had done.</p> + +<p>Derrick was made equally happy by the message; for since the day on +which the mine boss had pointed out the weak spot in his character, and +delivered his little lecture on the wickedness of neglecting details, he +had held no conversation with him. He made haste to finish his supper, +wondering all the while, with his mother and Bill Tooley, who was now +able to sit at the table with them, what the business could be.</p> + +<p>"There's some ladies over there," said little Helen; "they came to-day, +and I saw them."</p> + +<p>"Where?" asked Derrick.</p> + +<p>"At Mr. Jones's."</p> + +<p>Now as the young mine boss was a bachelor, and lived alone, with the +exception of an old negro servant, this was startling information, and +her hearers thought Helen must have made some mistake. However, on the +chance that she might be right, Derrick was more particular than usual +in getting rid of every particle of grime and coal-dust, and dressed +himself in his best clothes. These, though much worn, nearly outgrown, +and even mended in several places, were scrupulously neat, and made him +appear the young gentleman he really was.</p> + +<p>Although Derrick had been away to boarding-school, and was very +differently brought up from the other boys of the village, he was not at +all accustomed to society, especially that of ladies, and he felt +extremely diffident at the prospect of meeting these strangers, if +indeed Helen's report were true.</p> + +<p>As he approached the house of the mine boss he saw that it was more +brilliantly lighted than usual, and just as he reached the door a +shadow, apparently that of a young girl, moved across one of the white +window-shades.</p> + +<p>Instead of ringing the bell the boy walked rapidly on, with a quickly +beating heart, for some distance past the house.</p> + +<p>"Supposing it should be a girl," he thought to himself, "I should never +dare say anything to her, and she'd find it out in a minute; then she'd +make fun of me. I wish I knew whether I was going to see them, or see +Mr. Jones alone. I hope he won't make me go in and be introduced."</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly Derrick was bashful, and while he had apparently been brave +in the burning breaker, and in various trying situations, was only a +coward after all.</p> + +<p>Again he approached the house, and again he walked hurriedly past it. As +he turned and walked towards it for the third time somebody came rapidly +from the opposite direction, and stopped at the very door he was afraid +to enter. They reached it at the same moment, and the somebody +recognizing him, said heartily, "Ah, Derrick, is that you? I'm glad I +got back in time. I was unexpectedly detained by business, and feared +you might get here before me. Walk in."</p> + +<p>There was no help for it now. Wishing with all his heart that he were +safely at home, or down in the mine, or anywhere but where he was, and +trembling with nervousness, Derrick found himself a moment later inside +the house, and—alone with Mr. Jones in the library.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, Derrick," said the latter, as he stood in front of the +fireplace. "I have sent for you to ask you to help me out of a sort of a +scrape."</p> + +<p>So he was not to be asked to meet strange ladies or girls after all, and +his fears were groundless. What a goose he had been! Why should he be +afraid of a girl anyhow? she wouldn't bite him. These and other similar +thoughts flashed through Derrick's mind as he tried to listen to Mr. +Jones, and to overcome a feeling of disappointment that in spite of his +efforts presently filled his mind.</p> + +<p>"It is this," continued the mine boss. "For some time past my only +sister, Mrs. Halford, who lives in Philadelphia, has been threatening to +bring her daughter Nellie on a trip through the Lehigh Valley into the +coal region to see me, and be taken down into a mine. They arrived +unexpectedly this afternoon, and have got to return home the day after +to-morrow; so to-morrow is the only opportunity they will have for +visiting the mine. Of course I had made arrangements to take them +around, and show them everything there is to be seen; but now I find I +can't do it. Two hours ago I received a telegram telling me that an +important case, in which I am the principal witness, is to be tried in +Mauch Chunk to-morrow, and I must be there without fail. Now I want you +to take my place, act as guide to the ladies, and show them all the +sights of interest about the colliery, both above-ground and in the +mine. Will you do this for me?"</p> + +<p>Derrick hesitated, blushed, stammered, turned first hot and then cold, +until Mr. Jones, who was watching him with an air of surprise and +amusement, laughed outright.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" he asked at length. "Ain't I offering you a +pleasanter job than that of driving a bumping-mule all day?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir—I mean yes, sir; of course I will, sir," said Derrick, finally +recovering his voice. "Only don't you think one of the older men—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense! You're old enough, and know the colliery well enough. I +don't want them taken through the old workings," added Mr. Jones, with a +twinkle in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"If you did, sir, I believe I could guide them as well as anybody!" +exclaimed Derrick, with all his self-possession restored, together with +a touch of his old self-conceit.</p> + +<p>"I haven't a doubt of it," answered the other. "Now, if it's all settled +that you are to act as their escort to-morrow, step into the parlor and +let me introduce you to the ladies."</p> + +<p>With this he threw open the door connecting the two rooms, and said, +"Sister, this is Derrick Sterling, of whom I have spoken to you so +often, and who will act as your guide in my place to-morrow. Derrick, +this is my sister, Mrs. Halford, and my niece, Miss Nellie."</p> + +<p>Poor Derrick felt very much as he had done when, with the same +companion, he had been unexpectedly ushered into the meeting of the +Mollie Maguires, and, as on that occasion, his impulse was to run away. +Before he had a chance to do anything so foolish, a motherly-looking +woman, evidently older than Mr. Jones, but bearing a strong resemblance +to him, stepped forward, and taking the boy by the hand, said, "I am +very glad to meet you, Derrick, for my brother has told me what a brave +fellow you are, and that he feels perfectly safe in trusting us to your +guidance to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Then Miss Nellie, a pretty girl of about his own age, whose eyes +twinkled with mischief, held out her hand, and said, "I think you must +be a regular hero, Mr. Sterling, for I'm sure you've been through as +much as most of the book heroes I've read about."</p> + +<p>Blushing furiously at this, and coloring a still deeper scarlet from the +knowledge that he was blushing, and that they were all looking at him, +Derrick barely touched the tips of the little fingers held out to him. +Then thinking that this perhaps seemed rude, he made another attempt to +grasp the offered hand more heartily, but it was so quickly withdrawn +that this time he did not touch it at all, whereupon everybody laughed +good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>Instead of further embarrassing the boy, this laugh had the effect of +setting him at his ease, and in another minute he was chatting as +pleasantly with Miss Nellie and her mother as though they had been old +friends.</p> + +<p>Before he left them it was arranged that, early in the morning, he +should show the ladies all that was to be seen above-ground, and that +they should spend the heat of the day in the cool depths of the mine.</p> + +<p>The boy had much to tell his mother, little Helen, and Bill Tooley, who +were sitting up waiting for him, when he arrived home; but, after all, +he left them to wonder over the age of Miss Halford, whom he only +casually mentioned as Mr. Jones's niece.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>LADIES IN THE MINE—HARRY MULE'S SAD MISHAP</h3> + + +<p>When Derrick awoke the next morning, at an unusually early hour, it was +with the impression that some great pleasure was in store for him. +Before breakfast he went down into the mine to give Harry Mule's sleek +coat an extra rub, and to arrange for another boy and mule to take their +places that day.</p> + +<p>At eight o'clock he presented himself at the door of Mr. Jones's house, +dressed in clean blue blouse and overalls, but wearing his +smoke-blackened cap and the heavy boots that are so necessary in the wet +underground passages of a mine. The mine boss had already gone to Mauch +Chunk, and Miss Nellie was watching behind some half-closed shutters for +the appearance of their young guide.</p> + +<p>"Here he is, mamma!" she exclaimed, as she finally caught sight of +Derrick. "How funnily he is dressed! but what a becoming suit it is! it +makes him look so much more manly. Why don't he ring the bell, I wonder? +He's standing staring at the door as though he expected it to open of +itself. Ahem! <i>ahem!</i>"</p> + +<p>This sound, coming faintly to Derrick's ear, seemed to banish his +hesitation, for the next instant the bell was rung furiously. The truth +is he had been seized with another diffident fit, and had it not been +broad daylight he would probably have walked back and forth in front of +the door several times before screwing up his courage to the +bell-ringing point.</p> + +<p>The door was opened before the bell had stopped jingling, and an anxious +voice inquired, "Is it fire?" Then Miss Nellie, apparently seeing the +visitor for the first time, exclaimed, with charming simplicity,</p> + +<p>"Oh no! Excuse me. I see it's only you, Mr. Sterling. How stupid of me! +Won't you walk in? I thought perhaps it was something serious."</p> + +<p>"Only I, and I wish it was somebody else," thought bashful Derrick, as, +in obedience to this invitation, he stepped inside the door. Leaving him +standing there, Miss Mischief ran up-stairs to tell her mother, in so +loud a tone that he could plainly hear her, that Mr. Sterling had come +for them, and was evidently in an awful hurry.</p> + +<p>"I'm in for a perfectly horrid time," said poor Derrick to himself. "I +can see plain enough that she means to make fun of me all day."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Halford's kind greeting and ready tact made the boy feel more at +ease, and before they reached the new breaker—the first place to which +he carried them—he felt that perhaps he might not be going to have such +a very unpleasant day after all.</p> + +<p>Both Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie were greatly interested in watching +the machinery of the breaker and the quick work of the slate-picker +boys; but in spite of the jigs and the wet chutes the coal-dust was so +thick that they did not feel able to remain there more than a few +minutes.</p> + +<p>As they came out Mrs. Halford said, "Poor little fellows! What a +terribly hard life they must lead!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mamma, it's awful," said Miss Nellie. "And don't they look just +like little negro minstrels? I don't see, though, how they ever tell the +slate from the coal. It all looks exactly alike to me."</p> + +<p>"The slate isn't so black as the coal," explained Derrick, "and doesn't +have the same shine."</p> + +<p>They walked out over the great dump, and the ladies were amazed at its +extent.</p> + +<p>"Why, it seems as if every bit of slate, and coal too, ever dug in the +mine must be piled up here!" exclaimed Miss Nellie.</p> + +<p>"Oh no," said Derrick, "only about half the product of the mine is +waste, and only part of that comes up here. A great quantity is dumped +into the old breasts down in the workings to fill them up, and at the +same time to get rid of it easily."</p> + +<p>"But isn't there a great deal of coal that would burn in this mountain +of refuse?" asked the girl.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, there is; and sometimes the piles get on fire, and then +they seem to burn forever."</p> + +<p>"I have an acquaintance in Philadelphia," said Mrs. Halford, "who has +been trying experiments with the dust of these waste heaps. He pressed +it in egg-shaped moulds, and has succeeded in making capital stove coal +from it. The process is at present too expensive to be profitable, but I +have no doubt that cheaper methods will be discovered, and that within a +few years these culm piles will become valuable."</p> + +<p>"What's the use of bothering with it when there's an inexhaustible +supply of coal in the ground?" asked Miss Nellie.</p> + +<p>"But there isn't," answered Derrick. "This coal region only covers a +limited area, and some time every bit of fuel will be taken out of it. I +have heard that it is the only place in the world where anthracite has +been found. Isn't it, Mrs. Halford?"</p> + +<p>"I believe so," answered that lady; "or at least the only place in which +anthracite of such fine quality as this has been discovered. Inferior +grades of hard coal are mined in several other localities, and +bituminous or soft coal exists almost everywhere."</p> + +<p>From the culm pile they went to see the great pumping-engine, and the +huge fans that act as lungs to the mine, constantly forcing out the foul +air and compelling fresh to enter it. Then, as the day was growing warm, +they did not care to go any farther, but went back towards the house to +prepare for their descent into the mine.</p> + +<p>On their way they stopped to call on Mrs. Sterling at Derrick's home, +which, covered with its climbing vines, offered a pleasing contrast to +the unpainted, bare-looking houses lining the village street beyond it. +Here both Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie were greatly interested in Bill +Tooley, of whom they had already heard. He could not be induced to enter +into conversation with them, merely answering, "yes, 'm" or "no, 'm" to +their questions; but from what he said after they had gone he evidently +thought their call was intended solely for him. For a long time he +cherished it in his memory, and often spoke of it as a most wonderful +event.</p> + +<p>Derrick took this opportunity to secure his lunch-pail and water-can, +which he slung by their chains over his shoulder. When the ladies had +prepared themselves for their mine expedition, he was amused to see that +Miss Nellie was similarly equipped, she having found and appropriated +those belonging to her uncle. Both the ladies wore old dresses, and +India-rubber boots, which they had brought with them for this very +purpose, and both were provided with waterproof cloaks.</p> + +<p>At the mouth of the slope Derrick said something through a speaking-tube +that reached down into the mine. Directly the clang of a gong was heard +in the breaker above them, and the great wire cable, extending its vast +length between the rails of the tracks, began to move. Two minutes later +a new coal-car, one of a lot that had been delivered in the mine the day +before, and had not yet been used, was drawn up out of the blackness to +the mouth of the slope, and stopped in front of them. Some hay had been +thrown into the bottom, and as the ladies were helped in, Miss Nellie +exclaimed that it looked as though they were going on a straw-ride.</p> + +<p>Handing each of them a lighted lantern to carry, and lighting the lamp +on his cap, Derrick tugged at the wire leading to the distant +engine-room, and gave the signal to lower. The car at once began to +move, and as they felt themselves going almost straight down into the +blackness between the wet, glistening walls of the slope, and were +chilled by the cold breath of the mine, the mother and daughter clung to +each other apprehensively.</p> + +<p>At first they looked back and watched the little patch of daylight at +the mouth of the slope grow rapidly smaller and more indistinct, until +it looked almost like a star. Then Derrick warned them that there was +danger of hitting their heads against the low roof, and said they must +hold them below the sides of the car. When next they lifted them they +were amid the wonders of the underground world, in the great chamber at +the foot of the slope. They were surrounded by a darkness that was only +made the more intense at a short distance from them by the glimmering +lights of a group of miners who had gathered to watch their arrival. +Here Derrick left them while he ran to the stable to get his mule.</p> + +<p>The ladies did not get out of the car, but stood in it after the cable +had been cast off, and watched the loaded coal-wagons as, one at a time, +they were pushed to the foot of the slope, and quickly drawn up out of +sight. During this interval their eyes gradually became accustomed to +the lamp-lit darkness, so that they could see much better than at first.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes their young guide returned, leading Harry Mule, whose +swinging collar-lamp and wondering expression struck Miss Nellie as so +comical that she could not help laughing at him.</p> + +<p>"Haw! he-haw, he-haw, he-haw!" brayed Harry Mule, in answer to the +unaccustomed sound; and at this greeting the girl laughed more heartily +than ever.</p> + +<p>The mule was hitched to the car, Derrick sprang in front, cracked the +whip that had hung about his neck, and they started on what, to two of +them at least, was the most novel ride they had ever undertaken.</p> + +<p>When they reached his stable Harry Mule stopped short and refused to go +on.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" asked Miss Nellie.</p> + +<p>"I expect he wants us to go in and see his house," answered Derrick.</p> + +<p>"Why, I never heard of such a funny mule. Do you suppose he knows we are +visitors?"</p> + +<p>"Of course he does," answered the boy, gravely; "and he knows that +visitors always want to see the mine stable."</p> + +<p>So they all went in to look at it. In the long, low, narrow chamber, +hewn from solid rock, were thirty stalls. Several of them were occupied +by spare mules, who turned an inquiring gaze at the visitors, and +blinked in the light of their lanterns. At one end were bales of hay and +bags of oats, while just outside the door stood a long water-trough, +which, as mine water is unfit for use, was supplied from above-ground +through iron pipes brought down the slope. In spite of living in a +continual midnight, so far from pastures and the light of day, which +some of them did not see from one year's end to another, these mine +mules were fat and sleek, and appeared perfectly contented with their +lot.</p> + +<p>Apparently satisfied that justice had been done to his place of abode, +Harry Mule offered no further objection to moving on, when they again +got into the car, and the stable was quickly left behind.</p> + +<p>By-and-by Derrick called out "Door!"</p> + +<p>As it opened for them to pass, and Paul Evert recognized his friend, he +cried, "Oh, Derrick, Socrates—" Then seeing the visitors, he stopped +abruptly, and stared at them in confusion.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Polly; we'll be back pretty soon," shouted Derrick, as the +car rolled on, "and then you can tell us all about it."</p> + +<p>"What did he say?" inquired Mrs. Halford.</p> + +<p>"I didn't quite understand," replied Derrick; "but, if you don't mind, +we'll go back there after a while and eat our lunch with Polly—he'd be +so pleased!—and then we'll ask him."</p> + +<p>"Who is Polly?" asked Miss Nellie.</p> + +<p>"He's Paul Evert, my best friend, and he's a cripple."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's the boy you saved from the burning breaker! Yes, indeed, +mamma, let's go back and eat our lunch with him."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Halford agreed to this, and after they had visited the blacksmith's +shop, where a cheery young fellow named Aleck was installed in Job +Taskar's place, they went back to Paul's station.</p> + +<p>Both the ladies were charmed with the gentle simplicity and quaintness +of the crippled lad, and he thought he had never been so happy as in +acting the part of host to this underground picnic party. He showed them +all the strange and beautiful pictures on the walls of the gangway, and +Derrick managed to break off for them a couple of thin scales of slate +on which were impressed the delicate outlines of fern leaves.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Halford sat in Paul's arm-chair, and he made a bench of the +tally-board for Miss Nellie. The two boys were content to sit on the +railway track, and each ate out of his or her own lunch-pail.</p> + +<p>All at once Paul said, "'Sh! There they are! See!"</p> + +<p>At this the visitors looked in the direction indicated, and both +screamed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you've frightened them away!" said Paul, regretfully.</p> + +<p>"Why, I do believe they were rats!" cried Mrs. Halford, in a tone of +great surprise.</p> + +<p>"Of course they were," answered Paul—"my rat Socrates and Mrs. Socrates +and a whole lot of little Soc rats. I meant to tell you, Derrick; he +brought them out this morning, his wife and a family of such cunning +little fellows."</p> + +<p>When the ladies had heard the whole story of Socrates the rat, and how +wise he was, they became greatly interested, and wished he would appear +again.</p> + +<p>"He will," said Paul, "if we only keep quiet. He's too wise to stay away +at lunch-time, but he don't like loud talking."</p> + +<p>So they all kept very quiet, and sure enough the rat did come back after +a little while, and sitting upon his hind-legs, gravely surveyed the +party. In the gloom behind him could be seen the shining beady eyes of +some members of his family, who made comical attempts to sit up as he +did.</p> + +<p>Being duly fed, they all scampered away with squeaks of thanks, and soon +afterwards Harry Mule broke up the picnic by coming jingling back from +his stable, to which he had been sent for dinner.</p> + +<p>"I think he is just the very dearest old mule I ever saw," said Miss +Nellie, when they were once more seated in the car, and Harry, was +taking them towards a distant heading.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, he is," answered Derrick, proud to hear his mule thus +praised; "and I love him as much as—as he loves me," he finished, with +a laugh.</p> + +<p>They spent several hours in visiting different parts of the mine, and +becoming acquainted with all the details of its many operations. At the +end of one heading they found the miners who had just finished drilling +a hole deep in the wall of coal beyond them, and were about to fire a +blast. The visitors were intensely interested in watching their +operations. First a cartridge of stiff brown paper and powder was made. +The paper was rolled into the shape of a long cylinder, about as big +round as a broom-handle, the end of a fuse was inserted in the powder +with which it was filled, and the cartridge was thrust into the hole +just prepared for it. Then it was tamped with clay, the fuse was +lighted, the miners uttered loud cries of "Blast ho!" and everybody ran +away to a safe distance.</p> + +<p>In less than a minute came a dull roar that echoed and re-echoed through +the long galleries. It was followed by a great upheaval of coal, a dense +cloud of smoke, and the blast was safely over.</p> + +<p>These miners had a loaded car ready to be hauled away. One of them asked +Derrick if he would mind hitching it on behind his empty car, and +drawing it to the junction, adding that the boy who had taken his place +that day was too slow to live.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Derrick. "I guess we can take it for you."</p> + +<p>So, with two cars instead of one to pull, Harry Mule was started towards +the junction. On the way they had to pass through a door in charge of a +boy who had only come into the mine that day. This door opened towards +them, and they approached it on a slightly descending grade.</p> + +<p>As they drew near to it, with Harry Mule trotting briskly along, Derrick +shouted, "Door!"</p> + +<p>Again he shouted, louder than before, "Door! door! Holloa there! what's +the matter?"</p> + +<p>The little door-tender, unaccustomed to the utter silence and solitude +of the situation, sat fast asleep in his chair. At last Derrick's +frantic shoutings roused him, and he sprang to his feet, but too late. A +crash, a wild cry, and poor Harry Mule lay on the floor of the gangway, +crushed between the heavy cars and the solid, immovable door!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>A LIFE IS SAVED AND DERRICK IS PROMOTED</h3> + + +<p>Mrs. Halford and her daughter were flung rudely forward to the end of +the car by the shock of the collision, and were, of course, badly +frightened, as well as considerably shaken up and somewhat bruised. They +were not seriously hurt, however, and with Derrick's assistance they got +out of the car and stood on the door-tender's platform.</p> + +<p>Derrick sent the boy who had been so sleepy, but who was now wide-awake +and crying with fright, back to ask the miners they had just left to +come to their assistance. Then he turned his attention to Harry Mule. +The poor beast was not dead, but was evidently badly injured. He was +jammed so tightly between the cars and the door that he could not move, +and the light of Derrick's lamp disclosed several ugly-looking cuts in +his body, from which blood was flowing freely.</p> + +<p>The tears streamed down the boy's face as he witnessed the suffering of +his dumb friend, and realized how powerless he was to do anything to +relieve it. He was not a bit ashamed of these signs of grief when he +felt a light touch on his arm, and turning, saw Nellie Halford, with +eyes also full of tears, standing beside him, and gazing pityingly at +the mule.</p> + +<p>"Will he die, do you think?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but I'm afraid so, or that he's too badly hurt to be made +well again, and so will have to be killed."</p> + +<p>"No, he sha'n't be killed. My uncle sha'n't let him. If he does, I'll +never love him again!" exclaimed Miss Nellie, with determined energy. +"Poor old mule! poor Harry! you shall have everything in the world done +for you if you only won't die," she added, stooping and patting the +animal's head with her soft hand.</p> + +<p>Feebly lifting his head and pricking forward his great ears, Harry Mule +opened his eyes, and looked at the girl for a moment so earnestly that +she almost thought he was going to speak to her. Then the big, wondering +eyes were closed again, and the shaggy head sank on the wet roadway, but +Nellie felt that she had been thanked for her pitying words and gentle +touch.</p> + +<p>After a while the little door-tender came hurrying back, followed by the +men for whom he had been sent. They were much excited over the accident, +on account of the character of the visitors who had been sufferers from +it, and were inclined to use very harsh language towards the boy whose +neglect of duty had caused it. This, however, was prevented by Mrs. +Halford, who declared she would not have the little fellow abused. She +said it was a burning shame that children of his age were allowed in the +mines at all, and it was no wonder they went to sleep, after sitting all +alone for hours without anything to occupy their thoughts, in that awful +darkness and silence.</p> + +<p>The loaded car proved so heavy that it had to be unloaded before it +could be moved. Then the empty car was pushed back from Harry Mule, and +he made a frantic struggle to regain his feet. After several +unsuccessful attempts he finally succeeded, and stood trembling in the +roadway. It was now seen that he had the use of only three legs, and an +examination showed his right fore-leg to be broken.</p> + +<p>"He'll never do no more work in this mine," said one of the men. "The +poor beast will have to be killed."</p> + +<p>"He sha'n't be killed! He sha'n't, I say. We won't have him killed; will +we, mother?" cried Nellie Halford, her voice trembling with emotion.</p> + +<p>"No, dear, not if anything we can do will prevent it," answered the +mother, gently.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think," continued the girl, turning to Derrick, "that he +might be mended if anybody would take the time and trouble?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think he might, because there is a mule at work in the mine now +that had a broken leg, and they cured him. He was a young mule, though. +I'm afraid they won't bother with one so old as Harry."</p> + +<p>"He's listening to every word we say," interrupted the girl, "and I do +believe he understands too. Just look at him!"</p> + +<p>The wounded mule was standing in a dejected attitude on the very spot +where he had been so badly hurt; but his patient face, with its big +eyes, was turned inquiringly towards them, and it did seem as though he +were listening anxiously to the conversation about himself.</p> + +<p>He managed to limp a few steps away from the door, so that it could be +opened, and was then left in charge of the little door-tender, who was +instructed to keep him as still as possible.</p> + +<p>After the miners had given the empty car a start, Derrick found that he +could keep it in motion, and undertook to push it as far as the +junction, Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie following on foot. The two miners +remained upon the scene of the accident to refill the car they had been +compelled to unload.</p> + +<p>The ladies and Derrick had gone but a short distance when they heard, +faintly, through the closed door behind them, a plaintive "Haw, he-haw, +he-haw, he-haw."</p> + +<p>As Nellie Halford said, it sounded exactly as though poor dear old Harry +Mule were begging them not to leave him.</p> + +<p>They had nearly reached the junction when a cheery voice rang out of the +gloom ahead of them, saying,</p> + +<p>"Holloa there! where's your mule? and where's your light? You wouldn't +run over a stranger, would you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm the mule," replied Derrick, as, panting and perspiring with his +exertions, he looked around a rear corner of the car to see who was +coming.</p> + +<p>"Why, Derrick, is that you?" inquired the voice, in a tone of great +surprise. "What has happened? where are the ladies?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Warren!" exclaimed Mrs. Halford, from somewhere back in the +darkness, "I'm so thankful to see—I mean to hear—you. Here we are."</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand," said Mr. Jones, for it was he who had so +unexpectedly come to their assistance. "What is the meaning of all this? +Where's the bumping-mule?"</p> + +<p>"We had a collision with a door," explained Miss Nellie, "and poor Harry +Mule got crushed. His leg's broken, and he's all cut up. But oh, Uncle +Warren, you won't have him killed, will you?"</p> + +<p>"I can't promise until I find out how badly he is injured."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you must, Uncle Warren. If you have him killed, I'll never love +you again," insisted Miss Nellie, repeating the threat she had already +made.</p> + +<p>"Well, dear, I'll promise this: he shall not be killed unless I can show +you that it is the best thing to be done, and you give your consent."</p> + +<p>"Then he'll live to be an old, old mule!" cried Miss Nellie, joyfully; +"for I'll never, never consent to have him killed."</p> + +<p>As the ladies once more got into the car, and the mine boss helped +Derrick push it towards the junction, Mrs. Halford said, "How do you +happen to be back so early, Warren? I thought you were to be gone all +day."</p> + +<p>"Why, so I have been," he answered, with some surprise. "Don't you call +from six o'clock in the morning to nearly the same hour of the evening +all day?"</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that it is nearly six o'clock?"</p> + +<p>"I do; for that witching hour is certainly near at hand."</p> + +<p>"Well, I never knew a day to pass so quickly in my life. I didn't +suppose it was more than three o'clock, at the latest."</p> + +<p>"It is, though; and to understand how time passes down in a mine, you +have but to remember two often quoted sayings. One is, 'Time is money,' +and the other, 'Money vanishes down the throat of a mine more quickly +than smoke up a chimney.' Ergo, time vanishes quickly down in a mine. Is +not that a good bit of logic for you?"</p> + +<p>Both the ladies laughed at this nonsense, but it served to divert their +minds from the painful scene they had just witnessed, and therefore +accomplished its purpose.</p> + +<p>From the junction Mr. Jones sent some men back to get Harry Mule and +take him to the stable, where his injuries could be examined and his +wounds dressed. He also ordered a report to be made concerning them that +evening. Then the ladies' car was attached to a train of loaded +coal-wagons, and the party were thus taken to the foot of the slope.</p> + +<p>As the great wire cable began to strain, and they started slowly up the +slope towards the outer world, both Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie looked +back regretfully into the mysterious depths behind them.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have believed that in a few hours this awful place could +exercise such a fascination over me," said the former. "I really hate to +leave it, and wish we were coming down again to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"So do I," exclaimed Miss Nellie; "and if I were a boy, I'd study to be +an engineer, and spend my life down among the 'black diamonds' of the +coal-mines."</p> + +<p>Did this girl know of the hopes and ambitions of the boy who sat beside +her? This question flashed through his mind; but he quickly answered it +for himself: "Of course not, Derrick Sterling. What a fool you are to +fancy such a thing! She only knows and thinks of you, if she thinks of +you at all, as a mule-driver, such as she has seen a dozen of to-day."</p> + +<p>Although the sun had set when they reached the top of the slope, and a +breeze was blowing, the outer air felt oppressively warm after that of +the mine, and the ladies became suddenly aware of a weariness they had +not before felt.</p> + +<p>Derrick was made very happy, and almost forgot for a time his sadness at +Harry Mule's pitiable condition, when Mr. Jones invited him to come and +take tea with them. Joyfully accepting the invitation, the lad hastened +home to change his clothes, and the others, walking more slowly gazed +after him.</p> + +<p>"I think he's splendid!" exclaimed Miss Nellie, with the outspoken +decision that generally marked the expression of her thoughts; "and I do +hope he will have a chance to become a mining engineer."</p> + +<p>"He will, if he keeps on trying for it as he has begun," said her uncle. +"Any boy, no matter if he is born and brought up a gentleman, as Derrick +Sterling certainly was, who goes in at the very bottom of any business, +determined to climb to the top, will find a way to do it."</p> + +<p>"I like to see a boy not ashamed to do dirty work, if that is what his +duty calls him to do," said Mrs. Halford. "He comes out all the brighter +and cleaner by contrast when the dirt is washed off."</p> + +<p>If Derrick's right ear did not burn and tingle with all this praise, it +ought to have done so; but perhaps he was too busy telling the exciting +news of the day at home to notice it.</p> + +<p>He did not walk past the Jones's house, nor hesitate before ringing the +door-bell on this occasion, as he had the evening before, but stepped up +to it with all the boldness of one who was about to meet and greet old +acquaintances. Besides, his mind was too full of the sad fate that had +befallen his mule to admit of more than the briefest consideration of +personal feelings.</p> + +<p>At the supper-table the conversation was wholly of mines, collieries, +and the perils of miners' lives, in regard to which Mr. Jones related a +number of interesting incidents.</p> + +<p>"How wonderful it is!" said Miss Nellie, who had listened to all this +with eager attention. "Who first discovered coal, anyway, Uncle Warren? +and how did people find out that it would burn?"</p> + +<p>"If you mean who discovered anthracite coal, I believe the credit is +generally given to a man named Philip Gunter, who lived in a cabin on +the side of a mountain not far from where we are now sitting. He was a +hunter; and the story goes that one day in the year 1791 he had been out +hunting for many hours, without securing any game, which made him feel +very badly, for when he left home that morning there was no food in the +house. Towards night he was returning, greatly depressed in spirits, and +paying so little heed to his footsteps that he stumbled and fell over +some obstacle. Stooping to see what it was, he found a black stone, +different from any he had ever before noticed. He had, however, heard of +stone coal, and thought perhaps this might be a lump of that substance. +Having nothing else to carry, he decided to take it home as a curiosity. +Soon afterwards he gave it to a friend, who sent it to Philadelphia, +where it was pronounced to be genuine coal. A few gentlemen became +interested in this discovery, and formed themselves in the 'Lehigh +Coal-mine Company.' A mine was opened, and four laborers were employed +to work it; but as there was no way of getting the coal they mined to +market they were soon discharged, and the project was abandoned for the +time being.</p> + +<p>"Nothing further was done until 1817, when Colonel George Shoemaker, of +Pottsville, took four wagon-loads of anthracite coal to Philadelphia, +and tried to sell it there. People laughed at him for telling them that +those black stones would burn; but he guaranteed that they would. Upon +this a number of persons bought small quantities on trial; but all their +efforts failed to set it on fire. Then they became very angry, and tried +to have Colonel Shoemaker thrown into prison for cheating them. He fled +from the city, pursued by officers who held warrants for his arrest. +Finally he managed to elude them, and reached his home, thoroughly +disgusted with coal, and ready to swear that he would have nothing more +to do with it.</p> + +<p>"In the mean time a lot of the black stones had been purchased for trial +by the Fairmount Nail-works. It was placed in one of the furnaces, and +the proprietor spent a whole morning with his men in trying to make the +stuff burn. They were unsuccessful, and finally, completely disheartened +by their failure, they shut the furnace door and went off to dinner, +uttering loud threats against the man who had sold them such worthless +trash. Upon their return to the works they were filled with amazement, +for the furnace door was red hot, and a fire of the most intense heat +was roaring and blazing behind it. Since that time there has been no +difficulty in selling anthracite coal nor in making it burn. Now the +production of coal in this country has reached such enormous proportions +that its annual value is equal to that of all the gold, silver, and iron +mined in the United States during the year."</p> + +<p>Just here Mr. Jones was interrupted by the arrival of the report of +Harry Mule's condition. It was very brief, and pronounced the animal to +be so badly injured, and his chances of recovery so slight, that it +would cost more to attempt to cure him than he was worth.</p> + +<p>"Now what am I to do about him?" asked Mr. Jones.</p> + +<p>"I want to buy that mule, Warren," said Mrs. Halford.</p> + +<p>"Please give him to me," pleaded Miss Nellie.</p> + +<p>"I should like to have a chance to try and cure him," said Derrick; and +all these requests were made at once.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones looked at them with a puzzled smile, thought a moment, and +then said, "All right: I will sell him to you, sister, for one cent, +provided you will give him to Nellie, and that she will leave him with +Derrick to care for and cure if he can."</p> + +<p>"That's a splendid plan!" cried Miss Nellie.</p> + +<p>"Have you any place in which to take care of him?" asked Mrs. Halford of +Derrick.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the boy, "we have a little empty stable back of our +house that will make a tip-top mule hospital."</p> + +<p>"Then it's a bargain, Warren; and if you take care of him, Derrick, you +must let me pay all the doctor's bills, and furnish all necessary hay, +corn, and oats."</p> + +<p>Thus it was decided that Harry Mule should be restored to health and +usefulness, if money, skill, and kind care could do it.</p> + +<p>Before Derrick left, the mine boss said to him, "Now that there is no +Harry Mule for you to drive, I am going to promote you, and let you work +with Tom Evert as his helper. In that position you will gain a +thoroughly practical knowledge of mining. You may report to him +to-morrow."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>A "SQUEEZE" AND A FALL OF ROCK</h3> + + +<p>As it was impossible for Harry Mule to climb the gigantic stairway of +the travelling-road, his legs were bound so that he could not move them, +a platform was laid across two coal-cars from which the sides had been +removed, and he was placed on this, and firmly lashed to it. In this +manner he was drawn to the top of the slope, and from there he managed +to limp, though with great difficulty and very slowly, to the little +stable behind the Sterlings' house.</p> + +<p>Here, by order of the mine boss, carpenters had been at work since early +morning making a roomy box-stall in place of two small ones, and +providing it with a broad sling of strong canvas, which was hung from +eye-bolts inserted in beams overhead. This was passed beneath the mule's +belly, and drawn so that while he could stand on three legs if he +wished, he could also rest the whole weight of his body upon it.</p> + +<p>After Harry Mule was thus made as comfortable as possible, a skilful +veterinary surgeon set his broken leg, and bound it so firmly with +splints that it could not possibly move. He also sewed up the cuts on +various parts of the animal's body, and said that with good care he +thought the patient might recover, though his leg would probably always +be stiff.</p> + +<p>These operations occupied the attention of Mr. Jones, the Halfords, and +the Sterling family, including Derrick, until noon, when it was time for +Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie to take the train for Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>Before leaving, Mrs. Halford had an interview with Bill Tooley, who was +now able to hobble about with the aid of a crutch. She said that if he +would, under Derrick's direction, take care of Harry Mule, and see that +all his wants were promptly supplied until he got well, she would pay +him the same wages that he could earn by working in the breaker.</p> + +<p>Of course Bill gratefully accepted this offer; and either because he had +a feeling of sympathy for an animal that was suffering in much the same +way that he was, or because his own trials and the kindness shown him +had really softened his nature, he proved a capital and most attentive +nurse.</p> + +<p>Often after this, when Derrick entered the stable unexpectedly, he +discovered these two cripples engaged in conversation. At least he would +find Bill Tooley perched on the edge of the manger, where he balanced +himself with his crutch, talking in his uncouth way to the mule; while +the latter, with great ears pricked forward, and wondering eyes fixed +unwinkingly upon the speaker, seemed to pay most earnest attention to +all that he said.</p> + +<p>As Derrick watched the train bearing his recently made friends roll away +from the little station, and disappear around a sharp curve in the +valley, he experienced a feeling of sadness, for which he was at first +unable to account. In thinking it over, he decided that it was because +he felt sorry to have anybody go away who had been so kind to his +much-loved bumping-mule.</p> + +<p>Turning away from the station, he walked slowly back to the mouth of the +slope, jumped into an empty car, and was lowered into the mine.</p> + +<p>Why did the place appear so strange to him? All the interest, of which +it had seemed so full but the day before, was gone from it, and Derrick +felt that he hated these underground delvings. A feeling of dread came +over him as he started along one of the gangways in search of Tom Evert, +to whom he had been ordered to report for duty. The air seemed close and +suffocating, and the lamps to burn with a more sickly flame than usual. +To the boy the faces of the miners looked haggard, and their voices +sounded unnaturally harsh. He overheard one of them say, "Ay, she's +working, there's no doubt o' that; but it's naught to worrit over; just +a bit settlin' into place like."</p> + +<p>Derrick wondered, as he passed out of hearing, what the man meant; and +as he wondered he was startled by a sharp report like the crack of a +rifle, only much louder, and a horrible grinding, crushing sound that +came from the rock wall of the gangway close beside him. The sound +filled him with such terror that he fled from it, running at full speed +through the black, dripping gallery. He ran until he came to a group of +miners who were strengthening the roof with additional props and braces +of new timber. He told them of his fright, and they laughed at him.</p> + +<p>"He's heerd t' mine a-talking, and got skeert at her voice," said one.</p> + +<p>"She's allus a-cracklin' an' a-sputterin' when she's uneasy and workin' +hersel' comfortable like; don't ye know that, lad? It's only a +'squeeze.' Sich noises means naught but warnin's to put in a few new +timbers here and there," explained another, more kindly. He was an old +man, in that his cheeks were sunken and his hair was gray, though he had +lived less than forty years. This is counted old among miners, for their +terrible life and the constant inhaling of coal-dust ages them very +rapidly. Seeing him thus aged, and feeling that he would be less likely +to ridicule him than the others, Derrick ventured to ask him if there +was really any danger of a general caving in of that part of the mine.</p> + +<p>"Hoot, lad! there's allus danger in t' mine," was the reply. "But if ye +mean is there more now than ordinary, I'd answer ye 'No.' It's a common +thing this squeezing and settling of a mine, and times there's men +killed by it, but more often it's quieted without harm bein' done. No, +no, lad; haud ye no fears! I'd bid ye gang oot an' I thocht ye war in +danger."</p> + +<p>Although Derrick was greatly comforted by these words, he could not help +dreading to hear more of the rock explosions, which are caused by the +roof, walls, and pillars of the mine giving slightly beneath the vast +crushing weight of material above them. When he reached Paul Evert's +station, and found that the crippled lad had heard some of the same loud +snappings and crackings, but was not alarmed at them, he felt ashamed of +his own fears, and casting them entirely aside, asked to see what the +other was drawing.</p> + +<p>Paul was very fond of drawing with a pencil, or bit of charcoal, or +anything that came to his hand, on all sorts of surfaces, and really +showed great skill in his rude sketches of the common objects about him. +Since coming into the mine he had found more time to indulge his taste +than ever before; and though his only light was the wretched little lamp +in his cap, he had produced some beautiful copies of the dainty ferns +and curious patterns imprinted on the walls about him. He had also +afforded Derrick great amusement by making for him several sketches of +Socrates the wise rat in various attitudes. Until this time he had never +hesitated before showing his friend any of his efforts, but now he did, +and it was only after much urging that he reluctantly handed Derrick the +sheet of paper on which he had been working.</p> + +<p>It was an outline sketch of the figures composing their underground +picnic party of the day before, including Socrates, and Derrick had no +sooner set eyes on it than he declared he must have it.</p> + +<p>"I was doing it for you, 'Dare,'" said Paul, using his especial pet name +for Derrick, which he never did except when they were alone. "But you +must let me finish it, and that will take some time; there is so much to +put in, and my light is so bad."</p> + +<p>Derrick was obliged to agree to this, though he would have valued the +sketch just as it was, and handing it back, he went on towards where +Paul thought his father was at work. At last he found him, in a distant +heading that was exhausted and about to be abandoned, engaged in the +dangerous task of "robbing back."</p> + +<p>In cutting into a vein it is often necessary to leave walls and pillars +of solid coal standing to support the roof, and when the workings about +them are exhausted it is customary to break away these supports for the +sake of what coal they contain. This is called "robbing back," and is so +dangerous a job that only the very best and most experienced miners are +intrusted with it. Sometimes the roof, thus robbed of its support, +falls, and sometimes it does not. If it does fall, perhaps the miner +"robber" gets killed, and perhaps he escapes entirely, or with only +bruises and cuts.</p> + +<p>Tom Evert was a "company man"; that is, he received regular wages from +the company owning the mine, no matter what quantity of coal he sent +out, or what kind of work he was engaged upon. Most of the other men +were paid so much per cubic yard, or so much by the car-load, for all +the coal they mined. Evert was considered one of the best workmen in the +mine, and for that reason was often employed on the most dangerous jobs. +On this occasion he was "robbing back" in company with another skilful +miner; but they had only one helper between them. The burly miner would +have been glad to welcome any addition to their force, but he greeted +Derrick with especial cordiality, for the boy was a great favorite with +him.</p> + +<p>"It does me good to see thee, lad," he exclaimed, when Derrick reported +to him as helper, "and I'll be proud to have thy feyther's son working +alongside of me. Pick up yon shovel and help load the wagon, while we +tackle this chunk a bit more, and see if we can't fetch it."</p> + +<p>A miner's helper has to do all kinds of work, such as running to the +blacksmith's with tools that need sharpening, directing the course of +drills beneath the heavy hammer blows, holding lamps in dark places, +loading cars, or anything else for which he may prove useful. Shovelling +coal into a car is perhaps the hardest of all, and this was what Derrick +was now set at. It was hard, back-aching work, but he was fresh and +strong, and he took hold of it heartily and vigorously.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he dropped his shovel, sprang at Tom Evert who was stooping +down to pick up a drill, and gave him so violent a push that he was sent +sprawling on his face some little distance away. Carried forward by his +own impetus, Derrick fell on top of the prostrate miner. Behind, and so +close to them that they were covered with its flying splinters, crashed +down the great pillar of coal, weighing several tons, that the "robbers" +had been working on. It had unexpectedly given way before their efforts, +and would have crushed Tom Evert beyond human recognition but for +Derrick's quick eye and prompt action.</p> + +<p>When the big miner regained his feet he appeared dazed, and seemed not +to realize the full character of the danger he had so narrowly escaped. +He gazed at the fallen mass for a moment, and then, appreciating what +had happened, he seized Derrick's hand, and shaking it warmly, said, +"That's one I owe thee, lad. Now we'll knock off, for I'll do no more +'robbing' this day."</p> + +<p>On their way to the foot of the slope the little party met the mine +boss, superintending the placing of new timbers, and taking such other +precautions as his experience suggested against the effects of the +"squeeze," which still continued, though less violently than when +Derrick entered the mine. He was surprised at seeing them thus early, +for it wanted nearly an hour of quitting-time. When he heard of Tom +Evert's narrow escape, he acknowledged that they had a good excuse for +knocking off, and complimented Derrick upon his presence of mind.</p> + +<p>"By-the-way, Tom," he said, "you may quit 'robbing' for a few days. I +want you and your partner to go down on the lower level and pipe off the +water that's collecting in the old gangway—the one in which Job Taskar +was killed, you know."</p> + +<p>"It'll be a ticklish job, boss."</p> + +<p>"I know it, and that's the reason I send the steadiest man in the mine +to do it. It's got to be done by somebody, or else it will break through +some day and flood the whole lower level."</p> + +<p>"All right, sir; I'll do my best wi' it; but I'll be mor'n glad when +it's safe done."</p> + +<p>With this Tom Evert went on towards the slope; but Derrick stayed behind +with the mine boss to learn what he might of the operation of placing +the timber supports of a mine roof.</p> + +<p>He had not watched this work long when a distant muffled sound, +something like that of a blast, and yet plainly not produced by an +explosion, reached their ears. Although not loud, it was an ominous, +awe-inspiring sound; and Derrick would have taken to his heels and made +for the bottom of the slope had not his pride kept him where he was.</p> + +<p>To his surprise the mine boss, who had listened intently to the sound +while it lasted, seemed to regard it as a most natural occurrence. +Giving a few directions to his men, he turned to the boy, saying, "Come, +Derrick, let us go and see what is the trouble back in there."</p> + +<p>For an instant Derrick looked at him to see if he were really in +earnest; then realizing that he was, he followed him without a word.</p> + +<p>When they reached Paul Evert's door, the mine boss said, "It's +quitting-time, Paul; so get out of this as quickly as you can. It is +just possible that we may all have to run," he explained to Derrick, +after Paul had obeyed his order and left them, "and in that case all +those using crutches will need a good start."</p> + +<p>Of course this did not greatly reassure Derrick, and he would gladly +have followed his friend Paul had not duty commanded him to remain with +his friend the mine boss.</p> + +<p>Finally they reached the place where, less than an hour before, Derrick +had been helping to "rob" the old heading; and here they discovered the +cause of the sound they had heard. The roof above that entire set of +workings, so far as they could judge, had fallen; and had not Tom Evert +decided to quit work when he did, it is probable that no trace would +ever have been found of him or those with him.</p> + +<p>Derrick felt deeply thankful that his life had been thus preserved, as +he walked thoughtfully beside the mine boss away from the scene of +disaster.</p> + +<p>"How invariably Nature asserts herself in the end, and defies the puny +efforts of man to alter her ways," said Mr. Jones to himself, musingly. +Then to his companion he said, "I brought you with me to try you, +Derrick. I hated to come myself, for I did not know what might be going +on, after all these squeezes and movements of the mine. It had to be +done, though, and it seemed a good opportunity for testing your courage, +so I asked you to come with me. As a mining engineer, you will often be +called upon to perform similar unpleasant and dangerous tasks."</p> + +<p>"I was afraid, and didn't want to come one bit," said Derrick, with a +nervous laugh.</p> + +<p>"That doesn't make any difference. I was afraid too, but we came all the +same. The proof of your courage is not whether you are afraid to do a +thing or not, but whether or not you do it."</p> + +<p>So Derrick's courage was tested, and withstood the test, which was +indeed fortunate; for, within a short time, he was to be placed in a +position that would try the courage of the bravest man in the world.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>BURSTING OF AN UNDERGROUND RESERVOIR</h3> + + +<p>Upon reaching the surface that evening, Derrick and the mine boss found +that the weather had greatly changed since noon and that a storm +threatened. It set in that night, and the rain poured down in a steady, +determined sort of way, as though it had made up its mind that this +time, at least, the earth should be thoroughly watered.</p> + +<p>When Derrick joined the other miners at the mouth of the slope in the +morning, it was still raining, and as they were lowered into the +underground world, the men joked with each other about getting in out of +the wet, and pitied the poor fellows who were obliged to work +above-ground on such a day.</p> + +<p>Descending the second slope into the lowest level of the mine, Tom Evert +and his party made an examination of the place in which they were to +work. The new excavations on this level were of limited extent, work +having only recently been begun on them; but a powerful pump had been +placed at the top of the slope leading down into them, and it was to +bring the accumulated water in the old workings within reach of it that +the mine boss had sent them down.</p> + +<p>Going up the old gangway, past the chamber at the foot of the air-shaft +which Derrick had such good reason to remember, they soon came to the +fallen mass of rock, coal, and earth through which they were to cut a +channel and insert a pipe for the release of the water beyond. The +material was too loose for blasting, so the work had to be done with +pick and shovel, and the debris removed with wheel-barrows, and +distributed along the gangway. It was hard, dangerous, and exhausting +work, and at the end of three days Derrick was heartily tired of it.</p> + +<p>Still the rain poured steadily down, and people in the upper world began +to talk of danger from floods, and great damage to the ungathered crops. +Even in the mine the effect of the heavy rain began to be noticed. The +drippings from the roof fell thicker and faster, the tricklings down the +walls became little rivulets, and the black streams in the ditches +swirled along angrily. The great pumps worked steadily, night and day, +at their fullest speed, and from the mouths of the waste-pipes young +rivers of black water were poured; but the mine grew constantly wetter +and more uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>Finally the mine boss decided that it was almost time to temporarily +abandon the lower workings, and allow them to fill up, so that the whole +force of both pumps might be directed towards keeping the upper level +free of water. He spoke to Tom Evert of this, and the latter begged for +just one day more, as he thought he had nearly cut through to the water, +and was anxious to get the pipe laid, and have that job off his hands.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Mr. Jones, "you may have one day, Tom, and no more +until after the rain stops; for without both pumps in the upper level we +shall, very soon, have to shut down altogether."</p> + +<p>During the morning of that fourth day they uncovered a wall of rock, +which barred their way completely, and Tom Evert decided that at least +one blast would be necessary to force an opening through it. After +lunch-time he left the other miner, with the two helpers, to drill a +hole in it, while he went up into the village to procure some powder and +fuse for the work.</p> + +<p>Those left below had not been long at work when Derrick noticed a little +stream of water spurting out at one side of the rock. He called the +attention of the miner to it, and he, without a word, sprang to the +place and tried to check the stream, first with earth, and then with +strips torn from his shirt, but could not. As he stopped its flow at one +point, it burst out at another.</p> + +<p>Finally he exclaimed, "It's no use, boys! we'll never be able to draw +this water off through any pipe; it's going to take that business into +its own hands, and the best thing we can do is to get out of here quick +as we know how."</p> + +<p>Even as he spoke there came a rattling rush of earth and loose rock, +followed by the roar of angry waters, as they leaped out of the +blackness like a savage animal upon its prey. The long pent-up waters, +swollen by the heavy rains and scorning any effort to draw them off +gradually, had burst forth in all their fury, and in less time than it +takes to write of it, the old gangway was filled with the surging +torrent.</p> + +<p>At the first outbreak Derrick and his companions started to run for +their lives down the gangway, but as they reached the door of the +Mollies' meeting-room the torrent was upon them. They had barely time to +spring inside the door and close it as the mad waters swept past. The +door offered but a momentary protection, but ere it had been crushed in +they were climbing the old air-shaft towards the upper level. It was a +desperate undertaking, for the few timber braces left by those who had +cut the shaft were so far apart that often they had to dig little holes +for their hands and feet in the coal of the sides, and thus work their +way slowly and painfully upward. It was their only chance, and they knew +it, for they could hear the detached bits of falling coal and rock +splash into the water as it rose in the shaft behind them.</p> + +<p>Finally they reached the top. As they drew themselves wearily, with +almost the last of their strength, over the edge, and lay on the floor +of the gangway, they were filled with new terror at seeing the light +from their lamps reflected in the black waters apparently but a few feet +below them. The water was evidently rising into the upper level, and +before long their present place of refuge would be flooded. Urged by +this peril, they made all possible speed down the gangway into the new +workings at the foot of the slope, where they were confronted by a scene +of the greatest confusion.</p> + +<p>The gangways, headings, chambers, and breasts of the lower vein were +already full of the turbid flood, and the few miners who had been at +work down there had barely escaped with their lives into the level +above. Now the water was rising so rapidly that it was evident the upper +level would also be flooded in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>In the great chamber at the bottom of the slope that led to the upper +world and safety, miners were flocking from all parts of the workings. +Some were trying to drive frightened mules up the travelling-road; +others were throwing movable property into cars to be drawn up the +slope, and others still were crowding into the same cars, that they too +might reach a place of safety.</p> + +<p>The two men who were with Derrick ran to one of these cars, calling on +him to follow them. It was already so crowded that they could not wedge +themselves into it, so they clung on behind, and were thus dragged up +the slope.</p> + +<p>That Derrick did not follow them was because he thought of Paul Evert. +Poor little lame Paul! where was he amid all this danger and confusion? +Had he already got out of the mine, or was he still at his station back +in the dark gangway, unmindful of danger? Perhaps somebody had seen him. +Derrick shouted, "Where is Paul Evert? Has anybody seen him?"</p> + +<p>The answer came in the voice of one of the mule-boys. "Yes, I seed him, +'bout five minutes ago, when I run out de las' load. He ain't come out +yet."</p> + +<p>Could Derrick leave him down there, to take his chances of getting out +or drowning, while he sought safety for himself?</p> + +<p>With one instant of agonized thought he decided that he could not. +Snatching up a can of oil on which his eye happened to light as it stood +by the track just at the foot of the slope, he dashed into gangway No. +1, shouting as he did so, "I'm going to try and get Paul Evert out! If +we don't get back come and look for us; we'll hold out as long as we +can."</p> + +<p>They tried to stop him, and shouted to him to come back; that there was +no hope, and he was only throwing away his own life; but he paid no +attention to them, and was gone before they could prevent him.</p> + +<p>He had hardly disappeared from their sight when the water began to rush +and roar up from the mouth of the lower slope, in a froth-crowned, +surging torrent. At the same instant it poured out from the old gangway, +to which it had access through the air-shaft up which Derrick and his +companions had escaped.</p> + +<p>They knew by its great leaps and spurts that some other reservoir had +broken loose, and that before it found the level it was seeking the +whole mine must be flooded and drowned. There was no more thought of +saving property, but each man became intent only on escaping with his +life from the swirling flood.</p> + +<p>They had got several cars fastened together, ready for such an +emergency, and now these were quickly filled with grimy-faced, +frightened men and boys. The signal was given to hoist. There came a +strain on the great cable, and as the fierce waters rushed at them, and +even flung their black, wet arms about them as if to hold them back, the +cars were drawn up, slowly up, beyond reach of the destroying flood, +towards daylight and safety.</p> + +<p>At the top of the slope was another scene of wild anxiety and confusion +most pitiable to witness. Men, women, and children stood, without other +protection than their thin garments, in the pitiless rain, praying, +shouting, discussing, asking questions which nobody could answer, and +crowding forward to scan, with breathless anxiety, the faces of each +car-load of miners as it reached the surface.</p> + +<p>At the mouth of the slope stood Mr. Jones, in constant communication +with a trusty fellow down in the mine, at the other end of the +speaking-tube. With him were half a dozen steady men, upon whom he could +depend, and to whom he had given orders not to allow a living soul to go +down in any of the empty cars he was despatching as rapidly as possible +to those below,</p> + +<p>"There are plenty down there now," he said, "and perhaps more than can +be drawn up before the water reaches them. You can do no good there yet +awhile. When the time comes that I want volunteers to go down I'll let +you know fast enough." He kept the mouth of the travelling-road +similarly guarded, and no one was allowed to descend.</p> + +<p>Among those who pressed close to him, and begged, almost with tears in +their eyes, to be allowed to go down and make one effort to save their +loved ones before the waters reached them, was burly Tom Evert.</p> + +<p>"My lad, my crippled lad's down there, boss; ye can't refuse a feyther +the chance to save his boy," pleaded the big miner.</p> + +<p>"Tom, if he's not already at the foot of the slope, you know as well as +I that there's not one chance in ten thousand of finding and getting him +out. They tell me the water's rising fast on the upper level already. +No, my poor fellow, you must wait a bit. You're to be my right-hand man +in the work that I fear is ahead of us. I can't let you throw away your +life without a chance of its doing good."</p> + +<p>"And Derrick, boss, the brave lad I left in the low level facing the +waters. It's fearful to think on. If he's drownded and my lad's +drownded, their death'll be on my hands. I might ha' gone more slow and +cautious like. I might ha' kep' out altogether the day, an' let the low +level flood, as ye talked of, boss, but for being a pig-headed fool."</p> + +<p>"Don't take on that way, Tom. Cheer up, man. You'll see them all coming +up out of the trouble safe and sound yet. And don't take this matter to +heart as you're doing. If there's any blame to be placed it's on my +head; but I don't think there's blame to be placed on any of us. There's +One above who rules such matters, and who sends rain and floods as He +does the sunshine, all for some wise purpose."</p> + +<p>Just then word came up the speaking-tube that the water was gaining so +fast that all hands were about to leave the mine. At the same instant +the harsh clang of the engine-room gong was heard. The wire cable was +strained taut, and then began to move slowly over its rollers. "They are +coming!" shouts the mine boss. "Stand back and give them room."</p> + +<p>But the crowd could not stand back. Who were coming? Were all there, or +were some left? It was not in human nature to stand back. They must see, +and learn the worst at once.</p> + +<p>Oh, how slowly the cable moved! How terrible was the suspense! A great +silence fell upon the waiting people. It was unbroken save by the +creaking of the rollers on the slope, the pattering of raindrops, and an +occasional hysterical sob.</p> + +<p>At last the twinkling lights are seen down in the blackness. Then the +first car comes in sight; then another, and another, until at last the +entire train, with its human freight, has reached the surface.</p> + +<p>"Stay where you are, men!" commands the mine boss, "Answer to your names +as I call them off."</p> + +<p>The young man's voice rings out sharp and clear as he calls the long +roll, beginning, "Adams, Andrews, Apgar," and so on down the alphabet to +"Zegler"; and clear and prompt come back the answers, "Here, here, +here," of those who have come up from the pit.</p> + +<p>At last it is finished, and the awful truth is known. Nine men and boys +are unaccounted for, and they were not at the foot of the slope when the +cruel waters sprang into the great chamber and the last car was drawn +up. Nine are down there, alive or dead; and among them are Derrick +Sterling, Paul Evert, and Monk Tooley.</p> + +<p>With the cries and tears of joy over those who had come up and were +restored to loving hearts, a shudder passed over the assembly, and a +groan of anguish rose from it that was pierced by a single sharp cry. It +was that of a widowed mother for her only son.</p> + +<p>Springing on an empty car, and standing where all could see him, the +mine boss spoke to them.</p> + +<p>"It will all come out right yet," he said. "Keep up your courage. Those +brave fellows down there are not going to let themselves be drowned like +rats in a hole. They'll make a strong fight for life first, and it's +going to be a fight that we can help them in. They're safe enough for +the present, in some high place beyond the reach of the water, and there +they'll stay till we go for them and fetch them out. We'll have two more +pumps here and at work before morning. They will soon make room for us +to work down there. Then if we don't find the lads we're after, we are +no miners, that's all. There's a promise for you now! See it, men?"</p> + +<p>With this the speaker pointed to the eastern sky, and all eyes were +turned in that direction. From horizon to horizon it was spanned by a +glorious rainbow. One end rested on the opposite side of their own +valley, above the old workings of the mine, while the other was uplifted +on a lofty mountain-top. In the west the sun had broken through the +black rain-clouds, and was now sinking in a glory that passes +description.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>IMPRISONED IN THE FLOODED MINE</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Halford looked up from the paper that he was reading at the +breakfast-table in the pleasant Philadelphia home, and exclaimed, +"Here's an account of a terrible colliery disaster, wife; and I do +believe it is in Warren Jones's mine, the very one you and Nellie +visited a few days ago."</p> + +<p>"Oh, husband, it can't be!"</p> + +<p>"It certainly is, though. 'Raven Brook Colliery. Flooded last evening +just as men were about to quit work. Rushing waters cut off retreat of +nine men and boys, of whose fate nothing is yet known. Rest escape. +Water still rising. But little hope of a rescue. Following is list of +victims: Sterling, Evert, Tooley——'"</p> + +<p>"Not Derrick Sterling, father, nor Paul Evert, nor Bill Tooley?" +interrupted Miss Nellie, as she left her seat and went to look over his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear, those are the very names. Derrick, Paul, and Monk—not +Bill—Tooley; and here is something more about one of them:</p> + +<p>"'Derrick Sterling, whose name appears among those of the victims, is +the only son of the late Gilbert Sterling, a mining engineer, formerly +well known in this city. The young man was seen at the foot of the slope +just before the final rush of waters. He might easily have escaped, but +went back into the mine in the vain attempt to save his friend Paul +Evert, a crippled lad. He fully realized the terrible risk he was +running, for his last words were, "If we don't get out, come and look +for us." This is a notable instance of modern heroism, and is an example +of that greatest of all love which is willing to sacrifice life for +friendship.'"</p> + +<p>"Poor Derrick! Poor little Paul! Oh, it is too awful!" and +tender-hearted Nellie Halford burst into tears.</p> + +<p>So all the world knew that Derrick Sterling was a hero, and that, alive +or dead, he was somewhere in that flooded mine. After that morning +thousands of people who had never heard his name before eagerly scanned +the daily papers for more news concerning him and the poor fellows whose +fate he was sharing.</p> + +<p>Derrick had not gone far in his search for Paul Evert when his lamp, +which had been burning dimly for some minutes, though unnoticed in his +excitement, gave an expiring flash and went out. The boy's impulse was +to return to the foot of the slope for a new supply of oil. Then he +remembered that he had a canful with him, the one he had almost +unconsciously snatched up when he started on his present errand. Filling +the lamp in the dark was slow work, and occupied several minutes of +valuable time.</p> + +<p>While thus engaged his ear caught the sound of rushing waters that +seemed to come from out of the darkness behind him. Nearer and nearer it +came, and it grew louder and louder, as with trembling hand he struck a +match and relighted his lamp. Its first gleam fell upon a wall of black +waters rolling rapidly towards him, up the gangway, breast-high, and +cutting off all chance of escape.</p> + +<p>What should he do? It was useless to run; the waters could run faster +than he. It would be impossible to stem that fierce current and fight +his way out against it. Must he, then, die, alone in that awful place +with no sound save the roar of waters in his ears? Could it be that he +should never again see his mother and little Helen and the sunlight? Was +his life over, and must he be carried away by the black flood that was +reaching out to seize him?</p> + +<p>Like a flash these thoughts passed through his mind, and like another +flash came a ray of hope. Close beside him was the mouth of a chute +belonging to a breast that he knew followed the slant of the vein upward +for a great distance.</p> + +<p>He sprang towards it, flung his oil-can into it, and in another moment, +though the chute was above his head, he had climbed the slippery wall +and entered it. As he drew himself up beyond their reach the savage +waters made a fierce leap after him, and swept on with an angry, +snarling roar. A few minutes later they had risen above the mouth of the +chute and completely filled the gangway. Derrick was entombed, and the +door was sealed behind him.</p> + +<p>In the mean time a similar escape was being effected but a short +distance from him, though he knew nothing of it. Monk Tooley and four +other men working near him in a distant part of the mine received no +intimation of the outbreak of waters and the disaster that was about to +overwhelm them. Their first warning of trouble came with the stoppage of +the air-currents that supplied them with the very breath of life.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes they waited for them to be resumed; then, flinging +down their tools, and filled with a strange fear, they started through +the maze of galleries towards the slope. On their way they were joined +by Aleck, the blacksmith, and Boodle, his helper. Next they came upon +Paul Evert, standing anxiously by his door. He had become conscious, +without being able to explain how, that something terrible was about to +happen, though he had no idea what form the terror was to take.</p> + +<p>Joining the fugitives, he was hobbling along as fast as possible, and +trying to keep pace with their rapid strides, when Monk Tooley stopped, +picked him up, and, holding him like a baby in his strong arms, said, +"We'll get on faster dis way, lad."</p> + +<p>Half-way to the slope they met the advancing waters from which Derrick +had just escaped.</p> + +<p>The miner who was in advance gave a great cry of "It's a flood, mates, +and it's cut us off. We're all dead men!"</p> + +<p>"No we beant!" shouted Monk Tooley. "Up wid ye, men, inter de breast we +just passed."</p> + +<p>Running back a few steps to the mouth of a chute he had noticed a moment +before, the miner tossed Paul up into it much in the same way that +Derrick had tossed his oil-can into a similar opening. Springing up +after him, Tooley lent a hand to those behind, and with an almost +supernatural strength dragged one after another of them up bodily beyond +the reach of the flood. Only poor Boodle was caught by it and swept off +his feet; but he clutched the legs of the man ahead of him, and both +were drawn up together. In another minute they too were sealed in behind +an impassable wall of water.</p> + +<p>Although they did not know it at the time, they were in a chamber +adjoining that in which Derrick had sought refuge, and were divided from +him only by a single wall of coal a few feet thick. It was a very small +chamber, for the coal found in it proving of an inferior quality, it had +quickly been abandoned. The one on the opposite side of the wall from +them, in which Derrick found himself, was of great extent, being in fact +several breasts or chambers thrown into one by the "robbing out" of +their dividing walls of coal.</p> + +<p>"Out wid yer lights, men!" cried Monk Tooley as soon as they had all +been dragged in. "De air's bad enough now, an' de lamps 'll burn de life +outen it. Besides, we'll soon have need of all de ile dat's left in +'em."</p> + +<p>The air of that confined space was already heavy and close, with eight +men to breathe it, and eight lamps to consume its oxygen. Extinguishing +all the others, they sat around one lamp, pricked down low, for they +could not bear the thought of absolute darkness.</p> + +<p>Monk Tooley had assumed a sort of leadership among them, and by virtue +of it he ordered every lunch-pail to be emptied of what scraps of food +it contained, and all of it to be given to Paul for safe keeping. There +was not much—barely enough of broken crusts and bits of meat to fill +Paul's pail; but it was something, and must be doled out sparingly, for +already the men gazed at it with hungry eyes.</p> + +<p>Then they tried to talk of their situation and discuss the chances of +escape. On this subject they had but little to say, however, for they +all knew that long before the waters could be lowered so that any +attempt to save them could be made, the foul air of that small chamber +would have done its fatal work. Indeed, they knew that before one day +should have passed their misery would be ended.</p> + +<p>Even as they tried to talk, poor Boodle, saying that he was sleepy, lay +down on the bare rock floor, where he was almost instantly fast asleep +and breathing heavily. "'Tis like he'll never wake again," said one of +the miners, gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Let him sleep, then; 'tis the easiest way out of it," responded a +comrade.</p> + +<p>One after another they succumbed to the effects of the heavy atmosphere, +and fell asleep. Finally, all excepting the crippled lad, even including +Monk Tooley, whose light Paul had taken and set beside him, lay +stretched out on the hard floor, sound asleep and breathing in a +distressed manner.</p> + +<p>Paul felt drowsy, but the horror of his surroundings was too great to +admit of his sleeping. He wanted to think, and try and prepare his mind +for the awful unknown future that overshadowed him. As he thought, great +tears began to run down his thin cheeks, then came a choking sob, and he +buried his face in his hands. Gradually he became calm again, and his +thoughts resembled delightful dreams, so full were they of pleasant +things. In another moment they would have been dreams, and the last of +that little band would have been wrapped in a slumber from which neither +he nor they would ever have wakened. From this condition a sharp squeak +caused Paul to start and look up.</p> + +<p>Directly in front of him, and so close that he could have touched it, +was a large rat, whose eyes twinkled and glistened in the lamplight. As +Paul lifted his head it uttered another squeak and sat up on its +hind-legs.</p> + +<p>"I do believe it's Socrates," said Paul; and sure enough it was.</p> + +<p>Mechanically, and without thinking of what he was about, Paul took a bit +of meat from his lunch-pail and tossed it to the rat, which immediately +seized it in its mouth and scampered away. Then Paul realized that he +was wasting precious food, and made a vain effort to catch the rat. The +beast was too quick for him, and darted away towards a dark corner of +the chamber, whither Paul followed it, hoping to discover its nest and +perhaps recover the meat.</p> + +<p>He saw the rat run into a hole in the wall about two feet above the +floor; and putting his face down to it, trying to look in, he felt a +delicious current of fresh air. It was not very strong, but it caused +the flame of his lamp to flicker, so that he withdrew it hurriedly for +fear it should be extinguished.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he started as though he had been shot, and almost let fall the +lamp in his excitement. Had he heard a human voice? Of course not! How +absurd to imagine such a thing! But there it was again; and it said,</p> + +<p>"Holloa! Is anybody in there?"</p> + +<p>The sound came to his ear distinctly enough this time through the hole, +and placing his mouth close to it, Paul shouted back,</p> + +<p>"Holloa! Yes, we're in here, and we want to get out. Who are you?"</p> + +<p>The boy almost screamed for joy at the answer which came to this +question; for it was,</p> + +<p>"I'm Derrick Sterling. Are you Paul Evert?"</p> + +<p>Derrick was almost as greatly affected when the voice said,</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm Paul, and there are a lot more of us in here, and we are +stifling. But oh, Derrick, dear Derrick! I'm so glad you're not +drowned."</p> + +<p>Then Paul went back to the others, and found it almost impossible to +waken them. He finally succeeded; and when they comprehended his great +news, each one had to go to the hole, draw in a deep breath of the fresh +air, and call through it to Derrick, for the sake of hearing him answer. +It was so good to hear a human voice besides their own; and though they +knew he was a prisoner like themselves, it somehow filled them with new +hope and longings for life. They had no tools with them, but all fell to +work enlarging the hole with knives, the iron handles of their +lunch-pails, or whatever else they could lay hands upon, while Paul +stood by and held the lamp.</p> + +<p>Although Derrick had plenty of air and space to move about in, his +situation had been fully as bad as theirs, for he had been alone. +Nothing is so terrible under such circumstances as solitude, with the +knowledge that you are absolutely cut off from mankind, and may never +hear a human voice again.</p> + +<p>He had pricked his lamp down very low so as to save his oil, and was +lying at full length on the cold floor, a prey to the most gloomy +thoughts. All sorts of fantastic forms seemed to mock at him out of the +darkness. He could almost hear their jeering laughter, and was rapidly +giving way to terror and despair, when a ray of light flickered for a +moment on the rocky roof above him.</p> + +<p>Springing to his feet and rubbing his eyes, he looked in the direction +from which it seemed to have come, and saw it again, shining through +what he had taken for a solid wall of rock. Then he called out, and Paul +Evert, the very one of whom he had been in search, answered him.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later the hole was sufficiently large to allow a man to +squeeze through it, and Derrick had thrown his arms around Paul, and +hugged him in his wild joy and excitement.</p> + +<p>The thing for which the miners felt most grateful, next to their escape +from the little stifling chamber and their meeting with Derrick, was his +can of oil. Now they knew that with care they might keep a lamp burning +for many hours; and the dread of total darkness, which is greater than +that of hunger, or thirst, or any form of danger, no longer oppressed +them.</p> + +<p>Aleck, the blacksmith, had a watch, and from it they learned that it was +still early in the evening; though it already seemed as if they had been +imprisoned for days. Some of the men began to complain bitterly of +hunger and to beg for food, but Monk Tooley said they should not eat +until the watch showed them that morning had arrived.</p> + +<p>To divert their thoughts, he proposed that they should make their way +along the breast to its farther end, so as to be as near as possible to +the slope and a chance of rescue. Acting upon this advice, they made the +attempt. It was a most difficult undertaking, for the floor was of +smooth slate, sloping at a sharp angle towards the gangway. It was like +trying to crawl lengthwise of a steep roof to get from one row of the +timbers that supported the upper wall to another. They were several +hours on the journey, but finally reached the end of the long breast in +safety. There they must wait until relieved from their awful situation +by death, or by a rescuing party who would be obliged to tunnel through +many yards of rock and coal to reach them.</p> + +<p>They managed to construct a rude platform of timbers, on which to rest +more comfortably than on the smooth sloping rock floor, and here most of +them lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p>Derrick and Paul lay side by side, with arms thrown about each other's +necks. The former was nearly asleep when his companion whispered, +"Dare!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Polly."</p> + +<p>"Here's something for you; and if I don't live to get out, you'll always +keep it to remember me by, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't need it for that, Polly; but I'll always keep it, whatever +it is."</p> + +<p>It was Paul's sketch of the underground picnic-party, and Derrick knew +what it was when he took it and thrust it into the bosom of his shirt, +though days passed before he had a chance to look at it.</p> + +<p>Three days after this the same men and boys lay on their log platform, +in almost the same positions, but they were haggard, emaciated, faint, +and weak. Their last drop of oil had been burned, and they were in total +darkness. A light would have shown that they lay like dead men.</p> + +<p>Suddenly one of them lifts his head and listens. "Thank God! thank God!" +he exclaims, in a husky voice, hardly more than a whisper, "I hear them! +they're coming!"</p> + +<p>Derrick's quick ear had detected the muffled sound of blows, and his +words gave new life to the dying men around him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>TO THE RESCUE!—A MESSAGE FROM THE PRISONERS</h3> + + +<p>From the moment the news came that nine men and boys were imprisoned in +the flooded mine, preparations for their rescue, or at least of learning +their fate, were pushed with all vigor. Although it had stopped raining, +the night was dark, and great bonfires were lighted about the mouth of +the slope. These were placed in charge of the old breaker boss, Mr. +Guffy, and his boys, who fed them with dry timbers, and kept up the +brilliant blaze until daylight.</p> + +<p>Around these fires the entire population of the village stood and +discussed the situation; and by their light the workers were enabled to +perform their tasks. The miners were divided into gangs, headed by the +mine boss and by Tom Evert, and their work was the fetching of the steam +pumps from across the valley and setting them up near the mouth of the +slope. They had to be connected, by long lines of iron pipe, with the +boilers under the breaker, and from each a double line of hose was +carried down the slope until water was reached.</p> + +<p>It was nearly daylight when these operations were completed, and a faint +cheer went up from the weary watchers as they saw four powerful streams +of water added to the torrent that the regular mine pump had kept +flowing all night.</p> + +<p>"Now, men," said the mine boss, when he saw that all was working to his +satisfaction, "I want you to go home and get all the solid rest you can +in the next two days, for after that I shall probably call upon you to +work night and day."</p> + +<p>"We'll be ready boss, whenever you give the word," was the prompt answer +from a score of stalwart fellows. Then all turned towards their homes, +knowing they could do nothing more until the pumps had prepared a way +for them.</p> + +<p>During the next day the news of the disaster spread far and wide, and +from all sides visitors poured into the little village. Among these were +a number of reporters from the metropolitan papers, some of whom, filled +with a sense of their own importance, buzzed around like so many +bumblebees. They blundered into all sorts of places where they had no +business, bored everybody whom they could approach with absurd +questions, and made of themselves public nuisances generally.</p> + +<p>While some among them acted thus foolishly, there were others who +behaved like gentlemen and the sensible fellows they were. Of these the +most noticeable was a well-built, pleasant-faced young man, named Allan +McClain. He asked few questions, but each one had evidently been well +considered and was directly to the point. He was quiet and unobtrusive, +never displayed a note-book or pencil, kept his eyes and ears wide open, +and, as a result, sent to his paper the best accounts of the situation +that were published. How he did it was a mystery to the others, few of +whom had even thought of giving to their business the careful study and +attention that McClain bestowed upon it.</p> + +<p>The mine boss had been particularly annoyed by the conduct of several of +these members of the press, and when they applied to him for permission +to accompany the first gang of workmen down into the mine, he firmly but +courteously said "No."</p> + +<p>He explained to them the dangers attending the proposed undertaking, and +that there would be no room in the mine for any but those actively +engaged in the work of rescue.</p> + +<p>Some of the reporters made such an outcry at this, and talked so loudly +of their rights and of what they would do in case the mine boss +persisted in his refusal, that he finally said if they could not behave +better than they had he should be compelled to order them from the +colliery altogether.</p> + +<p>During this scene Allan McClain listened to all that was said without +speaking a word. Shortly afterwards the mine boss, meeting him alone, +said, "I am sorry, sir, to be obliged to include you in my apparent +discourtesy, but you know that if I made a single exception I could not +enforce my rule."</p> + +<p>"I know it, Mr. Jones," was the pleasant answer, "and I do not expect +any privileges that may not be extended to the rest. Your action will, +however, make no difference to me, as I expect to leave the village +to-day."</p> + +<p>Allan McClain did take the afternoon train away from Raven Brook, after +bidding his companions good-by; but none of them knew where he had gone +or the reasons for his departure.</p> + +<p>The pumping of the mine was so successful that two days later the water +in it was lowered a few feet below the roof of the great chamber at the +bottom of the slope. The mine boss had watched it closely, going down +almost every hour to note the change of its level, and he now decided +that the time had come to begin more active operations.</p> + +<p>The day before, a sturdy young man, much begrimed with coal-dust, and +wearing a rough suit of mine clothes that had evidently seen long +service, had presented himself at the mouth of the slope, and asked +leave to take part in the rescue, in case there was any way in which he +could be made useful. He said that he came from the neighboring colliery +of Black Run, where the Raven Brook men had once rendered good service +during a time of disaster, and that his name was Jack Hobson. The mine +boss had thanked him for his offer of assistance, and said he would +gladly accept it if he found an opportunity. The young man remained near +the scene of operations, making himself so generally useful, and +performing with such promptness and intelligence any little task given +him, that the mine boss took a decided fancy to him before the day was +over.</p> + +<p>Now that Mr. Jones wanted three reliable men to go down with him and +make an exploration, he selected Tom Evert, Jack Hobson, and another +young miner who had a brother among the victims of the flood.</p> + +<p>The departure of this little party was watched by a great crowd of +people, who realized that if work could not be begun at once there would +be little chance of finding any of the imprisoned men alive. Among the +spectators were many reporters, any one of whom would gladly have paid a +round sum to be taken along, and thus gain an opportunity of describing +the appearance of the drowned mine.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the slope the exploring party found a rude but strong +flat-boat that the mine boss had caused to be built and sent down for +this very purpose. Sitting in it with bent bodies, for there was but +little space beneath the roof of the chamber, they pushed off across the +black waters and began a voyage so weird and mysterious that at first +their thoughts found no expression in words.</p> + +<p>All about them floated traces of the disaster; here the body of a +drowned mule, and there a bale of hay, or a quantity of timbers that, +wrenched and broken, told of the awful force of the waters. These and +many like tokens of destruction came slowly within the narrow circle of +light from their lamps, and vanished again behind them.</p> + +<p>After a careful search along the opposite side of the chamber, they +located gangway No. 1, in which the water was still within two inches of +the roof.</p> + +<p>"It'll be some time afore we can get in there, sir," said Tom Evert.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Tom, three days at least, perhaps more."</p> + +<p>"T' big breast lies in here on this side t' gangway."</p> + +<p>"I know it, Tom; and if you'll pick out the spot that promises easiest +working, we'll open a heading into it. We may find them there. If we +don't we can work our way through it, above the water level, to the wall +that divides it from the next one. Some of them are almost sure to be +there if they're still alive."</p> + +<p>"That's what I think, sir; and if you say so, we'll start in right here. +Can you tell just how far in t' breast lies?"</p> + +<p>"If that's all, we'll soon knock a hole through that, and then, please +God, I'll find my crippled lad, an' t' brave one that went back after +him. If we find 'em dead, old Tom Evert don't never want to come out +alive. He couldn't."</p> + +<p>"Never fear, Tom, we'll find them alive," said the mine boss, cheerily. +"I have full faith that we shall. If they're only in the big breast +we'll have them out in three days more. Now, men, drive those staples +into the wall, make the boat fast to them, and pitch in. As soon as +you've cut a shelf to work on, I'll go back for fresh hands. This job's +going to be done with half-hour reliefs."</p> + +<p>Jack Hobson held the staples in position while Tom Evert, lying on his +side, drove them into the wall of solid coal with a dozen blows from his +heavy hammer.</p> + +<p>These were the blows heard faintly by Derrick Sterling on the farther +side of that massive wall; and the welcome sound carried with it new +life and hope to him and his fainting comrades.</p> + +<p>Dropping the hammer, and seizing his pick, the burly miner struck a +mighty blow at the wall, and followed it up with others so fast and +furious that the coal fell rattling into the boat, or splashing into the +water in glistening showers. The work of rescue was begun.</p> + +<p>As he sat there, Jack Hobson's eye lighted on a long, dark object +floating near them, and calling attention to it, he said,</p> + +<p>"Don't you think, sir, that water trough might be bailed out and used as +a sort of boat to establish communication between this point and the +foot of the slope? I have been used to canoes, and believe I could +manage it."</p> + +<p>The mine boss said it was a good idea, and he could try if he wanted to.</p> + +<p>So the trough, which was simply a long, flat-bottomed box, was brought +alongside, bailed out, and placed in charge of the young man from Black +Run. He made a rude paddle, and during the next two days did capital +service in ferrying miners and tools back and forth between the opposite +sides of the chamber. By this addition to the underground fleet the +large boat could be left at the entrance to the heading, where it proved +most useful as a landing-stage.</p> + +<p>The work was pushed with all possible speed, a dozen of the strongest +and most skilful miners, who handled their picks with desperate energy, +taking half-hourly turns each at driving the heading. Behind the miner +who was thus at work, other men passed out the loosened material from +hand to hand, and thus kept the opening clear. Whenever there was no +demand for his services as ferry-man, Jack Hobson took his place among +these workers, and by his cheering words and tireless energy kept up +their spirits and spurred them on to greater efforts.</p> + +<p>When they had got about half-way through it was thought best to close +the outer end of the heading with an air-tight door, and place another +ten feet behind it, thus forming an airlock. Fresh air was forced into +and compressed in the heading by means of an air-pump operated from the +flat-boat at the outer end. These precautions were taken for fear lest +when they broke through into the breast the air in it, compressed by the +flood, should rush out with destructive force. It was also feared that, +relieved from its air pressure, the water in the breast would rise and +cut off the escape of any persons who might be in there.</p> + +<p>The position of those engaged in the work of rescue was by no means free +from peril. The pumps, running at fullest speed, were barely able to +keep the water from rising and flooding the new heading, so great and +continuous was the flow into the mine from the soaked earth above it. +They did not know but that any moment some fresh and unsuspected +accumulation in the old workings might break forth and send a second +flood pouring in upon them. Above all there was an ever-present danger +from foul gases, which formed so rapidly that at times work had to be +entirely suspended until they could be cleared away. Thus every time the +relief men went down to their self-imposed labor their departure was +watched by anxious women with tearful eyes and heavy hearts.</p> + +<p>For a day and a night these stout-hearted men worked without knowing +whether they sought the living or the dead. On the afternoon of the +second day, during a momentary pause in the steady rattle of the picks, +Jack Hobson, who was at the inner end of the heading, thought he heard a +knocking. Calling for perfect silence, he listened. Yes, it was! Faint, +but unmistakable, it came again.</p> + +<p>"Tap, tap, tap; tap, tap, tap; tap, tap, tap," and a pause. Then it was +repeated, and its meaning could not be doubted. As plain as human +speech, it said,</p> + +<p>"Here we are, still alive, but in great distress. We know you are +coming, but you must hurry."</p> + +<p>From mouth to mouth the joyful news was carried out from the heading, +across the sullen waters, up the slope to the anxious waiting throngs, +and on throbbing wires throughout the length and breadth of the land.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sterling heard it and lifted her tear-stained face in earnest +thankfulness to Heaven. The Halfords heard it in Philadelphia, and Mr. +Halford said he could stand it no longer, but must go to Raven Brook and +be on hand when the men were rescued. Before another sun rose that faint +tapping made in the recesses of the drowned mine by Derrick Sterling +with a bit of rock had been heard around the world.</p> + +<p>Now the brave fellows in the heading knew what they were working for, +and the blows of their picks fell faster and harder than ever on the +glistening wall that still opposed its black front to them.</p> + +<p>The excitement at the mouth of the mine was now intense, and every man +who came up from it was besieged by anxious inquiries for the very +latest news. What was the meaning of the three taps three times +repeated? Did it signify that there were nine persons in the breast, or +only three? If only three, where were the others? Who were the three? +How many were alive? Were any dead? These and a thousand like questions +were asked and discussed, but nobody could answer them certainly.</p> + +<p>The reports brought up were only regarding the progress of the work. So +many feet in an hour, so many yards a day. Now there are only six feet +more to cut through; now five, four, three, and now but eighteen inches. +The suspense is terrible. To the mothers and wives waiting for the end +up in the little village it is almost too great to be borne. To the +haggard men behind those eighteen inches of black rock it seems as +though the breath of fresh air for want of which they are dying would +come too late.</p> + +<p>They press eagerly against the wall, and in their feebleness pick vainly +at it with their fingers. It will not yield. Even Monk Tooley, who was +so fierce and strong five days before, can make no impression on it.</p> + +<p>Now but one foot of wall remains, and Tom Evert pauses in his task to +dash the sweat-drops from his eyes, and to call, as he has already a +dozen times,</p> + +<p>"Holloa! Holloa in there!"</p> + +<p>Like an echo comes the answer, faint but distinct,</p> + +<p>"Holloa! Hurry!"</p> + +<p>He only stops to call louder than before, but with a tremble in his +voice,</p> + +<p>"Is—Paul—Evert—alive?" and with ear held against the wet wall he +breathlessly awaits the answer.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>The word is enough, and with the fury and strength of a giant he again +attacks the wall. He pays no attention to the relief who is ready to +take his place. He knows nothing, cares for nothing, save that his boy +is waiting for him beyond those few inches of crumbling coal.</p> + +<p>At last his pick strikes through. A few more desperate strokes and the +barrier is broken away. He springs into the breast. Another instant and +his crippled lad, whom he had thought never to see again, is strained to +his heart, and the burly miner is sobbing like a child.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>RESTORED TO DAYLIGHT</h3> + + +<p>In the overwhelming joy of the moment, Tom Evert had no thought save for +the son whom he had snatched from the very gates of death. He was +absolutely unconscious of the presence of another human being in the +breast, nor did the broken words of blessing and gratitude uttered by +the faint-voiced miners find their way to his ear. His instinct was to +get his lad out from that stifling, foul-aired place, and, still holding +him in his arms, he crawled back through the heading, was borne swiftly +across the waters from which he had snatched their prey, and drawn up +the slope.</p> + +<p>As he stepped from the car at its mouth, and they saw what it was he +bore so tenderly and proudly, a mighty cheer went up from the assembled +throng. Another and another. They were wild with joy. The long suspense +was over, the terrible strain was relaxed, and they gave way to their +feelings.</p> + +<p>Suddenly they noticed that the drooping head of the lad was not lifted +from the broad shoulder on which it rested. His arms hung limp and +lifeless. A great silence came over the multitude. They stood +awe-stricken, as in the presence of death, and pressing aside in front +of the advancing miner, they made way for him to pass.</p> + +<p>Still bearing his burden, unconscious of all besides, and looking +neither to the right nor to the left, Tom Evert passed through the human +lane thus formed, and went home—home to the rude, unpainted house in +which Paul was born, and which, during the darkness and despair of the +past five days, had been a constant picture before his mind's eye—home +to the mother whose tenderest love has ever been for her crippled boy. +Home!</p> + +<p>Although Tom Evert, with eyes and ears only for his own, had no thought +of the others for whom he had broken open the prison door, there was no +lack of warm hearts and willing hands to help them.</p> + +<p>Following close after the miner Warren Jones entered the breast, and +directly behind him was Jack Hobson. The light from their lamps dazzled +the eyes that for three days had lived in a darkness as absolute as +though no light existed in the universe. Turning them away from the +light, the prisoners listened eagerly for the voices of their +deliverers. The first words they heard were from the mine boss, the man +on whom they had depended, and who they knew had planned and carried out +their rescue.</p> + +<p>"Are you all here, men?"</p> + +<p>"There's nine of us."</p> + +<p>"And all alive?"</p> + +<p>"All alive yet, thank God; though Boodle, poor lad, is wellnigh gone."</p> + +<p>"Where is Derrick Sterling?"</p> + +<p>"Here I am, sir," came a weak but well-known voice from back in the +darkness.</p> + +<p>Before Mr. Jones could locate it, the young man who had followed him so +closely into the breast sprang to the side of the lad, and seizing his +hand, exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Derrick Sterling, you are a splendid fellow, and this is one of the +very happiest moments of my life!"</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked Derrick, faintly.</p> + +<p>"My name is Allan McClain," was the answer, "and if you will give me +your friendship I shall consider it an honor to be proud of."</p> + +<p>Trying weakly to return the hand-pressure of the young stranger, Derrick +answered,</p> + +<p>"He who has come to our rescue at the risk of his own life must indeed +be my friend!"</p> + +<p>Then the mine boss found them, and saying, "Drink this, my poor, brave +lad," gave him a cup of rich warm soup, that had been made nearly an +hour before, and kept warm over a spirit-lamp in the boat, just outside +the heading.</p> + +<p>It filled the boy with new life, and when he and the others had drank of +it all that was allowed them, they felt strong enough to crawl out +through the heading.</p> + +<p>Derrick was the first to go and the first to be drawn up the slope, +supported in the car by the young man to whom he had just given his +friendship. As they approached the blessed sunlight, and the weary lad +caught its first gleam, still far above him, he pressed the hand of his +companion, and could do nothing but gaze at it. Could it be the very +light of day that he had longed for and prayed for and despaired of ever +seeing again? He knew it must be, but it seemed almost too glorious to +be real.</p> + +<p>When they reached the surface, the light that had roused such a tumult +of feeling within him revealed two great tears coursing slowly down +through the grime of his hollow cheeks.</p> + +<p>The excitement over Paul Evert's appearance was as nothing compared with +that aroused by the sight of Derrick Sterling. Had not his name been a +household word throughout the land for days? Was he not a brave fellow +whom they all loved? Could they cheer loud enough or long enough to do +him honor, and testify their joy at his deliverance? It did not seem as +though they could; and poor Derrick stood before them, trembling with +strong emotion, without knowing which way to turn or look.</p> + +<p>The reporters, who were taking mental notes of his appearance, also +gazed curiously at the young man who had come up from the mine with him, +and on whom he now leaned. He was a miner, of course, for he was dressed +in mine clothes, and was as begrimed as the sootiest delver of them all, +but who was he? He had somewhere lost his miner's cap, and the yellow, +close-cropped curls of his uncovered head had a strangely familiar look.</p> + +<p>He noticed their stares, knew what was passing in their minds, and +laughingly said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, fellows; I'm McClain of the <i>Explorer</i>, and I guess I've got a +beat on you all this time." Then to Derrick he said, "Come, Sterling, we +must get out of this; there's a mother waiting for you over there."</p> + +<p>Just then another car-load of rescued men was drawn up, and again the +excited spectators broke forth in a tumult of cheers. Under cover of +this diversion, Derrick, half supported by Allan McClain, walked slowly +away towards the little vine-covered cottage at the end of the village +street. Here his mother awaited him, for she felt that their meeting was +something too sacred to be witnessed by stranger eyes.</p> + +<p>At the mouth of the slope similar meetings were taking place between +others who had less self-control or less delicacy, but who, in their +way, showed equal affection and deep feeling. Wives greeted husbands who +appeared to them as risen from the dead, and mothers wept over sons whom +they had deemed lost to them forever.</p> + +<p>As Monk Tooley stepped from the car, the first to hold out a hand to him +was his son Bill, leaning on a crutch, and still bearing traces of his +illness. His greeting was,</p> + +<p>"Well, feyther, we've missed yer sad! Thought maybe yer wouldn't get +back no more."</p> + +<p>"I'm not dat easy got rid of, lad. Had a plenty ter eat, hain't yer?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty, feyther, sich as it was."</p> + +<p>"Dat's more'n I have, an' I hope yer've saved a bite fer yer dad. +Starvin's hungry work."</p> + +<p>Nothing else was overheard; but the tones of the rough man and his +equally rough son held an unwonted accent of tenderness. As they grasped +each other's hand, one gazed curiously at his father's haggard face, and +the other cast a pitying glance at his son's rude crutch.</p> + +<p>Not the least interested spectator of these touching scenes was Mr. +Halford, who had arrived that morning from Philadelphia. When, after all +the rest had been sent safely to the surface the mine boss was drawn up +the slope, and was in turn greeted with a rousing cheer, that gentlemen +slipped an arm through his, and led him away, saying,</p> + +<p>"You have done nobly, Warren, and I am proud to call you brother."</p> + +<p>"I could have done nothing, Harold, if these brave fellows had not stood +by me as they have."</p> + +<p>"And they could have done nothing without your level head to direct them +and your splendid example to stimulate them."</p> + +<p>So the great colliery disaster was happily ended, and in Raven Brook +village great sorrow was turned to great joy.</p> + +<p>As the two gentlemen sat talking together in the room that the mine boss +called his den, that evening, Mr. Halford said,</p> + +<p>"By-the-way, Warren, I did not take this trip wholly out of curiosity to +witness your rescue of the miners. I want to learn something of this +young Sterling. Did you know his father?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he was one of my warmest friends."</p> + +<p>"Was his name Gilbert?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Do you know whether he ever lived in Crawford County?"</p> + +<p>"That is where he came from; he was born and raised there."</p> + +<p>"Did you ever hear him speak of owning any property there?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard him mention a little old rocky farm that was left to him; +but he always spoke of it as being too poor to have any value. In fact +he once told me that it was not worth the taxes he paid on it."</p> + +<p>"I declare, I believe it is the very place! If these Sterlings turn out +to be the people you lead me to think they are, Warren, there's a small +fortune awaiting them."</p> + +<p>"What! a fortune awaiting the widow Sterling and Derrick? It can't be! +Why, they haven't a relative in the world."</p> + +<p>"That may all be, but what I tell you is true. If this Gilbert Sterling +was a son of Deacon Giles Sterling of Newfields, in Crawford County, his +heirs are the owners of one of the most valuable bits of property in the +State. Why, man, this little old rocky farm you speak of, if it is the +same—and I am inclined to think it must be—lies in the very centre of +the richest oil district that has yet been discovered. The best-paying +well owned by our company is located on its border. For a clear title to +that farm I am authorized to offer twenty-five thousand dollars cash, +and a one-fifth interest in whatever oil may be taken from it."</p> + +<p>The next morning Mr. Jones called at the Sterlings', and was amazed to +find Derrick already showing signs of recovery. A splendid constitution +and a determined will, aided by twelve hours of sleep and an abundance +of nourishing food, were already beginning to efface the traces of +hunger and suffering.</p> + +<p>The boy gave his visitor a cheerful greeting, and tried to express +something of his gratitude in words, but they failed him utterly.</p> + +<p>The other said, "Don't try, Derrick. It's over now, and we all have +cause for the most profound gratitude; but each of us understands the +other's feelings, and there is no need of words between us."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sterling's eyes were filled with happy tears as, sitting beside her +son, she tried to tell something of the pride she felt in him. After a +while she said,</p> + +<p>"I know it's wrong, but I can't help trying to look ahead a little, and, +I confess, with some anxiety. I want my boy to do what is right, and I +do not want him to remain idle; but oh! Mr. Jones, I cannot let him go +down into that awful mine again. It has nearly killed him; and I am sure +I could not survive another such experience."</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you for feeling as you do," said the young man, "and I +think perhaps some other arrangement can be made. One reason for my +calling this morning was to ask if I might bring a gentleman to see you +who is greatly interested in Derrick, and desirous of making his +acquaintance. Are you willing that I should, and do you think Derrick is +strong enough to receive visitors?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I am," said Mrs. Sterling; and Derrick answered for himself +that he felt strong enough to see any number of gentlemen who were +interested in him.</p> + +<p>So Mr. Jones left them, and shortly afterwards returned with Mr. +Halford, who soon won his way to the mother's heart by saying pleasant +things about her boy, and to Derrick's by thanking him for his kindness +to Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie. He said that he had been especially +commissioned by his daughter to inquire concerning the welfare of her +bumping-mule, and was glad to hear from Derrick that that knowing animal +was rapidly recovering from his injuries.</p> + +<p>The conversation was led on from one thing to another, until Mr. Halford +was satisfied that he had really found the family of whom he was in +search. Then he told them of the good-fortune in store for them, +provided they could prove their ownership of the little Bradford County +farm.</p> + +<p>Trembling with excitement, Mrs. Sterling brought out a box full of her +husband's papers, among which was found a deed for the farm, and +receipts for taxes paid up to the time of his death.</p> + +<p>Having satisfied himself of the correctness of these, Mr. Halford made +them the offer of which he had spoken to Mr. Jones the evening before. +Then he left them, saying he knew they would want some time to consider +his proposition, and that he would call the next day to learn their +decision.</p> + +<p>After their visitors had gone, Derrick and his mother gazed wonderingly +at each other. Could it all be true? Were their days of poverty really +over? Was the overworked mother to have a release from the toil and the +bitter anxieties that made her look so thin and careworn? Were Derrick's +dreams of a college education and a profession about to be realized?</p> + +<p>Long and earnestly they talked, but not as to what answer they should +give Mr. Halford. They had decided that almost before he left. They +talked with grateful and loving hearts of the Heavenly Father who had so +ordered their ways as to turn their very darkness into brightest light. +As she thought over her mercies, the wonderful promises that had +sustained the widowed mother through so many an hour of trial came back +to her with their fullest force.</p> + +<p>That afternoon Derrick felt strong enough to walk out, and went to the +Everts' to see his dear friend and recent companion in suffering. He +found Paul able to see and talk to him, but in bed, and very weak and +languid.</p> + +<p>"If I could only get away, far away from it all, Dare," he said. "The +horror of the mine hangs over me all the time, and I'd almost rather +never get well than go down into it again."</p> + +<p>Then Derrick bent down and whispered something that brought a new light +into the crippled lad's eyes and a faint flush to his pale cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dare!" he exclaimed. "Is it true? Really! Do you mean it?"</p> + +<p>Derrick answered that it was true, and he meant every word of it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>GOOD-BY TO THE COLLIERY</h3> + + +<p>What Derrick whispered to Paul Evert as he bent over him was: "You +needn't ever go down in the mine again, Polly. I want you to go to +Philadelphia with me to learn to be an artist. The money's ready, and +it's all fixed that I'm to go; and if you only say the word it will be +fixed for you to go too. I'm only waiting for you to get strong to tell +you the whole story. Don't say a word about it yet, though, for it's a +secret."</p> + +<p>A hope like this was a wonderful medicine to the delicate lad, and when, +an hour later, his father came in, he was astonished at the change for +the better that had come over him.</p> + +<p>"Why, Paul lad, an hour since I was thinking I'd saved thee for naught +but to die, after all," said the miner. "Now I find thee bright and +smiling, and chipper as a tomtit. Whatever's happened?"</p> + +<p>"Derrick's been to see me, father."</p> + +<p>"Ay; I might ha' know'd it. No other could cheer thee like him. He's a +noble lad, and a true friend o' thine, Paul. I doubt if another would +ha' gone back i' t' face o' t' skirling waters on chance o' saving +thee."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure not, father."</p> + +<p>While Paul was thus talking of Derrick, Derrick was talking of Paul.</p> + +<p>He had gone home full of a newly formed plan. In fact plans had formed +themselves so rapidly in his mind since Mr. Halford's visit that they +were already trying to crowd each other from his memory. The one now +uppermost was in regard to Paul.</p> + +<p>Going to his own room, he took out from a small drawer, where he kept +his choicest treasures, the sketch of the underground picnic party that +Paul had drawn down in the mine, and given him while they were +imprisoned together in the darkness. It was soiled and a little torn, +but every spot of grime upon it was a memento of that terrible +experience; and though the picture was of recent origin, associations +were already clustered so thickly about it that to Derrick it was a +priceless treasure.</p> + +<p>Showing it to his mother, he asked what she thought of it.</p> + +<p>"I think it is capital!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Then Derrick told her the story of the sketch, of Paul's longing to be +an artist, and his dread of going into the mine again. He ended by +saying, "Now, mother, when I go to Philadelphia to prepare for college, +can't Polly go with me and study to be an artist? He won't be very +expensive, and I'm sure we're going to have money enough for all."</p> + +<p>"Of course he can, Derrick. I would much rather you had a companion than +to go alone, and I know you two will enjoy much together, and be of +great help to each other. As for the money, dear, I would rather remain +poor all my life than not have you willing to share whatever you have +with those who need it. The longer you live, Derrick, the more fully you +will realize that the greatest pleasure to be gained from money is by +spending it for the happiness of others."</p> + +<p>So it was settled that Derrick and Paul should go to Philadelphia +together, and Paul made such haste to get strong, so as to hear the +whole story, that it had to be told to him that very evening.</p> + +<p>By the next morning, when Mr. Halford called upon the Sterlings to +receive their answer to his offer, they had already in imagination spent +so much of the money they expected to receive from him that it would +have been impossible for them to say anything but "Yes," even if they +had wanted to.</p> + +<p>Mr. Halford was greatly pleased with the plans made for Derrick and +Paul, and promised to look out for them in Philadelphia, secure a +pleasant boarding-place for them, and see that they got into the best +schools in the city. He said they ought to start as soon as possible, +for the autumn terms were about to begin. Before he left he handed Mrs. +Sterling a check for a larger amount of money than she had ever in her +life possessed. He said she might find it convenient for immediate use +while the necessary steps for the transfer of the little Crawford County +farm to the great oil company were being taken.</p> + +<p>In two weeks after Mr. Halford's departure everything was in readiness +for that of the boys, and the time had arrived for them to start for the +great city.</p> + +<p>Harry Mule, whose leg had been so well mended that it could be taken out +of splints, was to be left in charge of Bill Tooley. Bill was to be +allowed to hire him out to the mine boss as soon as he was able to work, +and that gentleman had promised them both a job at hauling waste cars +over the dump. Thus neither of them would be obliged to go down into the +mine again.</p> + +<p>Bill Tooley was now able to walk without his crutch; but his leg would +always be stiff, and he would never be free from a limp in his gait. As +Harry Mule had the same peculiarity in his, they became known in the +colliery as the two "Stiffies." Under this title they acquired +considerable fame for their fondness for each other, and for the wisdom +of one of them.</p> + +<p>The first of October was a glorious autumn day, and even the ragged +colliery village looked pretty, after a fashion, in the golden haze +through which the rising sun shone down upon it.</p> + +<p>As Derrick, and Paul, accompanied by Mrs. Sterling, Helen, the mine +boss, and burly Tom Evert, walked down to the little railway-station, +the miners of the day shift were gathering about the mouth of the slope, +and preparing to descend into the recently pumped-out workings. From +them came many a rough but honest farewell shout to the boys who had +endeared themselves to all the village.</p> + +<p>"Tak' care o' thysels, lads!" "We'll not forget ye, an' ye'll bear us in +mind!" "Whene'er thee's tired o' city, coom back, an' ye'll find a +welcome!" "Mind t' fire-damp i' t' city, lads, an' use naught but +safeties!" "Good-by!"</p> + +<p>As long as they were within hearing the boys, shouted back such answers +as, "We'll try to!" "Thank you, Ike! We won't forget you; never fear!" +"Good-by all!"</p> + +<p>Then the train came along. A few loving words were hastily spoken, and +they were off. The hard, grimy, perilous life of the breaker and the +mine was left behind, and a new one of study, ambitious dreams, and +successes was opening broadly before them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="ill-4" id="ill-4"></a> +<img src="images/ill-4.jpg" width="600" height="411" alt="Good-by to the colliery" title="" /> +</div> +<p class="caption">Good-by to the colliery</p> + +<p>At first the boys were inclined to feel very homesick, and their +conversation was only of the dear ones whom they had just left. +Gradually the feeling wore off, as their attention was attracted by the +grand scenery through which they were travelling.</p> + +<p>Paul revelled in the gorgeous coloring of the autumnal foliage which +covered mountain, hill, and valley with splendid mantles of crimson and +gold. As the train, following the picturesque windings of the Lehigh, +crept along some mountain-side hundreds of feet above the low-lying +bottom lands, his delight at the vast expanse of exquisite scenery +unfolded before them knew no bounds.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know the world was so beautiful," he said to Derrick, with a +sigh of deep content, as the vivid pictures of the grand panorama +flashed rapidly by.</p> + +<p>Derrick shared this enthusiasm, though to a less extent. He was more +interested in the various forms of mining operations which were to be +seen on all sides. His continued exclamations of, "Oh, Paul! look at +that new breaker," or, "Isn't that a capital idea for a slope?" at last +attracted the attention of a middle-aged gentleman who, with a lady, +occupied the seat immediately behind them.</p> + +<p>Finally he leaned forward, and, speaking to Derrick, said, "Excuse me; +but as you seem to be familiar with mining operations, perhaps you will +kindly tell me what the great black buildings, of which we now see so +many, are used for?"</p> + +<p>"Why," answered Derrick, somewhat surprised that anybody should be +ignorant regarding what to him were among the commonest objects of life, +"those are breakers." Then seeing that the other was still puzzled, he +explained, simply and clearly, the uses of breakers, and in a few +minutes found himself engaged in earnest conversation with the stranger +upon mining in general, and coal mining in particular.</p> + +<p>At last the gentleman said, "You seem to be as well informed on the +subject as a miner."</p> + +<p>"I am, or rather I have been employed in a mine until very recently," +answered Derrick.</p> + +<p>"Indeed! It must be a most interesting occupation, but I should think a +very dangerous one. I have a son who visited one of these coal-mines at +the time of a disaster that threatened a number of lives, and his +accounts of what he saw and experienced at the time are very thrilling. +It was, I believe, at a place called Raven Brook."</p> + +<p>It was now Derrick's turn to be interested, and he said, "Why, that's +where we have just come from! Raven Brook is the station at which we +took the train."</p> + +<p>"If I had known that we were to stop there," said the gentleman, "I +believe my wife and I would have got off and waited over one train, for +we have been very curious to see the place. We have been on a trip to +the West," he added, by way of explanation, "and our son's accounts of +his experience came to us by letter. Besides, we read much of that +disaster in the papers."</p> + +<p>"It was awful," said Derrick, simply.</p> + +<p>"Then you were in the village at the time? Perhaps you know a brave +young fellow named Derrick Sterling?"</p> + +<p>A quick flush spread over the boy's face as he answered, "That is my +name."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed the gentleman; "are you the young man who went back +into the mine and risked his life to save a friend?"</p> + +<p>"I expect I am," answered Derrick, with burning cheeks; "and this is the +friend I went to find."</p> + +<p>"Well, of all wonderful things!" cried the stranger. "To think that we +should meet you of all persons. Wife, this is Derrick Sterling, the +brave lad that Allan wrote to us about, and whose name has been so much +in the papers lately."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say," exclaimed Derrick, "that you are Allan +McClain's father?"</p> + +<p>"I am," answered the gentleman; "and this is his mother. We are both +very proud to make the acquaintance of the Derrick Sterling of whom our +boy writes that he is proud to call him friend."</p> + +<p>Paul received an almost equal share of attention with Derrick; and +during the rest of the journey their new-found friends did everything in +their power to make the time pass quickly and pleasantly to them.</p> + +<p>Both Mr. and Mrs. McClain gave the boys an urgent invitation to make +their house their home, at least until they selected a boarding-place, +and were greatly disappointed to learn that this was already provided +for them.</p> + +<p>Nothing could exceed Allan McClain's amazement when, upon meeting his +parents at the railway-station in Philadelphia, he found them in +company, and apparently upon terms of intimate acquaintance, with two of +his friends from the Raven Brook Colliery. He was delighted to learn +that Derrick and Paul had come to the city to live, and promised to call +the next day and arrange all sorts of plans with them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Halford, who was also at the station, was almost equally surprised +to see them with the McClains, who, he afterwards told Derrick, were +among the best families in the city. His carriage was at the station, +and in a few minutes more the two boys, who but a short time before had +been only poor colliery lads, were ushered into a handsome house, where +Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie were waiting to give them a cordial +welcome.</p> + +<p>Two days later they were established in pleasant rooms of their own, had +begun their studies, and, above all, found themselves surrounded by a +circle of warm friendships.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Very nearly five years after the date of this chapter, just before +sunset of a pleasant summer's day, a barge party of gay young people +rowed out over the placid Schuylkill from the boat-house belonging to +the University of Pennsylvania. In the stern of the barge, acting as +coxswain, sat a young man of delicate frame and refined features. His +pale, thoughtful face showed him to be a close student, and the crutch +at his side betrayed the fact that he was a cripple.</p> + +<p>On each side of the coxswain sat a young lady, both of whom were +exchanging good-natured chaff with the merry-faced, stalwart fellow who +pulled the stroke oar.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe rowing is such hard work after all," said one of them, +"though you college men do make such a fuss about your training and your +practice spins. I'm sure it looks easy enough."</p> + +<p>"You are quite right, Miss Nellie," answered the stroke; "it is awfully +easy compared with some things—cramming for a final in mathematics, for +instance."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Derrick!" exclaimed the other young lady, "you can't call that hard +work. I'm sure it doesn't seem as though you had spent your time +anywhere but on the river for the past two months. If you can do that, +and at the same time graduate number one in your class, with special +mention in mathematics, the 'cramming,' as you call it, can't be so very +difficult."</p> + +<p>"All things are not what they seem," chanted Derrick. "It may be, sister +Helen, that there are some things in heaven and earth not dreamt of in +your philosophy, after all!"</p> + +<p>"Oho!" laughed Nellie Halford. "<i>Pinafore</i> and Shakespeare! What a +combination of wit and wisdom! It's quite worthy of a U. P. Senior."</p> + +<p>"He's not even a U. P. Senior now," said the coxswain, from the stern of +the barge. "He has gone back in the alphabet, and is only an A. B."</p> + +<p>"An idea for your next cartoon, old man," cried Derrick. "The downfall +of the Seniors, and their return to the rudimentary elements of +knowledge. By-the-way, Polly," he added, more soberly, "do you remember +that to-day is the anniversary of your entering upon the career of +breaker-boy five years ago?"</p> + +<p>"It is a day I never forget, Dare," answered Paul Evert, gravely, as he +gazed into the handsome sun-tanned face in front of him, with a look in +which affection and pride were equally blended.</p> + + +<p>THE END</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> A law of the State of Pennsylvania forbids the employment +of boys less than twelve years old in breakers, or less than fourteen in +mines. This law is not, however, strictly enforced.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Butty is the word used by miners to denote helper or +partner.</p></div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Derrick Sterling, by Kirk Monroe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DERRICK STERLING *** + +***** This file should be named 21863-h.htm or 21863-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/8/6/21863/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Brett Fishburne, Mary Meehan +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Derrick Sterling + A Story of the Mines + +Author: Kirk Monroe + +Release Date: June 19, 2007 [EBook #21863] +[Last updated on October 24, 2007] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DERRICK STERLING *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Brett Fishburne, Mary Meehan +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + DERRICK STERLING + + A STORY OF THE MINES + + BY KIRK MUNROE + + Author of "THE FLAMINGO FEATHER" + + + +[Illustration: IN THE BURNING BREAKER.] + + + +NEW YORK AND LONDON +HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS +COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY HARPER & BROTHERS +COPYRIGHT, 19l6, BY KIRK MUNROE + +PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. IN THE BURNING BREAKER + +II. A FEARFUL RIDE + +III. THE MINE BOSS TAKES DERRICK INTO HIS CONFIDENCE + +IV. INTRODUCING HARRY, THE BUMPING-MULE + +V. ATTACKED BY ENEMIES, AND LOST IN THE MINE + +VI. THE SECRET MEETING.--A PLUNGE DOWN AN AIR SHAFT + +VII. A CRIPPLE'S BRAVE DEED + +VIII. DERRICK STERLING'S SPLENDID REVENGE + +IX. SOCRATES, THE WISE MINE RAT + +X. IN THE OLD WORKINGS.--MISLED BY AN ALTERED LINE + +XI. A FATAL EXPLOSION OF FIRE-DAMP + +XII. THE MINE BOSS IN A DILEMMA + +XIII. LADIES IN THE MINE.--HARRY MULE'S SAD MISHAP + +XIV. A LIFE IS SAVED AND DERRICK IS PROMOTED + +XV. A "SQUEEZE" AND A FALL OF ROCK + +XVI. BURSTING OF AN UNDERGROUND RESERVOIR + +XVII. IMPRISONED IN THE FLOODED MINE + +XVIII. TO THE RESCUE!--A MESSAGE FROM THE PRISONERS + +XIX. RESTORED TO DAYLIGHT + +XX. GOOD-BY TO THE COLLIERY + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +In the burning breaker + +"Here, lad, lead this mule down the rest of the way, will ye?" + +Suddenly there came a blinding flash, a roar as of a cannon + +Good-by to the colliery + + + + +DERRICK STERLING: A STORY OF THE MINES + + + + +CHAPTER I + +IN THE BURNING BREAKER + + +"Fire! Fire in the breaker! Oh, the boys! the poor boys!" These cries, +and many like them--wild, heartrending, and full of fear--were heard on +all sides. They served to empty the houses, and the one street of the +little mining village of Raven Brook was quickly filled with excited +people. + +It was late in the afternoon of a hot summer's day, and the white-faced +miners of the night shift were just leaving their homes. Some of them, +with lunch-pails and water-cans slung over their shoulders by light iron +chains, were gathered about the mouth of the slope, prepared to descend +into the dark underground depths where they toiled. The wives of the day +shift men, some of whom, black as negroes with coal-dust, powder-smoke, +and soot, had already been drawn up the long slope, were busy preparing +supper. From the mountainous piles of refuse, of "culm," barefooted +children, nearly as black as their miner fathers, were tramping homeward +with burdens of coal that they had gleaned from the waste. High above +the village, sharply outlined against the western sky, towered the huge, +black bulk of the breaker. + +The clang of its machinery had suddenly ceased, though the shutting-down +whistle had not yet sounded. From its many windows poured volumes of +smoke, more dense than the clouds of coal-dust with which they were +generally filled, and little tongues of red flame were licking its +weather-beaten timbers. It was an old breaker that had been in use many +years, and within a few days it would have been abandoned for the new +one, recently built on the opposite side of the valley. It was still in +operation, however, and within its grimy walls a hundred boys had sat +beside the noisy coal chutes all through that summer's day, picking out +bits of slate and tossing them into the waste-bins. From early morning +they had breathed the dust-laden air, and in cramped positions had +sorted the shallow streams of coal that constantly flowed down from the +crushers and screens above. Most of them were between ten and fourteen +years of age, though there were a few who were even younger than ten, +and some who were more than sixteen years old.[1] + +[Footnote 1: A law of the State of Pennsylvania forbids the employment +of boys less than twelve years old in breakers, or less than fourteen in +mines. This law is not, however, strictly enforced.] + +Among these breaker boys two were particularly noticeable, although they +were just as black and grimy as the others, and were doing exactly the +same work. The elder of these, Derrick Sterling, was a manly-looking +fellow, whose face, in spite of its coating of coal-dust, expressed +energy, determination, and a quicker intelligence than that of any of +his young companions. He was the only son of Gilbert Sterling, who had +been one of the mining engineers connected with the Raven Brook +Colliery. The father had been disabled by an accident in the mines, and +after lingering for more than a year, had died a few months before the +date of this story, leaving a wife and two children, Derrick and little +Helen. + +For nearly five years before his father's death Derrick had attended a +boarding-school near Philadelphia; but the sad event made a vast +difference in his prospects for life, and compelled his return to the +colliery village that he called home. + +Mr. Sterling had always lived up to his moderate income, and though his +salary was continued to the time of his death, the family then found +themselves confronted by extreme poverty. They owned their little +vine-covered cottage, at one end of the straggling village street, and +in this Mrs. Sterling began to take boarders, with the hope of thus +supporting her children. Her struggle was a hard one, and when one of +the boarders, who was superintendent of the breaker, or "breaker boss," +offered Derrick employment in his department, the boy was so anxious to +help his mother that he gladly accepted the offer. Nothing else seemed +open to him, and anything was better than idleness. So, after winning a +reluctant consent from his mother, Derrick began to earn thirty-five +cents a day, at that hardest and most monotonous of all forms of +youthful labor, picking slate in a coal-breaker. + +He had been brought up and educated so differently from any of his +companions of the chutes that the life was infinitely harder for him +than for them. He hated dirt, and loved to be nice and clean, which +nobody could be for a minute in the breaker. He also loved the sunlight, +the fields, and the woods; but no sunshine ever penetrated the thick +dust-clouds within these walls. In the summer-time it shone fierce and +hot on the long sloping roof, just above the boys' heads, until the +interior was like an oven, and in winter they were chilled by the cold +winds that blew in through the ever-open windows. + +Here, and under these conditions, Derrick must work from seven o'clock +in the morning until six in the evening. At noon the boys were allowed +forty minutes in which to eat the luncheons brought in their little tin +pails, and draw a few breaths of fresh air. During the first few weeks +of this life there were times when it seemed to Derrick that he could +not bear it any longer. More than once, as he sat beside the rattling +chute, mechanically sorting the never-ending stream, with hands cut and +bruised by the sharp slate, great tears rolled down his grimy cheeks. +Over and over again had he been tempted to rush from the breaker, never +to return to it; but each time he had seemed to see the patient face of +his hard-working mother, or to feel the clinging arms of little Helen +about his neck. He would remember how they were depending on his two +dollars a week, and, instead of running away, would turn again to his +work with a new energy, determined that, since he was to be a breaker +boy, he would be the best in the colliery. + +In this he had succeeded so well as to win praise, even from Mr. Guffy, +the breaker boss, who usually had nothing but harsh words and blows for +the boys who came under his rule. He had also been noticed by the +superintendent of the colliery, and promised a place in the mine as soon +as a vacancy should occur that he could fill. In the breaker he had been +promoted from one seat to another, until for several weeks past he had +occupied the very last one on the line of his chute. Here he gave the +coal its final inspection before it shot down into the bins, from which +it was loaded into cars waiting to carry it to cities hundreds of miles +away. Above all, Derrick was now receiving the highest wages paid to +breaker boys, and was able to hand his mother three big silver dollars +every Saturday night. + +The first time he did this seemed to him the proudest moment of his +life, for, as she kissed him, his mother said that this sum was +sufficient to pay all his expenses, that he was now actually supporting +himself, and was therefore as independent as any man in the colliery. + +It was a wonderful help to him, during the last few weeks of his breaker +boy life, to think over these words and to realize that by his own +efforts he had become a self-supporting member of society. It really +seemed as though he increased in stature twice as fast after that little +talk with his mother. At the same time his clothes appeared to shrink +from the responsibility of covering an independent man, instead of the +boy for whom they had originally been intended. + +Beside Derrick Sterling, that hot summer afternoon, sat Paul Evert, a +slender, delicate boy with a fine head set above a deformed body. He did +not seem much more than half as large as Derrick, though he was but a +few months younger, and his great wistful eyes held a frightened look, +as of some animal that is hunted. He too had been compelled by poverty +to go into the cruel breaker, and try to win from it a few loaves of +bread for the many little hungry mouths at home, which the miner father +and feeble mother found it so hard to feed. + +For a long time the rude boys of Raven Brook had teased and persecuted +"Polly Evert," as they called him, on account of his humped back and +withered leg, and for a long time Derrick Sterling had been his stanch +friend and protector. While the even-tempered lad used every effort to +avoid quarrels on his own behalf, he would spring like a young tiger to +rescue Paul Evert from his persecutors. Many a time had he stood at bay +before a little mob of sooty-faced village boys, and dared them to touch +the crippled lad who crouched trembling behind him. + +On this very day, during the noon breathing-spell, he had been compelled +to thrash Bill Tooley, the village bully, on Paul's behalf. Bill had +been a mule-driver in the mine, but had been discharged from there a few +days before, and taken into the breaker. He now sat beside Paul, and +during the whole morning had steadily tormented him, in spite of the +lad's entreaties to be let alone and Derrick's fierce threats from the +other side. + +That Derrick had not escaped scot-free from the noon-hour encounter was +shown by a deep cut on his upper lip. That Bill Tooley had been much +more severely punished was evident from the swollen condition of his +face, and from the fact that he now worked in sullen silence, without +attempting any further annoyance of the hump-backed lad beside him. Only +by occasional glances full of hate cast at both Derrick and Paul did he +show the true state of his feelings, and indicate the revengeful nature +of his thoughts. + +This was Paul's first day in the breaker, where he had been given work +by the gruff boss only upon Derrick Sterling's earnest entreaty. Derrick +had promised that he would initiate his friend into all the details of +the business, and look after him generally. He had his doubts concerning +Paul's fitness for the work and the terrible life of a breaker boy, and +had begged him not to try it. + +Paul's pitiful "What else can I do, Derrick? I have got to earn some +money somehow," completely silenced him; for he knew only too well that +in a colliery there is but one employment open to a boy who cannot drive +a mule or find work in the mine. Therefore he had promised to try and +secure a place for his crippled friend, and had finally succeeded. + +Paul was struggling bravely to finish this long, weary first day's work +in a manner that should reflect credit upon his protector; but the hours +seemed to drag into weeks, and each minute he feared he should break +down entirely. He tried to hide the cruel slate cuts on his hands, nor +let Derrick discover how his back ached, and how he was choked by the +coal-dust. He even attempted to smile when Derrick spoke to him, though +his ear, unaccustomed to the noise of the machinery and the rushing +coal, failed to catch what was said. + +While the crippled lad, in company with a hundred other boys, was thus +anxiously awaiting the welcome sound of the shutting-down whistle, at +the first blast of which the torrents of coal would cease to flow, and +they would all rush for the stairway that led out-of-doors, the air +gradually became filled with something even more stifling than +coal-dust--something that choked them and made their eyes smart. It was +the pungent smoke of burning wood; and by the time they fully realized +its presence the air was thick with it, and to breathe seemed wellnigh +impossible. Then, just as the boys were beginning to start from their +seats, and cast frightened glances at each other, the machinery stopped; +and amid the comparative silence that followed they heard the cry of +"Fire!" and the voice of the breaker boss shouting, "Clear out of this, +you young rascals! Run for your lives! Don't you see the breaker's +afire?" + +As he spoke a great burst of flame sprang up one of the waste chutes +from the boiler-room beneath them, and with a wild rush the hundred boys +made towards the one door-way that led to the open air and safety. + +Obeying the impulse of the moment, Derrick sprang toward it with the +rest. Before he could reach it a faint cry of "Derrick, oh, Derrick, +don't leave me!" caused him to turn and begin a desperate struggle +against the mass of boys who surged and crushed behind him. Several +times he thought he should be borne through the door-way, but he fought +with such fury that he finally won his way back out of the crowd and to +where Paul was still sitting. + +"Come on, Polly," he cried, "we haven't any time to lose." + +"I can't, Derrick," was the answer; "my crutch is gone." + +Surely enough, the lame boy's crutch, which had been leaned against the +wall behind him, had disappeared, and he was helpless. + +At first Derrick thought he would carry him, and made the attempt; but +his strength was not equal to the task, and he was forced to set his +burden down after taking a few steps towards the door. + +He called loudly to the last of the boys, who was just disappearing +through the door-way, to come and help him. At the call the boy turned +his face towards them. It was that of Bill Tooley, and it bore a grin of +malicious triumph. + +The next instant the great door swung to with a crash that sounded like +a knell in the ears of Derrick Sterling, for he knew that it closed with +a powerful spring lock, the key of which was in Mr. Guffy's pocket. + +The crash of the closing door was followed by a second burst of flame +that came rushing and leaping up the chutes, and above its roar the boys +heard shrill voices in the village crying, "Fire! Fire in the breaker!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A FEARFUL RIDE + + +As Derrick and Paul realized that they were left alone in the burning +breaker, in which the heat was now intense, and that they were cut off +from the stairway by the closed and bolted door, they remained for a +moment speechless with despair. Then Derrick flung himself furiously +against the heavy door again and again, with a vague hope that he might +thus force it to give way. His efforts were of no avail, and he only +exhausted his strength; for the massive framework did not even tremble +beneath the weight of his body. + +Still he could not believe but that somebody would open it for them, and +he would not leave the door until tiny flames creeping beneath it warned +him that the stairway was on fire and that all chances of escape in that +direction were gone. He tried to make himself seen and heard at one of +the open windows, but was driven back by the swirling smoke. Then he +turned to Paul, who still sat quietly where he had been left. The +crippled lad had not uttered a single cry of fear, though the eager +flames had approached him so closely that he could feel their hot +breath, and knew that in another minute the place where he sat would be +surrounded by them. + +As Derrick sprang to his side, with the intention of dragging him as far +as possible from them, he said, + +"The slope, Derrick! If we could only get to the top of the slope, +couldn't we somehow escape by it?" + +"I never thought of it!" cried Derrick. "We might. We'll try anyhow, for +if we stay here another minute we shall be roasted to death." + +Stooping, he lifted Paul in his lithe young arms, and with a strength +born of despair began to carry him up the long and devious way that led +to the very top of the lofty building. He had scarcely taken a dozen +steps, and was already staggering beneath his burden, when he stumbled +and nearly fell over some object lying on the floor. With an +exclamation, he set Paul down and picked it up. + +It was the crutch, Paul's own crutch; and it was so far above where they +had sat at work that it seemed as though it must have been flung there. + +The boys did not pause to consider how the crutch came to be where they +found it, but joyfully seizing it, Paul used it so effectively that they +quickly gained the top of the building and stood at the upper end of the +long slope. + +It was a framework of massive timbers supported by high trestle-work, +that led from the highest point of the breaker down the hill-side into +the valley, where it entered the ground. From there it was continued +down into the very lowest depths of the mine. On it were double tracks +of iron rails, up which, by means of an immensely long and strong wire +cable, the laden coal cars were drawn from the bottom of the mine to the +top of the breaker. As a loaded car was drawn up, an empty one, on the +opposite track, went down. The angle of the slope was as steep as the +sharply pitched roof of a house, and its length, from the bottom of the +mine to the top of the breaker, was over half a mile. + +This particular slope was provided with a peculiar arrangement by which +a car loaded with slate or other refuse, after being drawn up from the +mine to a point a short distance above the surface, could be run +backward over a vertical switch that was lowered into place behind it. +This vertical switch would carry it out on the dump or refuse heap. The +top of the dump presented a broad, level surface for half a mile, on +which was laid a system of tracks. Over these the waste cars were drawn +by mules to the very edge of the dump, where their contents were tipped +out and allowed to slide down the hill-side. During working hours a boy +was stationed at this switch, whose business it was to set it according +to the instructions received from a gong near him. This could be struck +either from the bottom of the mine or the top of the breaker, by means +of a strong wire leading in both directions from it. One stroke on the +gong meant to set the switch for the mine, and two strokes to set it for +the dump. A flight of rude steps led up along the side of the slope from +the mouth of the mine to the top of the breaker. + +Derrick and Paul thought that perhaps they might make their way down +this flight of steps and thus escape from the blazing building; but when +they reached the end of the slope, and looked down, they saw that this +would be impossible. Already the steps were on fire, and the whole +slope, as far as they could see, was enveloped in a dense cloud of +smoke. Through it shot flaming tongues that were greedily licking the +timbers of the tall trestle-work. + +If Derrick had been alone he would have made the attempt to rush down +the steps, and force his way through the barrier of smoke and flame; but +he knew that for his companion this would be impossible, and that even +to try it meant certain death. + +As he hesitated, and turned this way and that, uncertain of what to +attempt, an ominous crash from behind, followed by another and another, +warned them that the floors of the building were giving way and letting +the heavy machinery fall into the roaring furnace beneath. They knew +that the walls must quickly follow, and that with them they too must be +dragged down into the raging flames. + +Paul, sitting on the floor, buried his face in his hands, shutting his +eyes upon the surrounding horrors, and prayed. + +Derrick stood up, gazing steadily at the rushing flames, and thought +with the rapidity of lightning. Suddenly his eye fell upon an empty +coal-car standing on the track at the very edge of the slope, and he +cried, + +"Here's a chance, Paul! and it's our only one. Get into this car, quick +as you can. Hurry! I feel the walls shaking." + +As Paul clambered into the car in obedience to his friend's +instructions, though without an idea of what was about to happen, +Derrick sprang to one side, where a brass handle hung from the wall, and +pulled it twice with all his might; then back to the car, where he cast +off the hooks by which the great wire cable was attached to it. Again he +pulled furiously, twice, at the brass handle. + +He had done all that lay in his power, and was now about to make one +last, terrible effort to escape. The red flames had crept closer and +closer, and were now eagerly reaching out their cruel arms towards the +boys from all sides. Beneath them the supports of the building tottered, +and in another moment it must fall. Down the slope the shining rails of +the track disappeared in an impenetrable cloud of smoke, and Derrick +could not see whether his signal to the switch-tender had been obeyed or +not. + +As Paul crouched on the bottom, at one end of the car, his companion +said, + +"I'm going to push her over and let her go down the slope, Polly. If the +trestle hasn't burned away she'll take us through the fire and smoke +quick enough. If there's anybody down there and he's heard the gong and +set the switch, we'll go flying off over the dump. I guess I can stop +her with the brake before she gets to the edge. It's half a mile, you +know. If the switch is open, we'll go like a streak down into the mine +and be smashed into a million pieces. It won't be any worse than being +burned to death, though. Now good-by, old man, if I don't ever see you +alive again. Here goes." + +"Good-by, dear Derrick." + +Then the crippled lad closed his eyes and held his breath in awful +expectation. Derrick placed one shoulder against the car, gave a strong +push, and, as he felt it move, sprang on one of the bumpers and seized +the brake handle that projected a few inches above its side. + +In the mean time the two boys had been missed in the village, and as it +became known that they were still within the breaker, the entire +population, frenzied with excitement, gathered about the blazing +building, making vain efforts to discover their whereabouts, that they +might attempt a rescue. + +No men on earth are braver in time of danger, or more ready to face it +in rescuing imperilled comrades, than the miners of the anthracite +collieries. Had they known where to find Derrick and Paul, a score of +stalwart fellows would willingly have dashed into the flames after them. +As it was, no sign that they were still in existence had been +discovered, and the spectators of the fire were forced to stand and +watch it in all the bitterness of utter helplessness. + +One man indeed ran up the blazing stairway, and with a mighty blow from +the pick he carried crashed open the door against which Derrick had so +vainly flung himself. Only a great burst of flame leaped forth and drove +him backward, with his clothing on fire and the hair burned from his +face. He was Paul Evert's father. + +Upon receipt of the tidings that her boy was shut up in the burning +breaker, without any apparent means of escape, Mrs. Sterling had fallen +as though dead, and now lay, happily, unconscious of his awful peril. +Little Helen sat by her mother's bedside, too stunned and frightened +even to cry. + +In Paul's home a crowd of wailing women surrounded Mrs. Evert, whose +many children clung sobbing to her skirts. + +Suddenly two sharp strokes of a gong rang out, loud and clear, above the +roar of the flames and the crash of falling timbers. The crowd of +anxious spectators heard the sound, and from them arose a mighty, joyous +shout. "They're alive! They're alive! They're at the top of the slope!" + +But what could be done? The trestle was already blazing, and the upper +end of the slope was hidden from the view of those below by dense +volumes of ink-black smoke. + +Again the gong rang out, "one, two," and one man of all that throng +thought he knew what it meant. Springing to the mine entrance, the old +breaker boss threw over the switch bar, and set the vertical switch for +the dump. + +Then came a crash of falling walls, and out of the accompanying burst of +fire and smoke, down along the shining track of the slope, shot a +thunder-bolt. + +It seemed like a thunder-bolt to the awe-stricken spectators, as it +rushed out of the flames, leaving a long trail of smoke behind it. In +reality it was a coal-car, bearing in one end a crouching figure and a +crutch. At the other end stood Derrick Sterling, bareheaded, with rigid +form and strained muscles, and with one hand on the brake handle. + +With a frightful velocity the car crossed the vertical switch and shot +out over the level surface of the dump. Derrick felt the strength of a +young giant as he tugged at that brake handle. The wood smoked from the +friction as it ground against the wheel; but it did its duty. On the +very edge of the dump, half a mile from the vertical switch, the car +stopped, and Derrick sat down beside it, sick and exhausted from the +terrible nervous strain of the few minutes just past. + +It seemed hours since the machinery had stopped in the breaker and the +rush of boys had been made for the door-way; but it was barely ten +minutes since the first alarm had been given. From the time he stood +face to face with death at the top of the slope, and started that car on +its downward rush through the flame and smoke, less than two minutes had +passed, but they spanned the space between life and death. + +As yet Derrick could not realize that they had escaped nor did he until +he felt a pair of arms thrown about his neck and heard Paul's voice +saying, + +"Derrick, dear Derrick! you have saved my life, and as long as it lasts +I shall love you. If ever I have a chance to show it, you shall see how +dearly." + +Then Derrick stood up and looked about him. A crowd of men and boys were +running along the top of the dump towards them. In another minute they +had both been placed in the car, and amid the joyous cries and exultant +cheers it was being rapidly rolled back towards the village. + +When Mrs. Sterling began to recover consciousness she smiled at the boy +whom she saw standing beside her, and said, faintly, + +"I've had an awful dream, Derrick, and I thank God it was only a dream." + +And Derrick said, "Amen, mother." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE MINE BOSS TAKES DERRICK INTO HIS CONFIDENCE + + +In a mining community serious accidents, and even terrible disasters, +are of such frequent occurrence that in Raven Brook the burning of the +old breaker soon ceased to furnish a topic of conversation. + +It was not until the day after that of the fire that Derrick learned of +the presence of mind displayed by the old breaker boss in comprehending +his signal on the gong and setting the vertical switch for the dump. As +soon as the old man came home that evening, Derrick went to his room +prepared to pour out his heartfelt thanks. He had hardly begun when the +breaker boss interrupted him with, + +"There, that'll do, an' I don't want to hear no more on it. Any fool +knows that two gongs means 'dump switch,' an' when one's been in the +mines forty year, man an' boy, as I have, he don't take no credit to +himself for doing fool's work. When you get older you'll know better'n +to mention sich a thing." + +"But, Mr. Guffy--" + +"That'll do, I tell ye!" roared the irascible old man. "Clear outen +here, and go over to Warren Jones's; he wants to see ye. Hold on!" he +added, as Derrick was about to leave the room. "On your way stop and +tell that hunchback butty[2] of yourn to be on hand in the new breaker +at sharp seven to-morrow morning, if he wants to keep his job. Do ye +hear?" + +[Footnote 2: Butty is the word used by miners to denote helper or +partner.] + +As he went out Derrick smiled to think of the old man's pride, which +would not allow him to accept thanks or praise from a boy for performing +a creditable action. + +At the same time the breaker boss was muttering to himself, "He's a fine +lad. If he'd 'a' come to grief through any fault of mine I'd never got +over it. 'Twon't do, though, to let him see that I think more of him +than of any others of the young scoundrels. Boys allus gets so upperty +if they thinks you're a-favorin' of 'em. They must be kep' down! Yes, +sir! kep' down, boys must be." + +Derrick could not help wondering why he too had not been ordered to +report at the new breaker the next morning, but thought it better not to +ask any questions. After supper he went over to see Mr. Jones, in +obedience to the instructions received from the breaker boss. + +Warren Jones, the assistant superintendent, or, as he was generally +termed, the "mine boss," of the Raven Brook Colliery, was a +pleasant-faced, outspoken young man of about thirty. At present he was +acting as superintendent, and the burden of responsibility bore heavily +upon him. He had a host of warm friends, but had made some bitter +enemies among the miners by his direct honesty of purpose and +determination to deal out even-handed justice to all over whom he +exercised authority. Although generally good-natured and slow to find +fault, he could be quick and stern enough when occasion demanded. + +Such was the man who greeted Derrick Sterling cordially that evening, +showed him into his library, and made him sit down, saying that he +wished to have a little talk with him. He spoke in terms of such praise +of Derrick's behavior on the previous day as to bring a blush of +pleasure to the boy's cheeks. + +"By-the-way, Derrick," he asked, "how did the breaker catch fire?" + +"I haven't the least idea, sir," answered Derrick, looking up in +surprise. + +"Oh, all right," said the other, carelessly. "I didn't know but what you +might have heard something said about it." + +"No, sir, I haven't; that is, not anything that I thought amounted to +anything. I have heard some of the boys talking about 'Mollies,' and +saying that they beat the world for floods and fires. What are 'Mollies' +anyway, Mr. Jones?" + +The mine boss looked at him curiously for a moment before replying, + +"If you really don't know, it's time you did, for you're likely to see +and hear a great deal of them if you decide to make mining your business +in life. All that I know about them is this: + +"Many years ago a young woman named Mary, or Mollie Maguire, was +murdered in Ireland, and several young fellows belonging to an order +called 'Ribbonmen' bound themselves by an oath to avenge her death and +kill her murderer. They succeeded so well in this undertaking, and +escaped detection so easily, that they proceeded to redress other +wrongs, real and fancied. They were joined by other men of their own way +of thinking, and finally they became a widely spread and powerful +society. In course of time, whenever anybody was mysteriously killed in +Ireland, it came to be said that the Mollie Maguires had done it, and so +the name clung to them. + +"At last the murderous order was introduced into this region by some +Irish miners who wished to get rid of an objectionable overseer, and +also to control the labor unions among the miners. It has so spread that +now its members are known to exist in every mining community of the +anthracite country. It is one of the most cowardly organizations ever +formed by men, and one of the most cruel. Its victims are given no +warning of the fate in store for them, but are struck down in the dark, +or from an ambush, by unseen hands. + +"Often the murderer has no previous acquaintance with, or knowledge of, +the man whom he kills. He blindly obeys the command of his infernal +order, and is thus made a tool to avenge some petty grievance or fancied +injury. + +"The Mollies have become a plague-spot that threatens the health and +life of this region. It is the duty of every honest man and boy who is +brought into any sort of contact with them to thwart their evil designs +in every possible way." + +"Well," said Derrick, drawing a long breath, "I had no idea that there +were such wicked men in this country." + +"No," he answered the mine boss, "you are but a boy, and have had but +little experience in the wickedness of this world; but I know you are +brave, and I believe you to be honest and loyal. I am therefore going to +trust you, and tell you something that I had no intention of mentioning +when I sent for you this evening. It is this: + +"I have every reason to believe the Mollies are strong in this colliery, +and that they intend to make trouble here. I have lately received +several anonymous letters making demands that cannot possibly be +granted, and containing vague threats of what will happen in case they +are not satisfied. This morning I found this note pinned to my door." + +Here Mr. Jones opened a drawer of his desk, and took from it a dirty +sheet of paper, which he handed to Derrick. On it was scrawled the +following: + + "Bosses take Wornin'. New breakers can burn as well as old. Fires + cost munny. Better pay it in wage to + + "MOLLIE." + +As the boy finished reading this strange communication which was at the +same time an admission and a threat, he looked up in surprise and began, +"Then you think, sir--" + +"Yes," interrupted the mine boss. "I not only think, but I feel +convinced, that the mischief has begun. Moreover, I am determined that +it shall end before it goes any further. I am most anxious to discover +who is at the bottom of it, and in this I want you to help me." + +"Want _me_ to help!" exclaimed Derrick, in astonishment. + +"Yes, you," answered Mr. Jones, smiling. "Your very youth and +inexperience will render you less likely to be suspected than an older +person. I am certain that I can count upon the son of my old friend +Gilbert Sterling to perform truly and faithfully any duty which his +employers may see fit to intrust him with. Is it not so, Derrick?" + +"Yes, sir, it is," cried the boy. "Just tell me what you want me to do, +and if I don't succeed it won't be because I haven't tried my best." + +"That is just what I expected you to say," remarked the mine boss, +quietly. "Now we will lay our first plans. I suppose you have had enough +of the breaker, haven't you?" + +"Indeed I have, sir." + +"Very well. For a change I am going to offer you a job in the mine where +I will give you a bumping-mule to drive. Your wages will be five dollars +a week." + +"A bumping-mule?" queried Derrick, in a tone of perplexity not unmixed +with disappointment. From the preceding conversation he had expected to +be intrusted with something very different from mule-driving; nor had he +any idea what sort of an animal the one in question might be. + +This time Mr. Jones not only smiled but laughed outright; for, from the +boy's face and tone, he easily understood what was passing in his mind. + +"A bumping-mule," he explained, "is the animal that draws the loaded +coal-cars from the chambers, or breasts, to where they are made up into +trains. These trains are then hauled by a team of mules to the foot of +the slope. Then, when the empty cars are brought back, the bumping-mule +distributes them to the several places where they are required. I +suppose his title comes from his causing the cars to bump together as he +makes them up into trains. In attending to your duties as driver of this +most important mule, I can assure you that your time will be fully +occupied from the minute you go into the mine until you leave it. + +"I suppose," he added, with a humorous twinkle in his eyes, "that our +conversation led you to think you were to be appointed 'air boss' of the +mine, or placed in charge of a gang at the very least?" + +"No, sir," answered Derrick, a little hesitatingly; "I ain't quite such +a greeny as that. But I don't see how I can help you very much by just +driving a bumping-mule." + +"You can help me in two ways: first, by doing your duty so faithfully +that I may be able to depend on you at all times; second, while I am in +doubt as to whom I may trust, it will be of great assistance to me to +know that there is at least one person constantly in the mine who will +be true to the interests of his employers, and on the alert to detect +any attempt to injure them." + +"I hope you don't mean that I am to be a spy in the mine, sir?" + +"No, my boy, I do not. I want you to attend strictly to your duties as +driver of a bumping-mule. At the same time I want you to consider that +your eyes and ears are acting in the place of my eyes and ears. If at +any time they see or hear anything which according to your best judgment +I ought to know, I hope you will be man enough to tell me of it." + +"Well, sir," answered Derrick, "I am glad of a chance to go into the +mine and to earn five dollars a week. If you will let me do whatever I +think is right about telling you things without making any promises, I +will keep my eyes and ears wide open." + +"That is all that I want you to do, my boy." + +"All right, sir, then I'll do my best; and I hope I sha'n't have +anything to tell you except about the bumping-mule." + +"So do I hope so with all my heart, Derrick," said the mine boss, +gravely; "for I am inclined to think that if you have anything else to +tell me it will be something very serious and unpleasant. Now you may +take this order for a pair of rubber boots and a miner's cap and lamp +over to the store and get the things. Be on hand to go down with the +first gang of the morning shift. You will find me in the mine, and I +will see that you are properly set to work. Good-night." + +"Good-night," answered Derrick, as, with the store order in his hand, +and his mind full of conflicting emotions, he left the house. + +Several miners of the day shift were in the store when Derrick went to +present his order. By questioning him as to what he wanted with mine +clothes, they soon learned that he was to begin life underground the +next day as driver of a bumping-mule. + +"De young bantam'll find it a tougher job than riding empty cars down de +slope," sneered one big ugly-looking fellow, whose name was Monk Tooley, +and who was Bill Tooley's father. + +"I reckon you've laid in a big supply of cuss-words as a stock in trade! +Eh, lad?" asked another. + +"No, I haven't," said Derrick, flushing hotly. "I don't believe in +swearing, and if I can't drive a mule without it I won't drive him at +all." + +"Then I reckon you'll hunt some other business putty quick," answered +the miner with a coarse laugh in which the others joined. "Mules won't +work without they hears the peculiar langwidge they's most fond of." + +"Well," said Derrick, "we'll see." And leaving the store with his +purchases he started homeward. On the way he stopped to deliver Mr. +Guffy's message to Paul Evert, and to tell his friend the great news +that on the following day he was to begin the life of a miner. + +"I wish I was going with you," said Paul. + +"I wish you were, Polly," answered Derrick. "Perhaps there will be a +chance for you down there before long, and by that time I will have +learned all the ropes, and can tell you what's what." + +Although Derrick had lived much among collieries, he had never been +allowed to go down into a mine. His parents had kept him as much as +possible from associating with the rough mine lads of the village. Thus, +until he went into the breaker to earn his own living, he had held but +slight intercourse with them. His friend Paul, being the son of a miner, +knew far more of underground life than he, and often smiled at his +ignorance of many of the commonest mine terms. + +Derrick was a peculiar boy in one respect. He disliked to ask questions, +and would rather spend time and patience in finding out things for +himself, if it were possible for him to do so. What he thus learned he +never forgot. + +He was thoroughly familiar with the surface workings of a colliery, and +could explain the construction of the great pumps that kept the mine +free from water, the huge, swiftly revolving fan that drew all foul air +from it, or any of its other machinery. His father's profession had long +seemed to him a most desirable one, and he spent much of his spare time +in studying such engineering books as still remained in the house. He +loved to pore over his father's tracings and maps of the old workings. +With these he had become so well acquainted that he believed he could +locate on the surface the exact spots beneath which ran the gangways, +headings, and breasts of the abandoned portions of the mine. + +By means of these old maps he had also discovered on the mountain side, +more than a mile away, the mouth of a drift leading into a vein worked +out and abandoned more than twenty years before. This discovery he kept +to himself as a precious secret bequeathed to him by his father, though +he had not the slightest idea that it would ever be of any practical +value to him. + +After leaving Paul, Derrick hurried home to tell his mother the great +news that he was to work in the mine and earn five dollars a week, and +to show her his mine clothes. He was greatly disappointed that instead +of rejoicing over his brightening prospects she only gazed at him +without speaking, until the tears filled her eyes and rolled down her +pale cheeks. + +"Why, mother," he said, "aren't you glad? Only think--five dollars a +week!" + +"Oh, my boy, my boy," she exclaimed, drawing him to her, "I can't let +you go down into that horrible place! 'Twas there your father met his +death." + +"Shall I go back to the breaker, then, mother?" + +"No, no; I didn't mean what I said. God has delivered you from one +fearful peril, and he can guide you safely through all others. Yes, I am +glad, Derrick--glad of any step that you take forward; but oh, my boy, +be very careful wherever you go. Remember how precious your life is to +me." + +Dressed in his new mine clothes, Derrick hurried through breakfast the +next morning, and started for the mouth of the slope bright and early. + +On his way he met Bill Tooley, who stopped him by calling out, "Look +a-here, young feller. They say yer a-going down ter drive my mule." + +"Didn't know you had a mule," answered Derrick, pleasantly. + +"Well, I did have a mule; an' what's more, I'm going ter have him again. +Any feller that goes to driving him before I get back will be sorry he +ever done it, that's all. I don't care if he is the bosses' pet, and did +take a ride in a hand-car." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +INTRODUCING HARRY, THE BUMPING-MULE + + +As Derrick walked towards the entrance to the mine, he wondered what the +bully whom he had just met meant by what he said. He did not then know +that Bill Tooley had been discharged from the mine by Mr. Jones for +brutal treatment of the mule he had driven, and for general laziness and +neglect of his duties. + +At the mouth of the "travelling-road," down which the early arrivals +were compelled to make their way into the mine, Derrick was greeted by a +little group of miners who were lighting their lamps and preparing to +descend. + +"'Tis bonny to see thee, Derrick lad," called out one of them. + +"'Twill be luck to the mine to have such as you in her," said another. + +"My lad would ha' been your age an' he'd lived," said a third. "'Twould +ha' been a proud day for me to ha' seen him alongside o' thee, lad, +lighting his bit lamp, and ready to take up the life of an honest +miner." + +In the group was Tom Evert, Paul's father, a brawny, muscular man, who +was considered one of the best miners in Raven Brook. Taking Derrick a +little to one side, he said, + +"They tell me, lad, thou'rt to drive Bill Tooley's mule." + +"I don't know anything about Bill Tooley's mule," answered Derrick. "I +only know that Mr. Jones said I was to drive a bumping-mule, and I +intend to do exactly what he tells me." + +"Of course, lad, of course; but the bumping-mule he has in mind will be +Bill Tooley's, I doubt not, and I'd rather 'twould be another than you +had the job. Bill Tooley, with his feyther to back him, is certain to +take it out, some way or another, of the lad that steps into his place." + +"I'm not afraid of Bill Tooley, as you ought to know, Mr. Evert," said +Derrick, somewhat boastfully, as he thought of the thrashing he had so +recently given the young man in question. + +"Of course not, lad, of course not. I know you can lick him fast enough +in fair fight. My poor little Paul can bear ready witness to that, for +which I'm under obligations to you. It's not fair fighting I mean; for +when it comes to argyfying with them Tooleys, it's foul play you must +look out for; and what the young un lacks in pluck he makes up in +inflooence." + +Derrick was about to ask what he meant, but was interrupted by a +movement of the miners towards the entrance. In another moment he found +himself rapidly descending the steep steps of the travelling-road, and +feeling that the attempt to keep pace with the long-limbed fellows ahead +of him must certainly result in his pitching headlong into the unknown +depth of blackness. + +The travelling-road was a gigantic stairway, leading at a steep angle +directly down into the earth. It was high enough for a man to stand +upright in without hitting his head against the roof, and it was +provided with steps. They were cut or dug out of the rock, earth, or +coal down through which the road passed, and were very broad and very +high. The front edge of each was formed of a smooth round log. From the +roof and sides of the road dripped and trickled little streams of water +that made everything in it wet and soggy, and rendered the edges of the +steps particularly slippery. + +The air in the road was chilly in comparison with that of the warm +summer's morning in which the outside world was rejoicing, and Derrick +shivered as he first encountered its penetrating dampness. Of course the +darkness was intense, but at first it was partially dispelled by the +lights of the half-dozen miners in whose company he had entered the +road. As they gradually left him behind, their twinkling lights grew +fainter and fainter, until at last they vanished entirely, and Derrick +found himself stumbling alone down the apparently interminable stairway. + +While yet in company with the miners, he had passed through one door +made of heavy planks, that completely closed the road, and now he came +to another. Through its chinks and cracks there was a rush of air from +outside inward that hummed and whistled like a small gale. It took all +of Derrick's strength to pull this door open, and it closed behind him +with a crash that reverberated in long, hollow echoes down the black +depths before him. + +Some distance below he was startled by a heavy booming sound from above, +which was followed by a tremendous clattering, mingled with shouts and +cries. In the first of these sounds he recognized the closing of the +door through which he had recently passed, but he could not account for +the others. + +They were continued, and grew louder and louder as they approached, +until at length they were close at hand, and he saw lights and a +confused mass of struggling forms directly above him. Stepping to one +side, Derrick flattened himself against the wall to let them pass; but +just as the miner who came first reached that point, he tossed the end +of a rope into the boy's hands, saying, "Here, lad, lead this mule down +the rest of the way, will ye? I'm in a powerful hurry myself." + +[Illustration: "HERE, LAD, LEAD THIS MULE DOWN THE REST OF THE WAY, WILL YE?"] + +In another instant he had gone, leaping with immense strides down the +precipitous steps, and Derrick found himself staring into the comical +face of a large mule which, with his fore-feet on one step and his hind +ones on that above, looked as though he were about to stand on his head. + +"Go on, can't yer!" called out an impatient voice from behind the mule. +"Do ye think I can hang onto this 'ere blessed tail all day? A mule's no +feather-weight, let me tell yer." + +Then Derrick realized that another man held the mule by the tail, and +was exerting all his strength to prevent him from going down too fast. +Accepting the situation, he started ahead, encouraging the mule to +follow; but this arrangement did not seem to suit the animal, for he +refused to budge a step from where he stood, nor could the man in the +rear push him along. + +"Here, you!" the man called out to Derrick, "come back here and steer +him while I take his head. When he gets started, hang on to his tail +with all your might, and hold back all yer can." + +So they changed places, and the mule was so greatly pleased at having +got his own way that he began to plunge down the stairs with great +rapidity. Derrick felt almost as though he were being rushed through +space on the tail of a comet, and shuddered to think of the broken limbs +and general destruction that must inevitably follow such reckless +travelling. The mule, however, seemed to know what he was about as well +as the man who led him, and took such good care of himself that Derrick +soon plucked up courage, and even began to enjoy the situation. + +As he was thinking that they must be somewhere near the centre of the +earth, the mule gave an unusually violent plunge forward, and then +stopped so suddenly that poor Derrick found himself sprawling on the +animal's back, with both arms clasped tightly about his neck. With this +the mule began to caper and shake himself so violently that the boy was +forced to loose his hold and fall to the ground, amid roars of laughter +from a score of miners who witnessed the scene. + +Greatly confused, Derrick scrambled to his feet, gave a reproachful +glance at the mule, which was calmly gazing at him with a wondering look +in his wide-open eyes, and turned to see in what sort of a place he had +been so unceremoniously landed. At the same moment Mr. Jones, dressed in +miner's costume, and looking as grimy as any of the others, stepped from +the laughing group and said, + +"My boy, I congratulate you on being the first person who ever rode into +this mine on mule-back, I am glad you found the travelling-road so good. +Came on your own mule too. How did you know this was the bumping-mule +you were to drive?" + +"I didn't know what sort of a mule he was until just as we got here and +he bumped me off his back," replied Derrick; "and I begin to think that +he knows more about driving than I do." + +"Well, you have made a notable beginning," said the mine boss, "and I am +sure you two will get along capitally together. Harry Mule, this is +Derrick Sterling, who is to be your new driver, and I want you to behave +yourself with him." Then to Derrick he said, "Harry has the reputation +of being the most knowing, and at the same time the most perverse, mule +in the mine. I believe though he only shows bad temper to those who +abuse him, and I have selected you to be his driver because I know you +will treat him kindly, and give him a chance to recover his lost +reputation. If he does not behave himself with you, I shall put him in +the tread-mill. Now stand there out of the way for a few minutes, and +then I will show you where you are to work." + +Derrick did as he was directed, and quickly found himself intensely +interested in the strange and busy scene before him. The travelling-road +entered the mine in a large chamber close beside the foot of the slope +that led upward to the new breaker. From this chamber branched several +galleries, or "gangways," in which were laid railway-tracks. Over these, +trains of loaded and empty coal-cars drawn by mules were constantly +coming and going. By the side of the track in each gangway was a ditch +containing a stream of ink-black water, flowing towards a central well +in one corner of the chamber, from which it was pumped to the surface. +Opposite to where he stood, Derrick saw the black, yawning mouth of +another slope, which, as he afterwards learned, led down into still +lower depths of the mine. The men around him were handling long bars of +railroad iron, which they were loading with a great racket on cars, and +despatching to distant gangways in which new tracks were needed. Two +large reflector lamps in addition to the miners' lamps made the chamber +quite bright, and with all its noise and bustle it seemed to Derrick the +most interesting place he had ever been in. He was sorry when the mine +boss called and told him to bring along his mule and follow him. + +They entered one of the gangways, leading from the central chamber, +which the mine boss said was known as Gangway No. 1. He also told +Derrick something about his mule, and said that by its last driver, Bill +Tooley, the poor animal had been so cruelly abused that he had sent it +to the surface for a few days to recover from the effects. + +"I guess he has recovered," said Derrick, "judging from the way he +brought me into the mine." + +They had not gone very far before they came to a closed door on one side +of the gangway beyond which the mule absolutely refused to go, in spite +of all Derrick's coaxings and commands. + +"It is the door of his stable," said the mine boss, who stood quietly +looking on, without offering any assistance or advice, waiting to see +what the boy would do. + +Tying the end of the halter to one of the rails of the track on which +they were walking, Derrick started into the stable, where he quickly +found what he wanted. Coming out with a handful of oats, he let the mule +have a little taste of them; and then, loosening the halter, tried to +tempt him forward with them. This plan failed, for Harry declined to +yield to temptation, and remained immovable. Then Derrick turned a +questioning glance upon the mine boss, who said, + +"Never again hitch an animal to a track along which cars are liable to +come at any moment. Now, why don't you beat the mule?" + +"Oh no, sir!" exclaimed Derrick, in distress. "I don't want to do that." + +"Neither do I want you to," laughed the other. "I only asked why you +didn't?" + +"Because," said Derrick, "I want him to become fond of me, and my mother +says the most stubborn animals can be conquered by kindness, while +beatings only make them worse." + +"Which is as true as gospel," said the mine boss. "Well, the only other +thing I can suggest is for you to go into the stable, get the harness +that hangs on the peg nearest the door, and put it on him." + +Acting upon this hint, Derrick had hardly finished buckling the last +strap of the harness when the mule began to move steadily forward of his +own accord. + +"That's his way," said the mine boss. "In harness he knows that he is +expected to work, but without it he thinks he may do as he pleases." + +Presently the mule stumbled slightly, and again he stopped and refused +to go ahead. + +"Do you know what is the matter now, sir?" asked Derrick. + +"I think perhaps he wants his lamp lighted," replied the mine boss. + +A miner's lamp, attached to a broad piece of leather, hung down in front +of the mule from his collar. + +The boy lighted this lamp, and immediately the mule began to move on, +showing that this was exactly what he had wanted. + +"Seems to me he knows almost as much as folks," cried Derrick, highly +delighted at this new proof of his mule's intelligence. + +"Quite as much as most folks, and more than some," answered his +companion, dryly. + +During their long walk they passed through several doors which, as +Derrick was told, served to regulate the currents of air constantly +flowing in and out of the mine, and kept in motion by the great fan at +its mouth. Whenever they approached one of these the mine boss called, +loudly, "Door," and it was immediately opened by a boy who sat behind it +and closed it again as soon as they had passed. Each of these boys had +besides his little flaring lamp, such as everybody in the mine carried, +a can of oil for refilling it, a lunch-pail and a tin water-bottle, and +each of them spent from eight to ten hours at his post without leaving +it. + +Finally Derrick and the mine boss came to a junction of several +galleries, a sort of mine cross-roads, and the former was told that this +was to be his headquarters, for here was where the trains were made up, +and from here the empty cars were distributed. At the farther end of +each of the headings leading from this junction two or more miners were +at work drilling, blasting, and picking tons of coal from between its +enclosing walls of slate. They were all doing their best to fill the +cars which it was Derrick's business to haul to the junction and replace +with empty ones. There were also a number of miners at work in breasts, +or openings at the sides of the gangways that followed the slant of the +coal vein, who expected to be supplied with empty cars and have their +loaded ones taken away by Derrick. These breast miners filled their cars +very quickly, as the moment they loosened the coal it slid down the +slaty incline, above which it had been bedded, to a wooden chute on the +edge of the gangway that discharged it directly into them. + +As Derrick was told of all this, he realized that he and Harry Mule +would have to get around pretty fast to attend to these duties, and +supply empty cars as they were needed. + +What interested him most in this part of the mine was an alcove hewn +from solid rock near the junction, in which was a complete smithy. It +had forge, anvil, and bellows, and was presided over by a blacksmith +named Job Taskar, as ugly a looking fellow, Derrick thought, as he had +ever seen. Here the mules were shod, tools were sharpened, and broken +iron-work was repaired. It was a busy place, and its glowing forge, +together with the showers of sparks with which Job Taskar's lusty blows +almost constantly surrounded the anvil, made it appear particularly +cheerful and bright amid the all-pervading darkness. Nearly every man +and boy in that section of the mine was obliged to visit the smithy at +least once during working hours. Thus it became a great news centre, and +offered temptations to many of its visitors to linger long after their +business was finished. + +After pointing out to Derrick the several places at which his services +would be required, the mine boss left him, and the boy found himself +fully launched on his new career. + +He soon discovered that Harry Mule knew much more of the business than +he did, and by allowing him to have his own way, and go where he thought +best, Derrick got along with very few mistakes. Among the miners upon +whom he had to attend he found brawny Tom Evert, stripped to the waist, +lying on his side, and working above his head, but bringing down the +coal in glistening showers with each sturdy blow of his pick. When he +saw Derrick he paused in his work long enough to exchange a cheery +greeting with him and to dash the perspiration from his eyes with the +back of his grimy hand; then at it he went again with redoubled energy. + +At the end of one of the headings Derrick found another acquaintance in +the person of Monk Tooley. He scowled when he saw the new driver, and +growled out that he'd better look sharp and see to it he was never kept +waiting for cars, or it would be the worse for him. + +Twice Derrick started to leave this place, and each time the miner +called him back on some trivial pretext. The boy could not see, nor did +he suspect, what the man was doing, but as he turned away for the third +time, Monk Tooley sprang past him with a shout, and ran down the +heading. Derrick did not hear what he said, but turning to look behind +him, he saw a flash of fire, and had barely time to throw himself face +downward, behind his car, when he was stunned by a tremendous explosion. +Directly afterwards he was nearly buried beneath an avalanche of rock +and coal. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ATTACKED BY ENEMIES, AND LOST IN THE MINE + + +Although Derrick was terribly frightened by the explosion, and +considerably bruised by the shower of rocks and coal that followed it, +the car had so protected him that he was not seriously hurt. Had his +mule started forward the heavily loaded car must have run over and +killed him. Fortunately Harry was too experienced a miner to allow such +a trifling thing as a blast to disturb his equanimity, especially as the +two false starts already made had placed him at some little distance +from it. To be sure, he had shaken his head at the flying bits of coal, +and had even kicked out viciously at one large piece that fell near his +heels. The iron-shod hoof had shattered the big lump, and sent its +fragments flying over Derrick, but in the darkness and confusion the boy +thought it was only part of the explosion, and was thankful that matters +were no worse. + +As Derrick cleared himself from the mass of rubbish that had fallen on +him, and staggered to his feet, he was nearly suffocated by the dense +clouds of powder-smoke from the blast. He was also in utter darkness, +both his lamp and that of Harry Mule having been blown out. In his +inexperience he had not thought to provide matches before entering the +mine, and now he found himself in a darkness more dense than any he had +ever dreamed of, without any means of procuring a light. His heart grew +heavy within him as he realized his situation, for he had no idea +whether the miner who had played so cruel and dangerous a trick upon him +would return or not. + +An impatient movement on the part of Harry Mule suggested a plan to him. +Casting off the chain by which the mule was attached to the car, and +holding the end in his hand, he said, "Go on, Harry, and take me out of +this place." At this command the intelligent animal started off towards +the junction as unhesitatingly as though surrounded by brightest +daylight, and Derrick followed. + +They had not gone far before they met Monk Tooley, leisurely returning +to the scene of his labors. + +"Hello! Mr. Mule-driver," he shouted, "what are you a-doing here in de +dark, an' how do yer like mining far as ye've got? Been studying de +effect of blarsts, and a-testing of 'em by pussunal experience?" + +Derrick felt a great lump rising in his throat, and bitter thoughts and +words crowded each other closely in his mind. He knew, however, that the +man before him was as greatly his superior in wordy strife as in bodily +strength, so he simply said, + +"The next time you try to kill me you'd better take some surer means of +doing it." + +"Kill you! Who says I wanted to kill you?" demanded the miner, fiercely, +as he stopped and glared at the boy. "Didn't I holler to ye to run? +Didn't I give yer fair warnin' that I was shootin' a blarst? Didn't I? +Course I did and yer didn't pay no 'tention to it. Oh no, sonny! 'twon't +do. Ye mustn't talk 'bout killin' down in dese workin's, cause 'twon't +be 'lowed. Come back now, an' git my wagon. Here's a light for yer, but +don't let me hear no more talk 'bout killin', or ye may have a chance to +wish yer was dead long before yer really is." + +Derrick made no reply to this, but turning Harry Mule about, they went +back after the car. He was convinced that this man was his bitter and +unscrupulous enemy, and made up his mind that he must be constantly on +his guard against him. He did not tell anybody of this startling +incident of his first day's experience in the mine for a long time +afterwards; as, upon thinking it over, he realized that the peril, which +he had so happily escaped might readily be charged to his own +carelessness. + +At lunch time he let Harry Mule make his own way back to the mine stable +for oats and water. He had been told by the mine boss that the knowing +animal would not only do this, but would afterwards return to his place +of duty when started towards it by one of the stable-boys. While the +mule was gone, his young driver went into the blacksmith's shop to eat +his own lunch in company with Job Taskar, who had invited him to do so. +Job questioned Derrick closely as to his acquaintance among the men and +boys of the colliery, and asked particularly in regard to his likings or +dislikings of the several overseers. + +"I hear thee's a great friend o' t' mine boss," said Job. + +"Not at all," answered Derrick. "Mr. Jones was a friend of my father's, +but I hardly know him." + +"All says thee's boss's favorite." + +"I'm sure I don't know why they should. Of course it was good of him to +give me a job; but he had to get somebody to drive the mule. It doesn't +seem to me that I've got any easier place than anybody else." + +Here Derrick put one hand up to his badly aching head, which had been +bruised by a flying chunk from Monk Tooley's blast. + +Noting the movement, Job asked what was the matter, for although he had +heard about the blast from Monk Tooley, he wanted to learn what the boy +thought of it. + +"I got hit by a falling chunk," replied Derrick, guardedly. + +"Humph!" growled Job; "better keep clear o' they chunks. One on 'em +might hit ye once too often some time." + +Job held no more conversation with the boy, but lighted his pipe, and +sat at one side of the forge, scowling and smoking. Derrick also kept +silence, as he sat on the opposite side of the forge, rubbing his aching +head with a grimy hand. + +While they sat thus, several miners dropped in for a smoke and a chat. +They all looked curiously at Derrick, but none of them spoke to him. +Thus neglected, he felt very unhappy and uncomfortable, and was glad +when the jingling of Harry Mule's harness outside gave notice that it +was again time to go to work. + +The rest of the day passed uneventfully and monotonously, for, with the +exception of burly Tom Evert, who gave the lad a cheery word whenever he +passed him, nobody spoke to him. Even Harry Mule seemed to realize that +his young driver was not having a very pleasant time, and rubbed his +nose sympathetically against his shoulder, as much as to say, "I'm sorry +for you, and I'll stand by you even if nobody else does." + +At last, in some mysterious way, everybody seemed to know all at once, +that it was time to quit work, and Harry Mule knew it as quickly as +anybody. Before Derrick noticed that the miners had stopped work, this +remarkable animal, having just been unhitched from a car, threw up his +head, uttered a prolonged and ear-rasping bray, and started off on a +brisk trot, with a tremendous clatter and jingling of chains, towards +his stable. + +The door-boys heard him coming, opened their doors to let him pass, +closed them after him, and started on a run for the foot of the slope. + +Of course Derrick followed his charge as fast as possible, calling, as +he ran, "Whoa, Harry! Whoa! Stop that mule, he's running away!" Neither +Harry nor anybody else paid the slightest attention to him, and when he +finally reached the stable he found his mule already there, exchanging +squeals and kicks with several other bumping-mules that had come in from +other parts of the mine. + +Then he knew that it was really quitting-time, and went to work, as +quickly as his inexperience would allow, to rub Harry down, water and +feed him, and make him comfortable for the night. Everybody else who had +stable-work to do finished it before he, and when at last he felt at +liberty to leave the mine and start towards the upper world and the +fresh air he longed so ardently to breathe again, he was alone. + +Derrick found his way without difficulty to the large chamber at the +foot of the slope. There, as he did not see any cars ready to go up, he +turned towards the travelling-road, with the intention of climbing the +steep stairway he had descended that morning. + +Suddenly there arose cries of "There he is! There he is! Head him off!" + +Before the startled lad knew what was about to happen, he was surrounded +by a score of sooty-faced boys. Cutting him off from the +travelling-road, these boys pushed him, in spite of his opposition and +protests, into a far corner of the chamber, where, with his back against +the wall, he made a stand and demanded what they wanted of him. + +"A treat! a treat!" shouted several. + +Then room was made for one who seemed to exercise authority over them, +and who, as he stepped forward, Derrick recognized with surprise as Bill +Tooley, ex-mule driver, and now breaker boy. + +"What are you down here for, and what does all this mean, Bill?" asked +Derrick, as calmly as he could. + +"It means," answered Bill, putting his disagreeable face very close to +Derrick's, "dat yer've got ter pay fer comin' down inter de mine, an' +fer takin' my mule, when I told yer not ter; dat's what it means. An' it +means dat we're goin' ter initerate yer inter de order of 'Young +Sleepers,' what every boy in de mine has got ter belong ter." + +Derrick had heard of this order of "Young Sleepers," and knew it to be +composed of the very worst young rascals in the coal region. He knew +that they were up to all kinds of wickedness, and that most of the petty +crimes of the community were charged to them. In an instant he made up +his mind that he would rather suffer almost anything than become a +member of such a gang. + +While these thoughts were passing through his mind the cry of "A treat! +a treat!" was again raised, and Bill Tooley again addressed Derrick, +saying, + +"Ter pay yer way inter de mine, de fellers says yer must set up a kag er +beer. Ter pay fer drivin' my mule, I say yer got ter take a lickin', an' +after that we'll initerate yer." + +Now, both Derrick's father and mother had taught him to abhor liquor in +every form; so to the boy's first proposition he promptly answered, + +"I haven't got any money, and couldn't afford to buy a keg of beer, even +if I wanted to. I don't want to, because I'm a blue ribbon, and wouldn't +buy even a glass of beer if I had all the money in the world. I won't +join your society either, and I don't see how you can initiate me when I +don't choose to become a member. As for a licking, it'll take more than +you to give it to me, Bill Tooley!" + +With these bold words the young mule-driver made a spring at his chief +tormenter, in a desperate effort to break through the surrounding group +of boys. In the distance he saw the twinkling lights of some miners, and +thought if he could only reach them they would afford him protection. + +Derrick's defiant speech for an instant paralyzed his hearers with its +very boldness; but as he sprang at Bill Tooley they also made a rush at +him with howls of anger. He succeeded in hitting their leader one +staggering blow, but was quickly overpowered by numbers and flung to the +ground, where the young savages beat and kicked him so cruelly that he +thought they were about to kill him. + +He tried to scream for help, but could not utter a sound, and the miners +who passed on their way to the slope thought the fracas was only a +quarrel among some of the boys and paid no attention to it. + +At length Bill Tooley ordered the boys to cease from pummelling their +victim, and stooping over him, tied a dirty cloth over his eyes; then he +gave a whispered order, and several of the boys, lifting the helpless +lad by his head and feet, bore him away. + +After carrying him what seemed to Derrick an interminable distance, and +passing through a number of doors, as he could tell by hearing them +loudly opened and closed, his bearers suddenly dropped him on the hard +ground. Then Bill Tooley's voice said, + +"Yer'll lie dere now till yer make up yer mind ter jine de Young +Sleepers. Den yer can come an' let me know, an' I'll attend ter yer +initeration. Till then yer'll stay where yer are, if it's a thousand +years; fer no one'll come a-nigh yer an' yer can't find de way out." + +While Bill was thus talking the other boys quietly slipped away. As he +finished he also moved off, so softly that Derrick did not hear the +sound of his retreating footsteps. It was not until some minutes had +passed that he realized that he had been left, and was alone. + +Meantime those who had thus abandoned their victim to the horrors of +black solitude, in what to him was an unknown part of the mine, were +gathered together at no great distance from him. There they waited to +gloat over the cries that they hoped he would utter as soon as he +realized that he was abandoned. In this they were disappointed, for +though they lingered half an hour not a sound did they hear; then two of +the boldest among them decided to take a look at their prisoner. +Shielding the single lamp that lighted their steps so that its rays +should not be seen at any great distance, they crept cautiously to where +they had left him. + +He was gone! + +This had not been expected, and with an ill-defined feeling of dread +they hurried back to the others and made their report. + +"Oh, well, let him go!" exclaimed Bill Tooley, brutally. "'Twon't hurt +him to spend a while in de gangway. Let's go up to supper, and +afterwards come down an' hunt him." + +As none of them dared to object to any proposal made by the bully, the +whole gang of begrimed and evil-minded young savages hurried to the foot +of the slope. Here they tumbled into a car, and in a few minutes were +drawn up to the surface, where they scattered towards their respective +homes and waiting suppers. + +Paul Evert, who ever since work had ceased in the breaker, more than an +hour before, had lingered near the mouth of the slope, waiting for the +appearance of his friend, ventured to ask one of them if he had seen +Derrick. + +"Don't know nothing about him," was the reply, as, greatly alarmed to +find the lad whom he had helped to persecute already made an object of +inquiry, the Young Sleeper hurried away. + +Bill Tooley had overheard Paul's question, and stepping up to him, he +said, "Look a-here, young feller, yer ain't got no call as I knows on to +be a meddling wid what goes on in de mine and don't concern you. I don't +mind tellin' yer, though, that yer butty's doin' overwork, and mebbe +won't come up all night. I heerd one of de bosses orderin' him to it." + +Although Paul thought this somewhat strange, he knew that the miners +frequently stayed down to do overwork, and was much relieved at such a +plausible explanation of his friend's non-appearance. On his way home he +stopped to tell Mrs. Sterling what he had heard. He found her very +anxious, and just about to go out and make inquiries concerning her boy. +The information that Paul brought relieved her mind somewhat, and +thanking him for it, she turned back into the house with a sigh, and +gave little Helen her supper, at the same time setting aside a liberal +portion for Derrick when he should come. + +Until nearly ten o'clock she waited, frequently going to the door to +look and listen; then she could bear the suspense no longer. Throwing a +shawl over her head, and bidding Helen remain where she was for a few +minutes, the anxious mother started to go to the house of the mine boss +to gain certain information of her boy. As she opened her own front +door, something that she saw caused her to utter a cry and stand +trembling on the threshold. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SECRET MEETING--A PLUNGE DOWN AN AIR-SHAFT + + +What Mrs. Sterling saw was her own son Derrick, who was just about to +enter the house. As the light from behind her shone full upon him, he +presented a sorry spectacle, and one well calculated to draw forth an +exclamation from an anxious mother. Hatless and coatless, his face +bruised, swollen, and so covered with blood and coal-dust that its +features were almost unrecognizable, he could not well have presented a +more striking contrast to the clean, cheerful lad whom she had sent down +into the mine with a kiss and a blessing that very morning. + +"Why, Derrick!" she exclaimed, the moment she made sure that it was +really he. "What has happened to you? has there been an accident? They +said you were kept down for overwork. Tell me the worst at once, dear! +Are you badly hurt?" + +"No, indeed, mother," answered the boy in as cheerful a tone as he could +command. "I am not much hurt, only bruised and banged a little by a +blast that I carelessly stayed too close to. A little hot water and soap +will put me all right again after I've had some supper; but, if you love +me, mother, give me something to eat quickly, for I'm most starved." + +By this time they were within the house, and as Mrs. Sterling hastened +to make ready the supper she had saved for Derrick, he dropped into a +chair utterly exhausted. He might well be exhausted, for what he had +passed through and suffered since leaving home that morning could not +have been borne by a boy of weaker constitution or less strength of +will. He was greatly revived by two cups of strong tea and the food set +before him. After satisfying his hunger he went to his own room, and +took a bath in water as hot as he could bear it, and washed his cuts and +bruises with white castile-soap, a piece of which Mrs. Sterling always +managed to keep on hand for such emergencies. It was fortunate for her +peace of mind that the fond mother did not see the cruel bruises that +covered her boy's body from head to foot. + +The bath refreshed him so much, and so loosened the joints that were +beginning to feel very stiff and painful, that Derrick believed he was +able, before going to bed, to perform the one duty still remaining to be +done. Mrs. Sterling thought he had gone to bed, and was greatly +surprised to see him come from his room fully dressed. When he told her +that he must go out again to deliver an important message to the mine +boss, she begged him to wait until morning, or at least to let her carry +it for him. Assuring her that it was absolutely necessary that he should +deliver the message himself that very night, and saying that he would be +back within an hour, Derrick kissed his mother and went out. + +On the street he met with but one person, a miner hurrying towards the +slope, to whom he did not speak, and who he thought did not recognize +him. + +Mr. Jones had closed his house for the night, and was about to retire, +when he was startled by a knock at the outer door. Recent events had +rendered him so suspicious and cautious that he stepped to his desk and +took from it a revolver, which he held in his hand as he stood near the +door, and without opening it, called out, + +"Who's there? and what do you want at this time of night?" + +As softly as he could, and yet make himself heard, Derrick answered, + +"It is I, sir, Derrick Sterling, and I have got something important to +tell you." + +At this answer a man who had stolen up behind Derrick, unperceived by +him in the darkness, slipped away with noiseless but hurried footsteps. + +"Is anybody with you?" demanded the mine boss, without opening the door. + +"No, sir; I am all alone." + +Then the door was cautiously opened, Derrick was bidden to step inside +quickly, and it was immediately closed again and bolted. Leading the way +into the library, the mine boss said, not unkindly, but somewhat +impatiently, + +"Well, Sterling, what brings you here at this time of night? working +boys should be in bed and asleep before this." + +While Derrick is explaining to the mine boss why he is not abed and +asleep, and giving his reasons for disturbing him at that late hour, we +will return to the mine, and see for ourselves what befell him there, +after the events narrated in the last chapter. + +The Young Sleepers had left him blindfolded, alone, and in total +darkness, lying on the floor of an unfamiliar gangway. The boy's first +impulse, when he realized that his persecutors had departed and left him +alone, was to tear the bandage from his eyes and fling it far from him. +Of course this did not enable him to see anything, but he felt more free +now that the cloth was removed, and was thankful they had not bound his +wrists so that he could not have reached it. + +His next impulse was to shout for help, but an instant's reflection +decided him not to do so. It was not at all probable that anybody except +his tormentors would hear him, and they would only rejoice at this +evidence of his distress. He knew that all his shoutings would not bring +them to him until they were ready to come, and he felt that he had too +little strength left to waste it thus uselessly. + +He could not bear to remain where he was without at least making an +attempt to help himself; so he rose to his feet, and feeling his way +very cautiously, began to walk along the gangway. Although he did not +know it, he involuntarily turned in the opposite direction from the +place where Bill Tooley and his companions were waiting and listening to +hear from him. + +For some time Derrick expected to reach a door, behind which he should +find a boy, or to meet a train of mule-cars, or a miner who would lead +him to the foot of the slope. At length, however, when he had walked a +long distance, and yet found none of these, his courage began to leave +him and a wild terror to take its place. + +Suddenly, like a flash, it occurred to him that he had not struck any +rails in walking, nor felt any indications of a car-track. Filled with a +new dread, he stooped down, and with trembling hands felt every inch of +the wet floor from one side of the gangway to the other. There was no +sign of a track, and he knew, what he had already suspected, that it had +been torn up, and that he was in an abandoned gangway, which another +human being might not enter for years. + +This revelation of the full horror of his situation was too much for the +overstrained nerves of the poor lad. He uttered a loud cry, which was +echoed and re-echoed with startling distinctness through the silent, +rock-walled gallery, flung himself on the wet floor, and burst into +bitter sobbings. + +How long he lay there, in a sort of semi-stupor after this first +outburst of his despair, he had no means of knowing, but he was finally +roused into an attitude of eager attention by what sounded like a +distant murmur of voices. He sat up, and then sprang to his feet, +rubbing his eyes and staring in a bewildered manner into the darkness of +the gangway ahead of him. Did he see a light only a few paces before +him? It seemed so. Yet he was not sure, for it was not a direct ray, as +from a lamp, but a sort of dim, flickering radiance that appeared to +rise from the very floor almost at his feet. + +For several minutes Derrick stared at it incredulously, unable to fathom +the mystery of its appearance. Was it a light produced by human agency, +or was it one of those weird illuminations that sometimes arise from the +dampness and foul air of old mines? He stepped towards it to satisfy +himself of its true character, and as he did so was confronted by a +danger so terrible that, although he had escaped it, his heart almost +stopped beating as he realized its full extent. + +By the vague light proceeding from it he saw a pit-hole occupying the +entire width of the gangway, and apparently of great depth. Around its +edge had been built a barrier of logs breast-high. Through age these had +so decayed and fallen that, had Derrick continued a few steps further on +his way, instead of stopping to indulge his grief, he must have walked +into the pit and fallen to the bottom. + +The sound of voices that he had heard came up through this opening, and +he was just about to call for help, to whoever was down there, when his +attention was arrested by one voice louder and harsher than the others. +It sounded like that of Job Taskar, the blacksmith, and it said, as +though in settlement of some dispute, + +"I don't care a rap who does it, or how it is done, Jones must be put +out of the way somehow or other." + +Another voice, which was hardly audible, asked, "What about the kid?" + +To this came answer in a voice which there was no mistaking for other +than Monk Tooley's, + +"De Young Sleepers is lookin' arter him. Dey're givin' him a big scare. +Blinded him, and toted him back and for'ard, going in and out t'old +gangway door between whiles to make him think he was a long ways off. +Den dey left him just inside t'old gangway, nigh de slope. He thinks +he's at de far end of nowhere by dis time. Dey'll soon drive him from de +mine." + +"If they don't, others will," said Job Taskar's voice. "We don't want no +boss's pets spying round this mine. Now, lads, we'll get out of this. +Remember, next regular meeting's on the 27th. We'll fix then how all's +to be done." + +There was a confused murmuring after this, but Derrick could make +nothing out of it, and in a few minutes a strong draught of air sucked +down the hole over which he hung, and the dim light disappeared. As it +did so, the poor lad gave one wild cry for help. It only reached the +ears of the last of those below as he was leaving the chamber in which +they had held their meeting. To him it sounded so awful and supernatural +that he was greatly frightened, and hurried on after the others, leaving +the door open behind him, whereby the strong draught down the air-shaft +was continued. + +For a few minutes Derrick thought he was indeed lost, and gave himself +up to despair. Then he gradually recalled the words of Monk Tooley that +referred to himself, and received a gleam of hope from them. If indeed +he had been left just inside the door of an old gangway, near the foot +of the slope, might he not find his way back to it and escape? He +shuddered as he thought of the long walk through the awful darkness, but +he was no better off where he was. So, with much thinking and +hesitation, he finally started back on the road he had come, carefully +feeling his way and making but slow progress. + +He thought he should never reach the end; but at last he came to a door, +beyond which he heard the sound of human voices, and through the +crevices of which air was rushing outward. Cautiously he pulled it open, +fearing lest some of his late persecutors might be waiting to seize him. +The way was clear, and though he saw several lights in the distance, +none was near him. Gently closing the door, he darted towards the +travelling-road down which he had come that morning, and entered it +without having been observed. + +The climb up the gigantic stairway was a tedious one for the weary lad, +and called for such frequent rests that it occupied him nearly an hour. +When he finally reached the top he had barely strength enough left to +drag himself home. + +This was the story that Derrick Sterling told the assistant +superintendent in the library of the latter's house that night. + +Mr. Jones listened to it with the gravest and most earnest attention, +only interrupting now and then to ask a question concerning some point +that was not made quite clear, or to give utterance to an expression of +sympathy as Derrick related some of his sufferings. + +The brave lad had not intended to say anything regarding his treatment +by the Young Sleepers, but was obliged to do so in answer to questions +as to how he happened to be left in the old gangway. + +When he had finished, the mine boss grasped him warmly by the hand, and +said, + +"My boy, by this timely information, so miraculously obtained, you have +doubtless given me a chance for my life which I should not otherwise +have had. Your adventures have been most thrilling, and your deliverance +wonderful. Now go home and to bed; you must not think of going to work +again until I give you permission to do so." + +Once more Derrick found his mother anxiously awaiting his return. He +told her that the mine boss had been very kind to him, and that as he +was not going to work the next day she need not waken him in the +morning. Then he threw himself, all dressed as he was, upon his bed, and +while trying to relate to her some of the events of his first day in the +mine, fell into a profound sleep. + +Meantime other events, equally thrilling with those just related, were +taking place in the mine. + +Bill Tooley's brutal disposition was mainly the result of his home +training and influences, for he could not remember having had a single +gentle or kind word spoken to him in all his stormy life. In spite of it +he was troubled with some prickings of conscience, and a sort of pity +that evening, as he reflected upon the unhappy condition of the lad whom +he had left to wander alone amid the awful blackness of the abandoned +gangway. He had not intended to do anything so cruel as this when he +first left Derrick where he did. He thought the boy would certainly cry +out for help, and after allowing him to suffer thus for a short time he +meant to go to him and offer to release him upon condition of his +joining the Young Sleepers. This plan had been upset by Derrick's +disappearance, and then it was more to assert his authority over his +companions than with the idea of inflicting further cruelty upon their +victim that he had ordered him to be left for a while. Now he began to +feel anxious concerning the fate of the lad, and eager to effect his +release. + +Feeling thus, as soon as he had finished an uncomfortable supper in his +wretched home, filled with quarrelling children, and ruled by a +slatternly, shrill-voiced mother, he hurried out to try and induce some +of his companions to accompany him down into the mine in a search for +Derrick. He had some difficulty in doing this, for the other boys were +badly frightened by what had taken place, and dreaded to return into the +mine. It was more than an hour after he started out before he had +persuaded four of the boldest among them to join him in the proposed +search. + +As this little party gathered at the mouth of the slope, and prepared to +descend in a car that was about to start down with some timbers for +props, a timid voice said, + +"Can't I go too, Bill? Please let me! I know you are going to look for +Derrick. Please, Bill!" + +It was Paul Evert, who, with an undefined feeling of dread and fear for +the safety of his friend, had hung on the outskirts of various groups of +boys in the village street until from their conversations he had learned +the whole story. With senses sharpened by anxiety and love, he had +discovered that Bill Tooley and his companions were going in search of +the missing lad. Now, with his father's mine cap bearing its tiny lamp +on his head, he begged to be allowed to go with them. + +Bill hesitated for a moment, and then, for fear lest if he refused Paul +would spread the story of what he had discovered, or perhaps, moved by +some better feeling, he said, "Yes, pile in if yer want to, dough I +don't see what good you can do." + +Overjoyed to receive this permission, Paul hastily scrambled into the +car just as it began to move, and in a few minutes was landed with the +rest at the foot of the slope. + +Some time before this Derrick had emerged from the old gangway, and +turned into the travelling-road, up which he was now laboriously making +his way. + +There did not happen to be an overseer at the bottom of the slope just +then, and to the one or two men who observed them the presence of boys +in the mine at all hours of the day and night was too common to attract +comment; so the little party had no difficulty in entering the old +gangway without being noticed or questioned. + +For some reason which he could not explain Paul had brought with him a +new clothes-line, which he now carried, coiled and hung about his neck. +Bill Tooley took the lead, and Paul, with the aid of his crutch, hobbled +along close after him, while the others walked fearfully in a bunch at +some little distance behind. + +They had not gone far when Bill stopped and picked up a piece of cloth +from the ground. + +"Here's what was over his eyes," he said, "an' as it's a bit furder dan +where we left 'im, it shows he's gone furder in." + +The boys gazed at the cloth in awe-struck silence, as though it were +something to be dreaded; and, when Bill called out, "Come on, fellers, +yer won't never find nothing a-standin' dere like a lot o' balky mules," +they followed him even more reluctantly than before. + +Lighted by their lamps, they made far more rapid progress than poor +Derrick had in the darkness, and soon approached the place where he had +discovered the dim, reflected light above the mouth of the old +air-shaft. Just here the oil in their leader's lamp began to give out, +and its flame to burn with a waning and uncertain light. + +All at once a strong draught of air extinguished it entirely. He took a +step forward in the darkness towards a log which he had barely seen, and +thought might be Derrick Sterling lying down. Then came a terrible cry, +and Paul's light showed nothing in front of him save the yawning mouth +of the shaft down which Bill Tooley had pitched headlong! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A CRIPPLE'S BRAVE DEED + + +As Bill Tooley thus met the fate Derrick had so narrowly escaped, and +the Young Sleepers who followed him were left without a leader, they +were thrown into a sad state of confusion. Two of them started to run +back, another threw himself on the floor and burst into loud +lamentations, while the fourth stood motionless and silent from fear. Of +them all, only Paul Evert, the crippled lad, retained his presence of +mind. + +As upon all such occasions he who retains full command of his faculties +and remains calm at once assumes the position of a leader, so it was +now. + +In a voice that sounded loud and stern as compared with his ordinary +gentle tone, Paul commanded the runaways to stop and return at once. +They hesitated a moment and then obeyed him. He ordered the boy who lay +upon the floor to cease his outcries and get up. Then the little fellow +approached as close to the air-shaft as he dared, and lying down, with +his head beyond its edge, he listened. In a moment he was rewarded for +his pains, for he heard a faint moan. There came another more +distinctly, and he knew that wherever Bill Tooley was he was still +alive, and might possibly be saved. + +Taking the lamp from his cap, and the coil of line from about his neck, +where it seemed to have been placed for this very emergency, he tied the +one to an end of the other and gently lowered it into the shaft. Before +doing this he ordered two of the boys to hold him tightly by the legs, +and thus prevent him from slipping over the edge. Quieted, and with some +of their courage restored by his coolness, they did as he directed, and +held him with so firm a grip that for many days afterwards his legs bore +black and blue imprints of their fingers. + +As the little lamp swung downward the draught of air caused it to flare +and flicker as though it were about to be extinguished, but it was +nearly full of oil, and the wick had just been pricked up, so it +continued to burn and throw an uncertain light upon the glistening +masses of coal that formed the sides of the shaft. It had not been +lowered more than ten feet when its feeble rays disclosed a dark object, +apparently suspended in mid-air, in the centre of the shaft. It was Bill +Tooley, and Paul saw that by some means his downward plunge had been +arrested, and that he was now clinging to an invisible support. + +Hastily pulling up the lamp, Paul replaced it on his cap, and doubling +his line, made one end of it fast to an old timber prop or support of +the gangway roof that stood a short distance from the shaft. Knotting +the loose end about his body, and bidding the boys place one of the old +logs close to the edge of the shaft and hold it there to prevent the +rope from being chafed or cut, the brave little hump-backed lad, who, +like most of those in his condition, was unusually strong in his arms, +swung himself into the dark hole. Down he slid into the blackness, +slowly and cautiously, until he came to the object of his search. It was +Bill Tooley's limp body hanging across a stout timber brace, which, +extending from side to side of the shaft and firmly bedded in its walls +at each end, had been left there by the miners who cut this air-channel. + +As Paul's withered leg was of no assistance to him in clinging to the +timber, he lashed himself securely to it before attempting to do +anything for the boy who had so recently been his enemy and tormentor, +and was now dependent upon his efforts for even a chance for life. Bill +was not unconscious, though so weak from pain and fright as to be nearly +helpless. Under the influence of Paul's cheering words, and after the +line had been securely fastened about his body, he was induced to let go +his desperate hold of the timber and grasp the rope. Then Paul called +out to the boys above to pull up very slowly and carefully, as the least +carelessness might result in dashing both Bill and him to the bottom of +the shaft. + +Bill Tooley was a heavy weight for the frightened boys at the top to +manage, and several times, even in the short distance of ten feet, his +upward progress was arrested, and Paul feared that they were about to +let him slip back. Obeying his instructions, two of the boys walked away +with the rope, instead of trying to pull up hand-over-hand, while the +other two held the log at the edge in place, and made ready to catch +hold of Bill's arm as soon as he should come within reach. + +Finally his head appeared above the surface, and he was dragged, +screaming with pain, over the edge, and laid groaning on the floor of +the gangway. Then the rope was again lowered to the brave little fellow +who was clinging in perfect darkness--for his light had at length blown +out--to the timber brace in the shaft. He was drawn to the surface much +more quickly and easily than Bill Tooley had been; but when he found +himself once more in safety, a reaction from the nervous strain of the +past half-hour set in. Throwing himself down beside Bill, he began to +sob so violently as to greatly astonish the boys, who beheld but could +not comprehend this weakness in one whose strong will had but a minute +before so completely mastered theirs. + +In a few moments Paul recovered his composure sufficiently to ask two of +the boys to go to the chamber at the foot of the slope and procure +assistance to carry Bill Tooley, who was evidently unable to walk. After +a long delay these two returned, in company with several miners, who +brought a stretcher such as is often kept in coal mines in readiness for +the accidents that are so common to them. + +From what the messenger boys had told them, these men knew most of the +facts connected with the accident. They were so loud in their praise of +Paul for his brave deed that he became greatly confused, though it must +be confessed that praise from these great strong men, any one of whom +would be proud to have done what he had, sounded very pleasantly to the +crippled lad. In order to have a little time to think it all over, he +hobbled on ahead of the others, who moved but slowly with their burden. + +When he was thus alone with his thoughts, Paul suddenly remembered the +object for which he had entered the mine. It had been completely lost +sight of in the excitement of the past hour, but now he realized that +they had discovered nothing concerning Derrick's fate. He grew faint and +cold at the remembrance of the air-shaft. Did his dear friend's body lie +at the bottom of it? He trembled as he thought how very possibly this +might be the case, and waiting for the men to overtake him, he asked if +they knew anything of Derrick Sterling. + +"Yes," answered one of them, "I saw him come out of his mother's house +as I was passing on my way to the slope, more'n half an hour ago." + +"Are you sure?" asked Paul, in great surprise. + +"Certainly I am. Why not? was there anything strange in that?" + +"Yes, we thought he was lost in the mine, and have been hunting for +him." + +"Well, you were mistaken, that's all, and you've had your hunt for +nothing." + +Paul was made very happy by this news, though it greatly puzzled him. +The other boys were relieved to hear that Derrick was safe, but greatly +alarmed as to what fate was in store for them as a punishment for the +injuries they had inflicted upon him. Judging from what they would have +done under similar circumstances, they did not doubt that Derrick had +already spread the story of his wrongs through the village, together +with the names of all those who had persecuted him. + +At length the party reached the foot of the slope, and Bill Tooley, with +his head resting in Paul Evert's lap, and moaning with pain, was sent in +an empty car to the surface. The bully had made himself so unpopular by +his cruelty, and by his overbearing ways, that nobody except Paul felt +very sorry for him. When it was learned that he had received his +injuries in consequence of his persecution of Derrick Sterling, the +general verdict was that he was rightly served. + +The injured boy was carried to his home, whither Paul accompanied him; +but the latter was so frightened by the outcries of Mrs. Tooley when she +learned what had happened that he hurried away without entering the +house. On his way home he stopped at the Sterlings' to inquire if +Derrick were really safe, and was much comforted to learn that he had +just come in and gone to bed--"Where you should be yourself, Paul," said +Mrs. Sterling, kindly, as she bade him good-night. + +As the tired but light-hearted boy hobbled into his own home, his +father, who had sat up waiting for him, without knowing where he had +been, roughly ordered him to bed, saying it was no time of night for +lads like him to be prowling about the street. + +The sensitive little fellow went up-stairs without a word, all his +light-heartedness dispelled by this harsh reception, and the tears +starting to his eyes. His back ached so from his unwonted exertions that +even after he got to bed he tossed and tumbled feverishly for several +hours before falling into a troubled sleep. + +Tom Evert left his house earlier than usual the next morning, and went +to the mouth of the slope, where he found a number of his friends +assembled. They began to congratulate him, and continued to do so until +in great bewilderment he exclaimed, + +"What's it for, mates? Is it a joke?" + +"For thy son, man." + +"For my son? which of 'em?" + +"Thy crippled lad, Paul, of course. Is the man daft?" + +"No; but I think ye must be, to be running on in such a fashion about a +lad that's not only a wellnigh helpless cripple, but I'm afeared is +going bad ways. 'Twas nearer midnight nor sundown before he came in frae +t' street last night, and I sent him to bed wi' a flea in his ear." + +A perfect roar of laughter greeted this speech. + +"Wellnigh helpless, is he?" cried one. "Well, if he's helpless I'd like +to know what you'd name helpful?" + +"Going to the bad, is he?" + +"Out late o' nights! That's a good one." + +"An' yez sint him to bed wid a flea in his ear, an' him just afther +doin' the dade should mak' ye the proudest fayther in de place! Did iver +I moind de likes of that?" + +These and many similar expressions greeted the ear of the astonished +miner, and from them he began to comprehend that his son Paul had done +something wonderful, and had thereby become a famous character in the +village. At length, after much effort, for they would not believe but +that he knew the whole story, he learned of his boy's brave deed of the +night before. Instead of going down the slope the miner hurried home, +where he found Paul, looking very pale and languid, just sitting down to +his breakfast. + +Picking up the frail boy, and holding him in his strong arms as he used +to when he was a baby, the delighted father exclaimed, + +"Paul, lad, forgie me this time, and I'll never speak thee rough again. +Thee's made me, I think, the proudest man in the state this day. +Crippled and all, thee's proved thyself worth a score of straight lads, +and to thy fayther thee's worth all the lads in the world. Mither, our +Paul's done that any man in t' mine might be proud of, an' he's the talk +of the colliery." + +Thus was Paul more than repaid for all his suffering of the night +before, and as he hobbled to his work in the new breaker that morning he +was once more happy and light-hearted. + +The evening before, Job Taskar had called Monk Tooley from his house, +and as they walked away together he said, in a low but significant tone, + +"That Sterling lad's not down in the mine, Monk." + +"He must be dere, fer de Sleepers left him where he'd be safe, an' I +know he's not come up de slope since." + +"He's not there, I tell you; for I just now saw him going into Jones's +house, and heard him say he had something important to tell him." + +"If yer saw him and heerd him of course he must be up; but I don't see +how he did it. If he's told de boss anything it must be a blab on de +Sleepers, fer he can't know anything else." + +"Whatever it is, he's dangerous to have round, and we must look out for +him." + +"All right! just leave him to me. I'll have de Sleepers fix him. Dey'll +do anything my boy Bill tells 'em; he's got 'em under his thumb." + +"Look sharp about it, then." + +"Ay, ay, mate, I'll give Bill de word to-night soon as he comes in." + +Then the two separated, and Monk Tooley went home, thinking over a plan +by which the Young Sleepers, under his son Bill's direction, could +effectually drive Derrick Sterling from the mine. As he opened his own +door he called out in his loud, rough voice, + +"Bill come in yet?" + +Stepping into the front room, he stood still in amazement. The wife of a +neighbor was holding up a warning finger towards him, and saying, +"Sh--h!" + +His own wife and two other women were bending over a bed in one corner, +and the children, whom he had never before known to be quiet when awake, +were standing or sitting silently in various frightened attitudes about +the room. + +"Who is it?" he asked, hoarsely, with an attempt at a whisper. + +"It's Bill," answered one of the women. "He's badly hurted, falling down +a shaft in the mine, and is like to die. They say Paul the cripple saved +him." + +"Bill! my Bill! You're lying!" cried the miner, fiercely. "Bill came out +of de mine wid de day shift. I seen him." + +Rough and cruel as he was, the man had, hidden somewhere in his being, a +deep-seated affection for his son Bill. Although he had never been heard +to speak other than harshly to him, Bill was the pride and joy of his +hard life. A blow aimed at Bill struck him with redoubled force. His +hatred of Derrick Sterling arose from the fact that the lad had thrashed +his boy. Now to tell him that his boy Bill was so badly hurt that he was +likely to die was like wrenching from him all that he held worth living +for. + +The women made way for the rough miner as he strode to where his son lay +on a heap of soiled bedclothing, tossing and moaning, but unconscious, +and in a high fever. One look was enough, and then Monk Tooley left the +house, and set forth on a ten-mile walk through the night to fetch the +nearest doctor. + +By sunrise the doctor had come and gone again, having done what he +could. He said the boy would live if he were kept quiet and had careful +nursing, but that he was injured in such a way that he might be lame for +the rest of his life. + +When Monk Tooley went down into the mine that day--for he must now work +harder and more steadily than ever to support this added burden--he was +a silent, heart-broken man. + +It was nearly noon before Derrick Sterling awoke after his first day of +bitter experience in the mine. Though he was still sore and lame, hot +water and sleep, two of nature's most powerful remedies in cases of his +kind, had worked such wonders for him that he felt quite ready to enter +the mine again, and face whatever new trials it might have in store for +him. + +After dinner the mine boss came to see him, and was amazed to find him +looking so well and cheerful. + +"You seem to come up smiling after every knock down, Derrick," he said. +"I shouldn't wonder if you would even be ready to go down into the mine +again to-morrow." + +"Indeed I think I must, sir," said Derrick, earnestly. "I don't believe +any one else can get along with Harry Mule as well as I can." + +"Let me see. How many years have you been driving him?" asked Mr. Jones, +gravely. + +"Only one day, sir," replied Derrick laughing, "but I think he's very +fond of me, and I know I am of him." + +"All right; if you insist upon it, you shall go down again to-morrow to +your bumping-mule. Now I want to talk to you seriously." + +The conversation that followed was long and earnest, and it was ended by +Mr. Jones saying, just before he left, "I must manage somehow or other +to be there on the 27th, and I want you to go with me, for I don't know +anybody else whom I dare trust. It only remains for us to discover a +way." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +DERRICK STERLING'S SPLENDID REVENGE + + +The new breaker, in which Paul Evert now worked as a slate-picker, was +in general appearance very much like the old one, but its interior +arrangement was different, and of such a nature as to make life much +easier for those who worked in it. The greatest improvement was the +introduction of a set of machines called "jigs." The coal from the mine, +after being drawn to the very top of the breaker, first passed between +great spiked rollers, or "crushers;" then through a series of "screens," +provided with holes of different sizes, that separated it into several +grades of egg, stove, nut, pea, buckwheat, etc. From the screens it was +led into the jigs. These are perforated iron cylinders set in tubs of +water, and fitted with movable iron bottoms placed at a slight angle. A +small steam-engine attached to each machine raises and lowers or "jigs" +this iron bottom a few inches each way very rapidly. The contents of the +cylinders are thus constantly shaken in water, and as the slate is +heavier than the coal, most of it settles to the bottom, and is carried +off through a waste chute. The wet coal runs out through other chutes +placed a little higher than that for slate, and extending down through +the length of the breaker to the storage bins at its bottom. Along these +chutes in the new breaker, as in the old one, sat rows of boys picking +out the bits of slate that had escaped the jigs, and among them was Paul +Evert. + +When Derrick Sterling entered the new breaker on the afternoon of the +day following that which had brought such memorable adventures, he was +surprised at the comparative absence of coal-dust. It still rose in +clouds from the crushers and screens, but there was none above the +chutes. He understood the theory of jigs, but had never seen them at +work, and now he was so greatly interested in watching them as almost to +forget the errand on which he had come. It was only when Mr. Guffy spoke +to him that he thought of it, and handed the breaker boss the note he +had come to give him. + +"All right," said the boss reading it. "I'm sorry to lose him, for he is +a quiet, steady lad, and, could in time be made very useful as a picker. +I doubt, though, if his back would hold out long at the work. Yes, you +may take him along now if you want to." + +Stepping over to where his friend sat, Derrick said, "Come, Paul, you're +not to work any more to-day; I want to have a talk with you outside." + +When they had left the breaker, Derrick said, "How would you like to go +down into the mine, Paul, and be a door-tender, very near where I work, +and get twice as much money as you can make in the breaker?" + +"Of course I should like it," answered Paul, gravely; "but I don't think +they want a cripple like me down there." + +"Yes, they do want just exactly such a fellow as you are; they found out +last night what you could do in a mine. Mr. Jones says that if you want +to you can go down with me to-morrow morning, and begin at once without +waiting for the end of the month. You are to go with me to the store +this evening for your mine cap, lamp, and boots. See, here's the order +for them." + +Paul stared at the order for a moment as though he could not believe it +was real. Then exclaiming, "Oh goody, Derrick! I'm so glad to get out of +that hateful, back-aching breaker," he gave a funny little twirl of his +body around his crutch, which was his way of expressing great joy. + +Derrick shared this joy equally with Paul, and to see them one would +have supposed they had just come into fortunes at least. To a stranger +such rejoicings over an offer of monotonous work down in the blackness +of a coal mine would have seemed absurd, but if he had ever been a +breaker boy he could have fully sympathized with them. + +The two boys were standing beside the check-board, near the mouth of the +slope, and after their rejoicings had somewhat subsided Derrick said, +"Let's see who's sent up the most to-day." + +The check-board was something like the small black-board that hangs +behind the teacher's desk in a school-room. It was provided with several +rows of pegs, on which hung a number of wooden tags. Each of these tags, +or checks, had cut into it the initials or private mark of the miner to +whom it belonged. When a miner working in the underground breasts or +chambers filled a car with coal and started it on its way to the slope, +he hung on it one of his checks. When the same car reached the top of +the slope the "check boss" stationed there took the check from it and +hung it in its proper place on the check-board. At the end of +working-hours the number of checks thus hung up for each miner was +counted, and the same number of car-loads of coal credited to him. + +Acting on Derrick's suggestion, the boys turned to the check-board, and +quickly saw that there were more checks marked M. T. than anything else. + +"Why, Monk Tooley has got the most by three loads!" exclaimed Derrick, +counting them. + +"He must have worked all through lunch-hour, and like a mule at that. I +wonder what's got into him?" + +"Perhaps he's trying to make up for what Bill won't earn now," suggested +Paul, quietly. + +"That's so," said Derrick. "I never thought of that, Polly; and I +haven't thanked you yet for going down into the mine to look for me last +night, or told you what a splendid fellow I think you are." + +"Please don't, Derrick," interrupted Paul, with a troubled expression; +"you mustn't thank me for anything I tried to do for you. Don't I owe +you more than anything I can ever do will pay for? Didn't you bring me +out of the burning breaker? and don't I love you more than most anybody +on earth?" + +"Well, you're a plucky fellow anyway," said Derrick, "and I'd rather +have you down in the mine if there was any trouble than half of the men +who are there. Let's stop and see how Bill Tooley's getting along on our +way home." + +"All right," assented Paul; "only if his mother's there I shall be +almost afraid to go in." + +As the boys walked away from the vicinity of the check-board, a man who +had come up the slope but a few minutes before, and had been watching +them unobserved, stepped up to it. He was Job Taskar the blacksmith, +known to the men who met in the chamber at the bottom of the air-shaft, +in the old workings, as Body-master of Raven Brook. The check boss had +asked him to stop there a minute, and look out for any cars that might +come up, while he stepped inside the breaker. + +Casting a hurried glance around to see that no one was looking, Job +Taskar slipped three of Monk Tooley's checks from their peg, thrust them +into his pocket, altered the chalked figure above the peg, and resumed +his place. + +When Derrick and Paul reached the Tooleys' house it seemed to them even +more noisy than usual. Several women sat gossiping with Mrs. Tooley in +the door-way, while a dozen children and several dogs ran screaming or +barking and quarrelling in and out of the room where the sick boy lay. + +They asked his mother how he was, and what the doctor had said of his +condition. + +"Ye can go in and see for yourselves how he is," was the reply, "there's +naught to hinder. Doctor said he was to be kept perfectly quiet and have +nussin', but how he's going to get either with them brats rampaging and +howling, and me the only one to look after them, is more than I know." + +Accepting this invitation, the boys stepped inside, and picking their +way among the children and dogs to the untidy bed on which Bill lay, +spoke to him and asked him if there was anything they could do for him. + +He was conscious, though very weak and in great pain, and on opening his +eyes he whispered, "Water." + +For more than an hour he had longed for it, until his parched tongue was +ready to cleave to the roof of his mouth, but nobody had come near him, +and he could not make himself heard above the noise of the children. + +Taking the tin dipper that lay on a chair beside the bed Derrick went +out to the hydrant to fill it with the cool mountain water that flowed +there. + +Paul drew a tattered window-shade so that the hot western sun should not +shine full in the sick boy's face, loosened his shirt at the neck, +smoothed back the matted hair from his forehead, and with a threatening +shake of his crutch, drove a howling dog and several screaming children +from the room. + +These little attentions soothed the sufferer, and he looked up +gratefully and wonderingly at Paul. When Derrick returned with the water +he lifted his head, and stretched out his hand eagerly for it. At that +moment Mrs. Tooley came bustling to the bedside to see what the boys +were doing. Catching sight of the dipper she snatched it from Derrick's +hand, crying out that it would kill the boy to give him cold water, "and +him ragin' wid a fever." This so frightened the boys that they hurriedly +took their departure, and poor Bill cast such a wistful, despairing +glance after them as they left the house that their hearts were filled +with pity for him. + +At the supper-table that evening Derrick asked: + +"Does it hurt people who have a fever to give them water, mother?" + +"No, dear; I do not think it does. My experience teaches me to give +feverish patients all the cooling drinks they want." + +Then Derrick told her what he had seen and learned of Bill Tooley's +condition that afternoon. He so excited her pity by his description of +the dirt, noise, and neglect from which the sick lad was suffering that +she finally exclaimed, "Poor fellow! I wish we had room to take care of +him here!" + +"Do you, mother, really? I wanted to ask you, but was almost afraid to, +if he couldn't come here and have my room till he gets well. You see +he's always treated Polly worse than he has me, and yet Polly risked his +life for him. It isn't anywhere near so much to do as that, of course; +but I'd like to give up my room to him, and nurse him when I was home, +if you could look after him a little when I wasn't. I can sleep on the +floor close to the bed, and be ready to wait on him nights. You know I +always liked the floor better than a bed, anyway, and I believe he'll +die if he stays where he is." + +They knew each other so well, this mother and son, that a question of +this kind was easily settled between them. Though both fully realized +what a task they were undertaking, it was decided that if his parents +would consent Bill Tooley should be brought to their house to be nursed. + +When Monk Tooley came up from the mine that evening and examined the +check-board to see how the numbers to his credit compared with the tally +he had kept, he became very angry, and accused the check boss of +cheating him. The latter said he knew nothing about it. There were the +checks to speak for themselves. He had hung each one on the peg as it +came up. + +"Den dey've been stolen!" exclaimed the angry man, "an' if I catch him +as done it, I'll make him smart for it, dat's all." + +The check boss tried to show him how perfectly useless it would be for +anybody to steal another's checks. "You know yourself it wouldn't do him +any good, Tooley," he said. "He couldn't claim anything on 'em, or make +any kind of a raise on 'em; besides I've been right here every minute of +the day, barrin' a couple when I ran inside the breaker on an errand. +Then I left Job Taskar, as honest a man as there is in the colliery, to +keep watch, and he said nothing passed while I was gone." + +"Well," answered Monk Tooley, "I'm cheated outer three loads, and you +know what dat is ter a man what's worked overtime ter make 'em, an' has +sickness and doctor's bills at home. But I'll catch de thief yet, an' +when I do he'll wish he'd never know'd what a check was." + +As he was walking down the street after supper, smoking a pipe and +thinking of his sick boy, who seemed to have grown worse since morning, +and of his lost checks, Monk Tooley was accosted by Derrick Sterling, +who said, + +"Good-evening, Mr. Tooley. How's Bill this evening?" + +"None de better fer your askin'," was the surly answer, for the man felt +very bitter against Derrick, to whom he attributed all his son's +trouble. + +"I'm sorry to hear that he isn't any better," continued the boy, +determined not to be easily rebuffed. + +"Well, I'm glad yer sorry, an' wish yer was sorrier." + +This did not seem to promise a very pleasant conversation, but Derrick +persevered, saying, + +"It must be very hard for Mrs. Tooley to keep so many children quiet, +and I believe the doctor said Bill must not be troubled by noise, didn't +he?" + +"Yes, an' if ye'd muzzle yer own mouth de whole place would be quieter." + +"My mother wanted me to say to you that if you'd like to send Bill over +to our house for a few days, it's so quiet over there that she thought +it would do him good, and she'd be very glad to have him," said Derrick, +plunging boldly into the business he had undertaken to manage. + +"Tell yer mother ter mind her own brats an' leave me ter mind mine, den +de road'll be wide enough for de both of us," was the ungracious answer +made by the surly miner to this offer, as he turned away and left +Derrick standing angry and mortified behind him. + +"That comes of trying to do unto others as you would have others do unto +you," he muttered to himself. "Seems to me the best way is to do unto +others as they do unto you, and then nobody can complain. I declare if I +had as ugly a temper as that man has I'd go and drown myself. I don't +believe he's got one spark of human feeling in him." + +Monk Tooley was not quite so bad as Derrick thought him, but just at +that time everything seemed to go wrong with him, and he was like some +savage animal suffering from a pain for which it can find no relief. He +began to repent of his ugliness to Derrick almost as soon as the latter +had left him, saying to himself, "Maybe de lad meant kindly arter all." + +Going back to his untidy, noisy home, he entered the house, and standing +by his son's bedside gazed curiously at him. The boy was evidently +growing worse each minute, as even the unpractised eye of the miner +could see. He was tossing in a high fever, calling constantly for the +water which in her ignorance his mother would not give him, nor did he +appear to recognize any of those who stood near. + +"I fear me his time's come," said one of the neighbor women, several of +whom, attracted by curiosity, came and went in and out of the house. + +Although the remark was not intended for his ears, Monk Tooley heard it, +and apparently it brought him to a sudden determination. Without a word +he left the house and walked directly to that of the Sterlings. Entering +the open door-way without the ceremony of knocking, which was little +practised in that colliery village, he found the family gathered in +their tiny sitting-room, Derrick poring intently over a plan of the old +workings of the mine, Helen reading, and their mother sewing. + +Bowing awkwardly to Mrs. Sterling, he said, "Derrick tells me, missus, +dat you're willin' to take my poor lad in and nuss him a bit. His own +mither has no knowledge of de trade, an' he's just dyin' over yon. If +yer mean it, and will do fer him, yer'll never want for a man to lift a +hand fer you and yours as long as Monk Tooley is widin call." + +"I do mean it, Mr. Tooley, and if you can only get him here, I'll gladly +do what I can for him," said Mrs. Sterling. + +"I'll bring him, mum, I'll go fer him now;" and Monk Tooley, with +another awkward pull at the brim of his hat, left the house. + +In five minutes he was back, accompanied by another miner, and between +them they bore a mattress on which lay the sick boy. + +He was undressed, bathed, and placed in Derrick's cool, clean bed. +Within an hour cooling drinks and outward applications had so reduced +the fever and quieted him that he had fallen into a deep sleep. + +Within the same time all the village knew, and wondered over the +knowledge, that Monk Tooley's sick lad was being cared for in the house +of the widow Sterling. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SOCRATES, THE WISE MINE RAT + + +When Derrick and Paul found themselves descending the slope, together +with a carful of miners, the next morning, it seemed to them a long time +since they had traversed its black depths. So accustomed do the toilers +of the colliery become to exciting incidents that elsewhere would +furnish subject for weeks of thought and conversation, that often a +single day suffices to divert their attention to something new. So it +was with our two boys, in whose minds their recent adventures were +already shorn of their terrors, and only thought of as something +unpleasant, to be forgotten as quickly as possible. Therefore they did +not speak of them as they talked together in low tones, but only of the +present and the future. + +"I think it's awful good of you and your mother to take Bill Tooley into +your own house and nurse him," said Paul. + +"Oh no," laughed Derrick, "it isn't so very good. Revenge is what we are +after, and that is one way of getting it." + +Hearing Bill Tooley's name mentioned between the boys, one of the miners +who rode in the car with them had leaned forward to learn what they were +saying. At Derrick's last remark this man started back and gazed at him +curiously. + +"He's got the very stuff in him to make a Mollie of," he thought. "To +think he's so sly. He's got the fellow he hates into his own house, +pretending that he wants to nurse him, and now he's going to take out +his revenge on him. Perhaps he's going to poison him, or fix pins in the +bed so they'll stick him. Anyway, I'll have to give Monk the hint of +what he's up to." Then, admiringly, and half aloud, he muttered, still +looking at Derrick, "The young villain!" + +From the foot of the slope Derrick set off for the stable to get Harry +Mule, while Paul waited for the making up of a train of empty cars, in +which he was to ride to the junction near the blacksmith's shop. There +Derrick was to meet him, take him to his post of duty, and tell him +about opening and closing the door, and tending the switch of which he +was to have charge. + +In spite of the fact that he and Derrick had been friends but a single +day, Harry Mule appeared to recognize his young driver, and gave him a +cordial greeting as he entered the stable. At least he threw up his head +and uttered a tremendous bray, which went "Haw! he-haw, he-haw, he-haw!" +and sounded so absurdly like a laugh that Derrick laughed from sympathy +until the tears ran down his cheeks. The mule gazed at him with a look +of wonder in his big eyes, and stood so meek and quiet while his harness +was being put on that Derrick thought perhaps his feelings had been +hurt. To soothe them he talked to him, and told him that Paul had come +down into the mine to work. + +As they left the stable, and Derrick stopped to fasten the door, Harry +started in the opposite direction from that in which he should have +gone, and ran down the gangway, kicking up his heels and braying, as +though he were a frisky young colt in a pasture instead of an old +bumping-mule down in a coal-mine. Derrick ran after him, and for some +time could see the reflection of the collar-lamp, which was swung +violently to and fro by the animal's rapid motion. The disappearance of +this light in the distance was followed by an angry shouting and a +muffled crash. + +Derrick was provoked that his mule should have made all this trouble, +and was anxious to discover the full extent of the mischief done, but he +could not help laughing when he reached the scene of confusion. The +first object he saw was Harry himself, standing still and gazing +demurely at him with the wondering look which was his most common +expression. He was hitched in front of a string of mules which were +attached to a train of empty cars, and was evidently prepared to act as +their leader. The boy driver of these mules, with many muttered +exclamations, was trying to disentangle their harness from the snarl it +had got into, and in one of the cars stood Paul Evert, looking somewhat +dilapidated and greatly disgusted. + +"Hullo, Derrick!" he called out. "Where did that mule come from?" + +"Why, that's Harry, my bumping-mule," answered Derrick as he came up +laughing. + +"Bumping-mule! I should think he was," said Paul. "He made these cars +stop so quick that I was almost bumped out of 'em, and the skin's all +knocked off my nose. I don't see what he wanted to come bumping along +this way for." + +"Why, I told him you were coming," said Derrick, "and I suppose he +wanted to welcome you to the mine." + +"Well, I'm sorry you told him, and--" + +Just then the driver shouted "Gee up!" and Harry Mule, anxious to do his +duty in his new position, started ahead so briskly as to pull the other +three mules promptly into line and give a violent jerk to the cars. +Losing his balance with this unexpected motion, Paul sat suddenly down +in the bottom of the car he was in, and there he wisely decided to +remain. + +When they reached the junction, Derrick asked Paul to wait for him until +he and Harry Mule had distributed the empty cars to their several +destinations. Attracted by its cheerful light, Paul stepped inside the +blacksmith's shop, where Job Taskar, who was hammering away as busily as +usual, glanced up as he entered, but paid no further attention to him. A +minute later the smith, who had just begun his day's work, and still +wore his coat, pulled it off and flung it to one side. Something dropped +from one of its pockets unnoticed by him as he did so, and Paul was on +the point of calling his attention to it. He did not, however, because +the smith's helper, a slim, dreary-looking young man, to whom nobody +ever paid much attention, also noticed the falling object, and picked it +up without being seen by Job. Gazing at it curiously for a moment, he +restored it, as Paul thought, to the pocket from which it had fallen. In +reality, he slipped it into a pocket of his own coat which lay under +that of his boss. + +Derrick now came back, and with him Paul went to the door that he was to +tend. Just inside of it, on a platform laid above the ditch of black, +rapidly flowing water, stood a rude arm-chair made out of rough boards. +Above it hung a board full of holes into which several pegs were thrust. +Derrick told Paul that with these pegs he must keep tally of the number +of loaded cars that passed this station, and that he must always be +ready to answer promptly the call of "Door." Within reach from the chair +was a lever by means of which the switch was moved. Paul was told that +after each door call there would come another explaining on which track +the approaching cars were to go, and that he must listen carefully for +it and set the switch accordingly. After showing him the large oil-can +from which he might refill his lamp, Derrick bade him good-by and +returned to his own work. + +This morning passed much more pleasantly to the young mule-driver than +the first one had. Not only did Tom Evert greet him cordially, and thank +him for what he had done for Paul, but Monk Tooley gave him a gruff +"Mornin', lad," and most of the other men spoke pleasantly to him, as +though to atone in a measure for his previous suffering. Above all, he +occasionally had to pass Paul's station, and the mere sight of his +faithful friend leaning on his crutch and holding open the door was a +source of joy. + +As Paul had much spare time on his hands, he occupied it in becoming +acquainted with his surroundings, and was especially interested in the +curious markings on the black slate walls of the gangway near his door. +Many of these were in the form of exquisite ferns, others of curious +leaves such as he had never seen, quaint patterns like the scales and +bones of queer fishes, or the ripplings of water on a smooth beach. In +one place he found tiny tracks, as though a small bird had run quickly +across it, and had stamped the imprint of its feet on the hard surface. + +It was Paul's first lesson in geology, and it gave him his first idea +that this hard slate, and the veins of coal enclosed between its solid +walls, might have had a previous existence in another form. He pondered +upon the length of time that must have passed since those ferns grew, +and since that running bird made those footprints, and finally concluded +to ask Derrick if he knew. + +At noon, after Harry Mule had been sent jingling to his stable, Derrick +rejoined his friend, and they ate lunch together. As they talked of the +strange markings on the walls, and Derrick confessed that he knew no +more concerning their age than Paul, the latter suddenly paused, and +with a slight gesture directed attention to something in the roadway. + +Looking in the direction indicated, Derrick saw, sitting bolt-upright on +its hind-legs, and gazing steadily at them, an immense rat. He was quite +gray, and evidently very old; nor did he seem to be in the least bit +afraid of them. + +"Doesn't he look wise?" whispered Paul. + +"As wise as Socrates," answered Derrick. + +Not having had Derrick's education, Paul did not know who Socrates was, +but the name pleased him, and he said it over softly to +himself--"Socrates, Soc, Socrates. That's what I'm going to call him, +Derrick--'Socrates.' I've seen him round here two or three times this +morning, and every time he's sat up just like that, and looked as if he +knew all that I was thinking about. I believe he could tell how old the +ferns are." + +"I don't believe they're as old as he is," replied Derrick, laughing. + +The rat did not seem to like this, for at Derrick's laughter he gave a +little squeak and darted away, disappearing beneath the door. + +Within five minutes Paul pointed again, and there sat the rat in +precisely the same position as before. + +"Perhaps this is what he wants," said Paul, throwing a bit of bread +towards the rat. Approaching it cautiously, the beast first smelled of +it, and then seizing it in his mouth again darted beneath the door. +Several times did he thus come for food, but he always carried it away +without stopping to eat even a crumb. + +"He must have a large and hungry family," said Derrick. + +"Or else it isn't his dinner-hour yet, and he is waiting for the proper +time to eat," laughed Paul. + +Always after this Socrates the rat was a regular attendant upon the boys +at lunch-time, and he never failed to receive a share of whatever they +had to eat. Often at other times, when no sound save the steady gurgle +of the black water beneath him broke the tomb-like silence of the +gangway, Paul would see the little beady eyes flashing here and there in +the dim lamplight, and would feel a sense of companionship very +comforting to his loneliness. At such times Paul would talk to the rat +about the queer pictures on the walls, and ask him questions concerning +them. For hours he talked thus to his wise-looking companion, until he +began to believe that the rat understood him, and could really answer if +he chose. + +Sometimes when he was asked a question he could not answer, he would +reply, "I don't know, but I'll speak to Socrates about it"; and at the +first opportunity he would explain the whole difficulty to his +gray-whiskered friend. Frequently, by thus thinking and talking the +matter over, he would arrive at some conclusion, more or less correct, +and this he would report as "What Socrates thinks." + +At noon that day Monk Tooley, as usual, ate his lunch and smoked his +pipe with Job Taskar in the blacksmith's shop; but he was very quiet, +and not inclined to be talkative as was his habit. When he left, the +blacksmith's helper slipped out after him, and saying, "'Ere's summut I +think belongs to you, Mr. Tooley," handed him three bits of wood, on +each of which was deeply scored M. T. + +"My lost checks!" exclaimed the miner. "Where'd yer get 'em, Boodle?" + +"They dropped out hof Taskar's pocket when 'e flung hoff 'is coat this +mornin', and hi picked 'em hup unbeknownst to 'im." + +"So he's de one as stole 'em, is he?" began the miner in a passion. +Then, changing his tone, he added, "But never mind, Boodle; of course he +only took 'em for de joke, and we'll say no more about it. Yer needn't +mention havin' found 'em." + +"Hall right, Mr. Tooley, hit shall be has you says," replied the helper, +meekly, though he was really greatly disappointed at this turn of +affairs. He disliked as much as he feared his boss, and had hoped that +this little incident might lead to a quarrel between him and the miner +whose lost property he had just restored. + +Monk Tooley went back to his work muttering to himself, "All dis means +summut; but we'll just lie low a bit, and mebbe Body-master an me'll +have a score ter settle yet." + +The Young Sleepers had been so badly demoralized by the incidents +following their attempt to extract a treat from Derrick, and especially +by the mishap of their leader, that they had not the courage to repeat +the experiment. Derrick and Paul therefore left the mine that evening +without being molested. They took pains, however, not to be very far +behind two brawny pillars of strength in the shape of Tom Evert and Monk +Tooley when they reached the foot of the slope. + +Before going home Monk Tooley walked with Derrick to the Widow +Sterling's, to inquire after his boy, and was much pleased to learn that +he was getting along nicely. + +"It lightens my heart ter hear yer say dat, missus," he said to Mrs. +Sterling, "an' it's not one woman in ten thousand would do what yer +doin' fer my poor lad." + +"Derrick proposed it," said Mrs. Sterling, with a mother's anxiety that +her son should receive all the credit due him. "Without his help I'm +afraid I should not have been able to invite Bill to come here." + +"He's a fine lad, missus," replied the miner, "an' if de time ever comes +dat I can serve you or him, my name's not Monk Tooley if I don't jump at +de chance." + +After sitting a while with Bill, and doing what lay in his power to make +him comfortable, Derrick again got out his father's plans of the old +workings of the mine, and pored over them intently. Finally he +exclaimed, "It's all right; I am sure of it!" + +"What are you so sure of, my son?" asked his mother, looking up from her +work. + +"Something I have been trying to find out for Mr. Jones, mother, but he +does not want a word said about it; so I must keep the secret to myself, +at any rate until after I have seen him." + +"Seems to me that you and Mr. Jones have a great many secrets together. +You really are becoming quite an important young man, Derrick." + +Although Derrick only smiled in reply, he thought to himself that his +mother was about right, and hoped others would take the same view of his +importance that she did. + +Selecting some tracing-paper from among the things left by his father, +the boy made a tracing from the plan he had been studying. He followed +all the lines of the original carefully, except in one place where the +plan was so indistinct that he could not tell exactly where they were +intended to go. Being in a hurry, and feeling confident that they should +be continued in a certain direction, he drew them so without verifying +his conclusions. + +When he had finished he left the house, and went directly to that of the +mine boss, taking the tracings he had just made with him. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +IN THE OLD WORKINGS--MISLED BY AN ALTERED LINE + + +Mr. Jones was expecting Derrick that evening, and was waiting somewhat +impatiently for him. When the boy at last arrived he was taken into the +library, where, as soon as the door was closed, the mine boss asked: + +"Well, Derrick, have you heard anything more about the meeting?" + +"Not a word, sir." + +"To-morrow is the 27th, you know." + +"Yes, sir, I know it is." + +"And my fate, and perhaps yours too, may be decided within twenty-four +hours from now." + +At this Derrick started; he had not realized that he was in any +particular danger. + +"Do you think, sir, they would pay any attention to a boy like me?" he +asked. + +"I certainly do," replied the mine boss. "They would pay attention to +anybody or anything that stood in their way, or seemed likely to +interfere with their plans. I am afraid, from what Job Taskar said the +other day, that they consider your presence in the mine as dangerous to +them. I am sorry that my liking for you, and efforts to promote your +interests, should have placed you in such an unpleasant position. If you +like I will try and get you a place as errand boy in the main office of +the company, where you will be in no danger." + +"Oh, no, sir!" exclaimed Derrick. "Please don't think of such a thing. +I'd rather take my chances with the Mollies in the mine than go into an +office. There I should never be anything but a clerk; while here I may +some day become an engineer, as my father was. Don't you think I may, +sir?" + +"Yes," answered the other, smiling at the boy's earnestness, "I think +any boy of ordinary intelligence and blessed with good health can in +time occupy any position he chooses, if he directs his whole energy in +that direction, and makes up his mind that no obstacle shall turn him +from it." + +"I have made a beginning, sir," said Derrick, much encouraged by these +words from one who was so greatly his superior in age, knowledge, and +position, and whose opinion he valued so highly. + +"Have you?" asked the mine boss, with a kindly interest. "In what way?" + +"I am studying my father's books, and trying to work out problems from +some old plans I found among his papers. One of them is a plan of the +very oldest workings of this mine, and I have brought a tracing of a +part of it to show you." + +"Very good," said Mr. Jones, glancing at the tracing carelessly. "I have +no doubt that in time you will become a famous engineer." + +Although this was spoken kindly enough, it was evident that the +speaker's thoughts were far away, probably trying to devise some means +for being present at the approaching meeting in the mine. + +Noting this, Derrick said, "I did not bring the tracing just to show +what sort of work I could do, sir, but because I think it will lead us +to where we can hear what they say at that meeting." + +Instantly the mine boss exhibited a new interest. "Explain it," he said. + +Then Derrick told him of the old drift-mouth he had discovered, and said +he felt confident that if they followed the gangway leading in from it +they would reach the top of the old air-shaft into which Bill Tooley had +fallen, and up which had come the voices of the Mollies at their +previous meeting. + +"If we could get there by this back way it would be capital!" exclaimed +the mine boss. "In that case my presence in the mine would be unknown +and unsuspected; whereas, if we should go in as you did, from the other +end of the old gangway, we could hardly escape discovery. If that route +proves practicable a great load is lifted from my mind; for, somehow or +other, I must find out what these Mollies are up to. You are of course +sure of the correctness of the plans?" + +"My father drew them," answered Derrick. + +"I was not questioning your father's accuracy; I only wanted to know if +this tracing was an exact copy of the original." + +"Yes, sir, it is," answered Derrick, though with a slight hesitation in +his voice as he thought of the one place he had not been quite sure of. +This was where the plan had been somewhat blotted and blurred, so that +he could not see whether or not two lines joined each other. Having made +up his mind that they ought to be joined, he had thus drawn them on his +tracing. It was such a small thing that he did not consider it worth +mentioning. Thus, without meaning to make a false statement, he said +that his tracing was an exact copy of the original, and by so doing +prepared the way for the serious consequence that followed. + +Derrick was a fine, manly fellow, and was possessed of noble traits of +character, but like many another boy he was inclined to be conceited, +and to imagine that he knew as much if not a little more than his +elders. Nor was he backward in parading his knowledge, or even of +allowing it to appear greater than it really was. + +In the present instance he was proud of the confidence reposed in him by +the mine boss, and of the skill with which he had prepared the plan of +operations they were now discussing. It really seemed to him that he was +about to become the leader in a very difficult enterprise in which the +other was to be a follower. + +The mine boss, with a quick penetration of human character, gained by +years of study and experience, suspected something of this weakness on +Derrick's part, but did not consider that either the proper time or +opportunity had yet come for warning him against it. + +So Derrick's plan was discussed in all its details, and before they +separated that night it was adopted. + +In order that the mistake made by Derrick in his slight alteration of +the plan of the old workings, as shown in his tracing, may be +understood, a few words of explanation are necessary. + +The old drift-mouth, that he had discovered almost hidden beneath a +tangle of vines and bushes, was on a mountain side above a deep valley. +Farther down was the mouth of a second drift, which he had not +discovered, and knew nothing of. On the opposite side of the mountain +was another valley, the bottom of which was on about the same level as +the higher of these drifts. The old workings ran from them through the +mountain, and under this valley in which the present colliery was +located. + +When the gangway from the upper of the two drifts had been opened as far +as the valley, the vein that it followed took a sudden dip. The gangway +was in consequence changed into a slope, which finally led into the +workings beneath. Some time after they had been abandoned a great +"break" or cave-in of the ground above there had occurred at the edge of +the valley, and by it an opening was made into the lower set of +workings. It was on the opposite side of the valley from this break that +the new workings were now being pushed; and somewhere between it and +them was the old air-shaft and the chamber that the Mollies had selected +as their place of secret meeting. + +Now Derrick had got hold of a plan of the lower set of these old +workings which he knew nothing of, and thought it was a plan of the +upper set, which in reality only extended to the edge of the valley. He +knew that the upper drift-mouth was on about the same level as the top +of the old air-shaft, and thought he had a plan showing that the two +were connected. He reasoned that by entering the old gangway at the +break, and following it under the valley, they would not only save +distance, but would be conducted directly to the top of the air-shaft +which they wished to reach. By the joining of those two lines at the +blurred place on the plan it was made to conform so perfectly to this +theory that he felt satisfied his conclusions were correct, and +consequently made his confident statements to Mr. Jones. + +The latter had been connected with the Raven Brook Colliery but a few +months, and knew nothing of its old and abandoned workings, not yet +having found time to study their plans or explore them. He did know, +however, that Mr. Sterling had been one of the company's most trusted +engineers, and that Derrick had long been interested in poring over and +tracing his father's plans of these very workings. When, therefore, he +had carefully examined the tracing that the boy had made, and now +assured him was an exact copy of the original plan, and found that it +showed a system of galleries by which the top of the air-shaft might be +gained from the break, he had no hesitation in saying that they would +make the attempt to reach it from that direction. Had he sent for the +original plan he would have quickly discovered Derrick's error. He +thought of doing this, but did not, for fear of wounding the lad's +feelings by appearing to mistrust him. + +It was arranged between them that Mr. Jones should leave the village on +the afternoon of the 27th, as though bound on some distant expedition, +and have it understood that he might possibly be absent all night. An +hour before sundown he was to be at the break, prepared to explore the +old gangway to which it gave entrance. Here Derrick was to meet him, +after having left the mine an hour earlier than usual, gone home for +supper, and told his mother that he should be out late on some business +for the mine boss. + +This plan was successfully followed, without suspicion being aroused, +and the young mine boss met his boy companion at the appointed time and +place. They both had safety-lamps, and each carried a small can of oil, +for they did not know how long they might have to remain in the mine. + +In the break they found a rickety ladder that had been placed there for +the use of the village children, who were accustomed to come here with +baskets, and in a small way mine coal for home use from the sides of the +old gangway. Descending this, they lighted their lamps at the bottom, +and entering the black opening began to follow the path marked out on +Derrick's tracing. + +For some distance the way was comparatively smooth, and they made rapid +progress. Then they began to encounter various obstacles. Here a mass of +rock had fallen from the roof, and they must clamber over it. In another +place a quantity of waste material had so dammed a ditch that for nearly +a quarter of a mile the gangway was flooded with cold, black water, +through which they had to wade. It was above their knees, and, filling +their rubber boots, made them so heavy as to greatly impede their +progress. In several places where the old timber props had rotted out, +such masses of rubbish choked the gangway that they were compelled to +crawl on their hands and knees for long distances through the low spaces +that were still left. Once they were on the point of turning back, but +animated by the importance of their errand they kept on, cheering each +other with the thought that they would not be obliged to come back this +same way in order to leave the mine. + +During the earlier portion of the journey, as they encountered these +obstacles, the mine boss urged, almost commanded, Derrick to go back and +leave him to continue the undertaking alone. In spite of some faults the +lad was no coward, and he begged so earnestly to be allowed to keep on +that the other consented, on condition that no greater danger presented +itself. + +At length they had overcome so many difficulties that the road behind +them fairly bristled with dangers, and the young man felt it would be an +act of cruelty to send the boy back to encounter them alone. + +Now and then, as they crawled over piles of fallen debris, and there was +but little space between them and the roof, the flames within their +safety-lamps burned faint and blue, and they breathed with great +difficulty. The mine boss knew they were passing through spaces filled +with the deadly "fire-damp," and he urged Derrick to make all possible +haste towards more open places where they could keep below its +influence. + +They passed through a door in a fair state of preservation, but fairly +covered with the pure white fungus growth of glistening frost-like +sprays, which in the mine are called "water crystals." Everywhere were +the signs of long neglect and decay, and unenlivened by the cheering +sounds of human toil the place was weird and awful. The very drippings +from the roof fell with an uncanny splash that struck a chill into +Derrick's heart. Long before they reached the end of their journey he +regretted having planned and proposed it; but he bravely kept his fears +and regrets to himself, and plodded sturdily on behind his companion. As +for the latter, his thoughts were also of a most dismal character. He +realized even more fully than Derrick the dangerous position in which +they had placed themselves, and felt that his experience should have +warned him against such an undertaking. + +Meantime those who were to meet in the old chamber at the bottom of the +air-shaft were already gathered together, and were earnestly discussing +the affairs of their order. Job Taskar, as presiding officer, made a +long speech. In it he denounced the mine boss for discharging several of +their members, and refusing to take them back, though petitioned to do +so by a large number of those who remained at work. He also charged him +with placing a spy in the mine in the person of Derrick Sterling, and of +having removed the son of one of their most prominent members to make +room for him. At this point he looked steadily at Monk Tooley. + +"Don't yer say nothin' agin Derrick Sterling," growled that miner, "fer +I won't hear ter it. He's doin' fer my lad this minute what dere isn't +anoder man in de meetin' er in Raven Brook Colliery, nor I don't believe +in de State, would ha' done in his place." + +"Do yer know what he's doing it for?" interrupted another member, +springing to his feet. "No, yer don't, an' yer can't make a guess at it; +but I can tell yer. It's for revenge, an' nothing else. I heerd him say +it his own self to Paul the cripple, coming down the slope, only +yesterday morning. 'I'm taking out my revenge on him,' says he; them's +his very words." + +"All right," replied Monk Tooley, "if yer heerd him say it, den he's +doin' it fer revenge, and it's de biggest kind of revenge I ever knowed +of a man or a boy ter take out on anoder. Do yer know dat he's give up +his own bed ter my Bill, an' dat he sets up nights awaitin' on him an' +a-nussin' of him? No, yer don't know nothin' about it, an' I don't want +ter hear anoder word from yer agin him. I'm his friend, I am." + +An awkward silence followed this announcement, for the members thought +that perhaps if Monk Tooley were Derrick Sterling's friend, he might +also be a friend of the mine boss, whom they had almost decided should +be put out of the way. + +The silence was finally broken by Job Taskar, who asked sarcastically if +Monk Tooley knew who stole his three checks from the check-board two +days before. + +"Yes, I do," answered the miner, promptly. + +"Then you know it was this same sneaking boss's pet, Derrick Sterling." + +"No, I don't." + +"I tell you I saw him do it!" cried Job, in a rage. "Him and the +hunchback went up to the board together, and when the boss stepped away, +so they thought nobody wasn't looking, the pet slipped 'em into his +pocket. I saw it with my own eyes." + +"An' I tell yer yer lie!" shouted Monk Tooley. "Here's de checks, an' +dey come outen yer own pocket, yer black-hearted old scoundrel!" + +At these astounding words Job Taskar sprang towards Monk Tooley with +clinched fists, as though to strike him, and all present watched for the +encounter in breathless suspense. + +Just then the door behind them was pushed open, and standing on its +threshold they saw the mine boss and Derrick Sterling. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A FATAL EXPLOSION OF FIRE-DAMP + + +At this startling apparition of the last two persons in the world whom +they would have expected to see in that place, the assembled miners +remained for some moments motionless with astonishment. Having stationed +a trusty sentinel at the end of the gangway nearest the new workings, +who was to give them instant warning of the approach of any outsider, +they imagined themselves perfectly safe from interruption. They had not +considered the possibility of an approach from the rear through the +abandoned workings, for they were generally believed to be impassable +owing to deadly gases and the quantity of material that had fallen in +them. Thus the unannounced appearance of the very persons whose fate +they had just been discussing seemed almost supernatural, and a feeling +of dread pervaded the assembly. + +On the other hand, Mr. Jones and his companion were equally, if not more +greatly, dismayed. Having approached the door during a momentary silence +among the miners, they had not been warned by any sound of what they +should find beyond it. Thinking that they were upon an upper level, and +separated from their enemies by many feet of solid rock, they suddenly +found themselves in their very midst. + +At the first view of what was disclosed by the opening door, Derrick +uttered a little frightened cry, and involuntarily drew back as though +about to run away. It was only a momentary impulse. In an instant his +courage returned, the hot blood surged into his face, and stepping +boldly forward he stood beside the mine boss, determined to share +whatever fate was in store for him. + +Among the Mollies the first to recover from his stupefaction was Job +Taskar, who crying "Here they are, lads! Now we've got 'em!" made a +spring at the mine boss, with clinched fist still uplifted, as it had +been to strike Monk Tooley. + +The black muzzle of a revolver promptly presented to his face by the +steady hand of the young man caused him to stagger back with a snarl of +baffled rage. Taking a couple of steps forward, which motion Derrick +followed, and standing in full view of all the Mollies, with the +revolver still held in his hand where it could be plainly seen, the mine +boss said: + +"My men, I want you to excuse this interruption to your meeting, and +listen to me for a few minutes. I think I know why you are thus +assembled in secret. It is to decide upon some means of getting rid of +me and of my young friend Derrick Sterling. You have been taught by this +man that we are your enemies, and are working against your interests. +Let me give you a few facts that will serve to show who are your real +enemies, and who are your true friends. + +"Job Taskar is, I believe, your Body-master and leader. He had told you +that this lad is a spy, sent into the mine to discover your secrets and +work against you. He hates Derrick Sterling. Why? + +"A few years ago Job Taskar was blacksmith to a distant colliery in +another district. This lad's father was engineer in the same mine. +Taskar was paid by the men for sharpening their tools, so much for each +one. They were compelled to go to him by the rules of the colliery. He +so destroyed the temper of the drills and other tools brought to him as +to make them require sharpening much oftener than they would if he had +done his work honestly. He was thus stealing much of the miners' +hard-earned wages. Mr. Sterling found this out, procured Taskar's +discharge from the works, and had an honest man put in his place. When +the same gentleman found the same dishonest blacksmith working in this +mine he warned him that if he caught him at any of his old tricks he +would have him discharged from here. Now Taskar hates that engineer's +son, and wants to have him put out of the way. Do you wonder at it? + +"He wants me removed for a much more simple reason. It is that he would +like to be mine boss in my place. This would so increase his influence +in your society that he might in time be made a county delegate, and +live without further labor upon money extorted from hard-working +miners." + +At this point the members glanced uneasily at each other. They were +amazed at the knowledge showed by the mine boss of their affairs. + +"Now, my men, a few more words and I am through," continued the speaker. +"In regard to those of your number whom I discharged, and refused to +take back, although petitioned to do so, you know who they are, and I +needn't mention names. I will only say that they were detected in an +attempt to injure the pumps and destroy the fans. Had they succeeded the +colliery would have been closed, and all hands thrown out of work for an +indefinite length of time. You would have been in danger from fire-damp +and water. Probably some lives would have been lost. They were +unscrupulous men, and had they succeeded in their villainy you would +have been the greatest sufferers. + +"As for you, sir," he said, sternly, turning to Job Taskar, "I have long +had my eye on you, and have come to the conclusion that this mine and +all employed in it would be better off if you should leave it. I +therefore take this opportunity to discharge you from this company's +service. If after to-night you ever enter this mine again it will be at +your peril." + +The man was too thoroughly cowed by the boldness of this proceeding to +utter a word, and when the young mine boss, saying "Come, Derrick," and +"Good-evening, men," suddenly stepped outside the door and closed it, he +stood for an instant motionless. Then with a howl of "Stop 'em! Don't +let 'em escape!" he tore open the door and sprang into the gangway +beyond. It was silent and dark, not even a glimmer of light betraying +the presence or existence of those who had but that moment left the +chamber. + +For a brief space the man stood bewildered, and then began to run +towards the door that opened into the new workings. Several of the +miners followed him until they came to where their sentinel stood. He, +watchful and on the alert, as he had been ever since they left him +there, was greatly surprised at their haste and the impatient demands +made of him as to why he had allowed two persons to pass. Of course he +stoutly denied having done so, and declared he had seen no living being +since taking his station at that place. + +"Then they're back in the old workings, lads, and we'll have 'em yet," +cried Job Taskar. "They can't get out, for the gangway's choked beyond. +They must have been hid yonder near the place of meeting since +lunch-time, waiting for us, and they're hid now, waiting till we leave, +so's they can sneak out. But they can't fool us any more, an' we'll get +'em this time." + +With this the man, fuming with rage and disappointed hate, turned and +retraced his steps up the gangway, followed by four of his companions. +The rest of the Mollies, feeling that no more business would be +transacted that evening, and having no inclination to join in the human +hunt, dispersed to different parts of the new workings, or went up the +slopes to the surface. Monk Tooley stayed behind, not for the purpose of +joining in the pursuit of the mine boss and his companion, but with a +vague idea of protecting Derrick from harm in case they should be +caught. + +Led by Job Taskar, the four Mollies eagerly and carefully explored every +foot of the gangway, and even climbed up into several worked-out breasts +at its side, thinking the fugitives might be hidden in them. + +After surmounting several minor obstacles, they finally came to one that +was much more serious. It was a mass of fallen debris that filled the +gangway to within a couple of feet of its roof, and extended for a long +distance. Thinking that perhaps it completely choked the passage a few +yards farther on, and that he might now find those whom he sought in +hiding, like foxes run to earth, Taskar eagerly scrambled up over the +loose rocks and chunks of coal, reaching the top while his followers +were still at some distance behind. + +[Illustration: SUDDENLY THERE CAME A BLINDING FLASH, A ROAR AS OF A CANNON] + +Suddenly there came a blinding flash, a roar as of a cannon discharged +in that confined space, a furious rush of air that extinguished every +light and shrouded the gangway in a profound darkness, and the rattling +crash of falling rocks and broken timbers. The Mollies who followed Job +were hurled, stunned and bleeding, to the floor of the gangway. Even +Monk Tooley, who was at a considerable distance behind them, was thrown +violently against one of the side walls. As for Job Taskar, he lay dead +on the heap of debris over which he had been climbing when the uncovered +flame of his lamp ignited the terrible fire-damp that hung close under +the roof. He was burned almost beyond recognition, and the clothes were +torn from his body. Among the fragments of these afterwards picked up +was found a portion of a letter which read: + + "_It will be impossible to obtain the position until_ + _position must be supported by a number of votes wh_ + _when you become mine boss._ + + "_You know as well as anybody that a county delega_ + +When the battered and bruised miners had recovered their senses, +relighted their lamps, and ascertained the fate of their leader, they +were content to drag themselves out from the gangway without pursuing +any further the search in which they had been engaged. Fortunately for +them the quantity of gas exploded had been small, else they might have +been instantly killed, or the gangway so shattered as to completely bar +their way of escape, and hold them buried alive between its black walls. +As it was, it brought down a great mass of debris on top of that already +fallen, and so choked the passage beyond where Job Taskar's body lay +that it was effectually closed. + +Although Derrick and the mine boss were far in advance of their +pursuers, and had already passed most of the obstacles to their rapid +progress, they were very sensible of the shock of the explosion when it +occurred. The rush of air that immediately followed was strong enough to +extinguish their safety-lamps, and cause them to stagger, but it did +them no injury. + +When these two had so suddenly stepped from the presence of the Mollies, +and slammed the door in their faces, they had instantly extinguished +their lamps, and started on a run back through the gangway by which they +had come. Of course, in the utter darkness, they could not run fast nor +far, but they were well beyond the circle of light from Job Taskar's +lamp when he sprang out after them, and that was all they wanted. When +they saw the little cluster of flickering lights borne by the Mollies +disappear in the opposite direction from that they were taking, they +felt greatly relieved, and a few minutes later ventured to relight their +own lamps and continue their retreat. + +"Looks as if we'd got to go out the way we came in, after all, doesn't +it, sir?" said Derrick, who was the first to speak. + +"It does rather look that way," answered the mine boss, "but I'd rather +risk it, under the circumstances, than face those fellows just now. They +have had a chance to recover from their surprise at our appearance, and +some of them are as mad as hornets to think they let us go. A moment's +hesitation when we opened that door and found ourselves among them would +probably have cost us our lives. Our very boldness was all that saved +us. A danger boldly faced is robbed of half its terrors. + +"By-the-way, Derrick, our coming on those fellows as we did was a most +remarkable thing. I thought your tracing was leading us to the top of +the air-shaft instead of to the chamber at its bottom. We must be on a +lower level than we thought. How do you account for it? Can you have +made a mistake in regard to the plans?" + +Derrick's heart sank within him as he remembered the weak spot in his +tracing; but he answered, "I don't think so, sir; though it does look as +if something was wrong." + +Here conversation was interrupted by the difficulties of the road, for +they had reached the mass of fallen debris that blocked Job Taskar's way +a little later. + +As they crawled on hands and knees over the obstruction, the mine boss +said, hoarsely, and with great difficulty, "Hurry, boy! there's gas +enough here to kill us if we breathe it many minutes. If we had naked +lights instead of safeties we'd be blown into eternity." + +After they had safely passed this danger he said, "I hope with all my +heart that those fellows won't come that way looking for us; there's +sure to be an explosion if they do. I don't believe they will, though," +he added, after a moment's reflection; "they're too old hands to expose +themselves needlessly to the fire-damp." + +They had again waded through the icy water, which the mine boss said he +must have drawn off before it increased so as to be dangerous, and were +well along towards the opening into the break, when the muffled sound of +the explosion reached their ears. + +"There's trouble back there!" exclaimed Mr. Jones, as he relighted their +lamps, which the rush of air had extinguished, "and I'm afraid that +somebody has got hurt. You go on out, Derrick, and I'll go back and see. +No, I won't, either. I can get there as quickly, and do more good, by +going round outside and down the slope. Come, let us run." + +In a few minutes they had reached the bottom of the break, climbed the +rickety ladder, and once more they stood in safety beneath the starlit +sky of the outer world. + +"Eight o'clock," said Mr. Jones, looking at his watch. "We've been in +there three hours, Derrick, and seen some pretty lively times. What I +can't understand, though, is how we got in on that lower level. Never +mind now; we must run, for I'm anxious about that explosion." + +The news of the disaster in the mine had already reached the surface, +but nobody knew exactly how or where it had taken place. A crowd of +people, including many women and children, was rapidly gathering about +the mouth of the slope, anxious to learn tidings of those dear to them +who were down in the mine with the night shift. + +The voice of the mine boss calling out that the explosion had occurred +in an abandoned gangway, and that nobody who was in the new workings was +hurt, gave the first intimation of his presence among them. His words +carried comfort to the hearts of many who heard them, but filled with +dismay the minds of those who had seen him but a short time before at +the underground meeting. They had thought he must surely be still in the +mine, and could in no way account for his presence, for they knew +positively that he had not come up by the slope or the travelling-road. + +While the mine boss was speaking, Derrick felt a hand on his shoulder, +and turning, he saw Paul Evert, who exclaimed, joyfully, "Oh, Derrick, +I'm so glad! I was afraid you were down in the mine, and I was going to +help hunt for you." + +"No, Polly, I'm all right, as you can see; but I wish you'd run home and +tell mother I am--will you?" + +Paul went willingly to do this, and Derrick prepared to follow the mine +boss once more into the underground depths, to render what assistance he +could. + +They were about to step into an empty car and start down the slope, when +the signal was given from below to pull up a loaded car, and they waited +to see what it might contain. As it came slowly to the surface, and +within the light of their lamps, they saw in it Monk Tooley and four +other miners, who, battered and bruised, had evidently suffered from the +explosion. + +When the first of these was helped carefully from the car, and his +glance fell upon the mine boss, with Derrick Sterling standing beside +him, a look of fear came into his face, he uttered a loud cry, staggered +back, and would have fallen had not Monk Tooley caught him. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE MINE BOSS IN A DILEMMA + + +The companions of the Mollie who exhibited such consternation at the +sight of the mine boss were almost as frightened as he to see those for +whom they had been so recently searching through the old workings, and +who they thought must surely have been killed by the explosion, standing +before them. They shrunk back as the young man stepped towards them; but +reassured by his cheery words, they allowed him to help them from the +car, and were almost ready to believe that it was not he, but some other +who had confronted them so boldly at the meeting. He could not have been +kinder to them if they had been his dear friends; and from that hour +they ranked among his firmest supporters and adherents in the colliery. + +Derrick caught hold of Monk Tooley, and insisted upon taking him, as he +said, to see Bill, and show him that he was all right. In reality he +wanted to give the man a chance to rest, and recover somewhat from his +recent trying experience, before meeting with his wife and children. + +Bill Tooley, under kind care, amid quiet and pleasant surroundings, and +aided by his own strong constitution, was in a fair way to recover his +health and strength. The fever had left him, and he was able to sit up +for a few minutes at a time. The only serious trouble seemed to be with +his right leg. It gave him great pain, and was threatened with a +permanent lameness. He already seemed a different boy from what he had +been, and would hardly be recognized for the bully of a short time +before. He gave way to occasional outbursts of impatient anger, but +these were always quieted by the gentle presence and soothing words of +either Mrs. Sterling or little Helen; and in his rough way he would +express sorrow for them by saying, "Don't yer mind me, mum; I don' mean +nothin'; only dis ere blessed leg gits de best of me sometimes." Or to +Helen, "Don't yer be afeared, sissy; I know I talks awful ugly; but I +ain't. It's only de pain of de leg breakin' out in bad words." + +The meeting between father and son that night, when Derrick persuaded +Monk Tooley to go home with him, was curious to witness. Bill was as +fond of his father, in his way, as the latter was of him, and had been +very anxious when he knew he was in the mine at the time of the +explosion. Both were much affected when Monk stepped to his son's +bedside; but they had no words to express their feelings. The father +said, + +"Well, lad, how goes it?" + +Bill answered, "Middlin', feyther. I heerd yer got blowed up." + +"Well, yer see I didn't. Job Taskar's killed, though." + +"Better him nor anoder." + +"Yes. Yer want ter be gittin' outen dis, son. Times is hard, an' idlin's +expensive." + +"All right, feyther; I'll soon be in de breaker agin." + +This was all; but the two were assured of each other's safety and +well-being, and for them that was enough. + +Monk Tooley accepted a cup of tea from Mrs. Sterling, and departed with +a very warm feeling in his heart towards those who were doing so much +for his boy. + +His wife and the neighbor women, who as usual were gathered in her +house, were loud in their exclamations of pleasure and wonder at seeing +him safe home again from "the blowing up of the mine," but he gruffly +bade them "be quiet, and not be making all that gabble about a trifle." + +The mine boss took an early opportunity to examine the plans of the old +workings, and soon discovered the slight difference between them and +Derrick's tracing that they had followed in their recent expedition. +Summoning the boy, he pointed it out, and asked him whether he had made +a mistake in copying the plan, or had purposely made the alteration that +had led to such serious consequences. + +Derrick confessed that he had added a little to one line of the plan, +because he thought the line was intended to go that way, and when he +drew it so it seemed to make everything come out all right. + +"Well," said Mr. Jones, "the result shows that instead of making +everything come out all right, you made it come all wrong. Now, Derrick, +I want this to be a lesson that you will remember all your life. By +making that one little bit of a change in a single line you placed +yourself and me in great peril. In consequence of the situation to which +it led one man has lost his life, and several others came very near +doing so. You thought you knew better than your father who drew that +plan, and in your ignorance undertook to improve upon his work. + +"I won't say that good may not come out of all this, for I believe that +with the loss of their leader the society of Mollies is broken up, in +this colliery at least, for some time to come, but that does not make +your fault any the less. + +"Remember, my boy," he added, somewhat more gently, as he saw great +tears rolling down the lad's cheeks, "that the little things of this +life lead to and make up its great events, and it is only by paying the +closest attention to them that we can ever hope to achieve good +results." + +This was all that was ever said to Derrick upon this subject, but it was +enough, and he will never forget it. When he left the presence of the +mine boss he was overwhelmed with shame, and was angry to think that +what he considered so trifling a thing as to be unworthy of mention +should be treated so seriously. For an hour he walked alone through the +woods back of the village, and gave himself up to bitter thoughts. +Gradually he began to realize that every word the mine boss had said was +true, and to see what he had done in its proper light. He thought of all +the kindness Mr. Jones had shown him, and the confidence reposed in him. +Finally he broke out with, "I have been a conceited fool, and now I know +it. If I ever catch Derrick Sterling getting into a scrape of this kind +again for want of paying attention to little things, or by thinking he +knows more than anybody else, he'll hear from me, that's all." + +This was only a vague threat, but it meant a great deal, and from that +day to this neither of these failings has been noticed in the young +miner, even by those most intimately acquainted with him. + +Nearly two weeks after this, upon returning home one evening from his +day's work in the mine, Derrick found a message from Mr. Jones awaiting +him. It asked him to call that evening, as the mine boss wished to see +and consult him upon business of importance. + +Mrs. Sterling was greatly pleased at this, for it showed that her boy +still enjoyed the confidence of the man who had it in his power to do so +much for him, and that his favor was not withdrawn in consequence of the +recent affair of the tracing. Derrick had told his mother the whole +story, without making any effort to shield himself from blame; and +though she had trembled at the resulting consequences of his fault, and +the knowledge of how much worse they might have been, she had rejoiced +at the manner in which he accepted its lesson. She had only feared that +Mr. Jones, upon whom so much depended, would never trust her boy again, +or take him into his confidence as he had done. + +Derrick was made equally happy by the message; for since the day on +which the mine boss had pointed out the weak spot in his character, and +delivered his little lecture on the wickedness of neglecting details, he +had held no conversation with him. He made haste to finish his supper, +wondering all the while, with his mother and Bill Tooley, who was now +able to sit at the table with them, what the business could be. + +"There's some ladies over there," said little Helen; "they came to-day, +and I saw them." + +"Where?" asked Derrick. + +"At Mr. Jones's." + +Now as the young mine boss was a bachelor, and lived alone, with the +exception of an old negro servant, this was startling information, and +her hearers thought Helen must have made some mistake. However, on the +chance that she might be right, Derrick was more particular than usual +in getting rid of every particle of grime and coal-dust, and dressed +himself in his best clothes. These, though much worn, nearly outgrown, +and even mended in several places, were scrupulously neat, and made him +appear the young gentleman he really was. + +Although Derrick had been away to boarding-school, and was very +differently brought up from the other boys of the village, he was not at +all accustomed to society, especially that of ladies, and he felt +extremely diffident at the prospect of meeting these strangers, if +indeed Helen's report were true. + +As he approached the house of the mine boss he saw that it was more +brilliantly lighted than usual, and just as he reached the door a +shadow, apparently that of a young girl, moved across one of the white +window-shades. + +Instead of ringing the bell the boy walked rapidly on, with a quickly +beating heart, for some distance past the house. + +"Supposing it should be a girl," he thought to himself, "I should never +dare say anything to her, and she'd find it out in a minute; then she'd +make fun of me. I wish I knew whether I was going to see them, or see +Mr. Jones alone. I hope he won't make me go in and be introduced." + +Undoubtedly Derrick was bashful, and while he had apparently been brave +in the burning breaker, and in various trying situations, was only a +coward after all. + +Again he approached the house, and again he walked hurriedly past it. As +he turned and walked towards it for the third time somebody came rapidly +from the opposite direction, and stopped at the very door he was afraid +to enter. They reached it at the same moment, and the somebody +recognizing him, said heartily, "Ah, Derrick, is that you? I'm glad I +got back in time. I was unexpectedly detained by business, and feared +you might get here before me. Walk in." + +There was no help for it now. Wishing with all his heart that he were +safely at home, or down in the mine, or anywhere but where he was, and +trembling with nervousness, Derrick found himself a moment later inside +the house, and--alone with Mr. Jones in the library. + +"Sit down, Derrick," said the latter, as he stood in front of the +fireplace. "I have sent for you to ask you to help me out of a sort of a +scrape." + +So he was not to be asked to meet strange ladies or girls after all, and +his fears were groundless. What a goose he had been! Why should he be +afraid of a girl anyhow? she wouldn't bite him. These and other similar +thoughts flashed through Derrick's mind as he tried to listen to Mr. +Jones, and to overcome a feeling of disappointment that in spite of his +efforts presently filled his mind. + +"It is this," continued the mine boss. "For some time past my only +sister, Mrs. Halford, who lives in Philadelphia, has been threatening to +bring her daughter Nellie on a trip through the Lehigh Valley into the +coal region to see me, and be taken down into a mine. They arrived +unexpectedly this afternoon, and have got to return home the day after +to-morrow; so to-morrow is the only opportunity they will have for +visiting the mine. Of course I had made arrangements to take them +around, and show them everything there is to be seen; but now I find I +can't do it. Two hours ago I received a telegram telling me that an +important case, in which I am the principal witness, is to be tried in +Mauch Chunk to-morrow, and I must be there without fail. Now I want you +to take my place, act as guide to the ladies, and show them all the +sights of interest about the colliery, both above-ground and in the +mine. Will you do this for me?" + +Derrick hesitated, blushed, stammered, turned first hot and then cold, +until Mr. Jones, who was watching him with an air of surprise and +amusement, laughed outright. + +"What is the matter?" he asked at length. "Ain't I offering you a +pleasanter job than that of driving a bumping-mule all day?" + +"No, sir--I mean yes, sir; of course I will, sir," said Derrick, finally +recovering his voice. "Only don't you think one of the older men--" + +"Oh, nonsense! You're old enough, and know the colliery well enough. I +don't want them taken through the old workings," added Mr. Jones, with a +twinkle in his eyes. + +"If you did, sir, I believe I could guide them as well as anybody!" +exclaimed Derrick, with all his self-possession restored, together with +a touch of his old self-conceit. + +"I haven't a doubt of it," answered the other. "Now, if it's all settled +that you are to act as their escort to-morrow, step into the parlor and +let me introduce you to the ladies." + +With this he threw open the door connecting the two rooms, and said, +"Sister, this is Derrick Sterling, of whom I have spoken to you so +often, and who will act as your guide in my place to-morrow. Derrick, +this is my sister, Mrs. Halford, and my niece, Miss Nellie." + +Poor Derrick felt very much as he had done when, with the same +companion, he had been unexpectedly ushered into the meeting of the +Mollie Maguires, and, as on that occasion, his impulse was to run away. +Before he had a chance to do anything so foolish, a motherly-looking +woman, evidently older than Mr. Jones, but bearing a strong resemblance +to him, stepped forward, and taking the boy by the hand, said, "I am +very glad to meet you, Derrick, for my brother has told me what a brave +fellow you are, and that he feels perfectly safe in trusting us to your +guidance to-morrow." + +Then Miss Nellie, a pretty girl of about his own age, whose eyes +twinkled with mischief, held out her hand, and said, "I think you must +be a regular hero, Mr. Sterling, for I'm sure you've been through as +much as most of the book heroes I've read about." + +Blushing furiously at this, and coloring a still deeper scarlet from the +knowledge that he was blushing, and that they were all looking at him, +Derrick barely touched the tips of the little fingers held out to him. +Then thinking that this perhaps seemed rude, he made another attempt to +grasp the offered hand more heartily, but it was so quickly withdrawn +that this time he did not touch it at all, whereupon everybody laughed +good-naturedly. + +Instead of further embarrassing the boy, this laugh had the effect of +setting him at his ease, and in another minute he was chatting as +pleasantly with Miss Nellie and her mother as though they had been old +friends. + +Before he left them it was arranged that, early in the morning, he +should show the ladies all that was to be seen above-ground, and that +they should spend the heat of the day in the cool depths of the mine. + +The boy had much to tell his mother, little Helen, and Bill Tooley, who +were sitting up waiting for him, when he arrived home; but, after all, +he left them to wonder over the age of Miss Halford, whom he only +casually mentioned as Mr. Jones's niece. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +LADIES IN THE MINE--HARRY MULE'S SAD MISHAP + + +When Derrick awoke the next morning, at an unusually early hour, it was +with the impression that some great pleasure was in store for him. +Before breakfast he went down into the mine to give Harry Mule's sleek +coat an extra rub, and to arrange for another boy and mule to take their +places that day. + +At eight o'clock he presented himself at the door of Mr. Jones's house, +dressed in clean blue blouse and overalls, but wearing his +smoke-blackened cap and the heavy boots that are so necessary in the wet +underground passages of a mine. The mine boss had already gone to Mauch +Chunk, and Miss Nellie was watching behind some half-closed shutters for +the appearance of their young guide. + +"Here he is, mamma!" she exclaimed, as she finally caught sight of +Derrick. "How funnily he is dressed! but what a becoming suit it is! it +makes him look so much more manly. Why don't he ring the bell, I wonder? +He's standing staring at the door as though he expected it to open of +itself. Ahem! _ahem!_" + +This sound, coming faintly to Derrick's ear, seemed to banish his +hesitation, for the next instant the bell was rung furiously. The truth +is he had been seized with another diffident fit, and had it not been +broad daylight he would probably have walked back and forth in front of +the door several times before screwing up his courage to the +bell-ringing point. + +The door was opened before the bell had stopped jingling, and an anxious +voice inquired, "Is it fire?" Then Miss Nellie, apparently seeing the +visitor for the first time, exclaimed, with charming simplicity, + +"Oh no! Excuse me. I see it's only you, Mr. Sterling. How stupid of me! +Won't you walk in? I thought perhaps it was something serious." + +"Only I, and I wish it was somebody else," thought bashful Derrick, as, +in obedience to this invitation, he stepped inside the door. Leaving him +standing there, Miss Mischief ran up-stairs to tell her mother, in so +loud a tone that he could plainly hear her, that Mr. Sterling had come +for them, and was evidently in an awful hurry. + +"I'm in for a perfectly horrid time," said poor Derrick to himself. "I +can see plain enough that she means to make fun of me all day." + +Mrs. Halford's kind greeting and ready tact made the boy feel more at +ease, and before they reached the new breaker--the first place to which +he carried them--he felt that perhaps he might not be going to have such +a very unpleasant day after all. + +Both Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie were greatly interested in watching +the machinery of the breaker and the quick work of the slate-picker +boys; but in spite of the jigs and the wet chutes the coal-dust was so +thick that they did not feel able to remain there more than a few +minutes. + +As they came out Mrs. Halford said, "Poor little fellows! What a +terribly hard life they must lead!" + +"Yes, Mamma, it's awful," said Miss Nellie. "And don't they look just +like little negro minstrels? I don't see, though, how they ever tell the +slate from the coal. It all looks exactly alike to me." + +"The slate isn't so black as the coal," explained Derrick, "and doesn't +have the same shine." + +They walked out over the great dump, and the ladies were amazed at its +extent. + +"Why, it seems as if every bit of slate, and coal too, ever dug in the +mine must be piled up here!" exclaimed Miss Nellie. + +"Oh no," said Derrick, "only about half the product of the mine is +waste, and only part of that comes up here. A great quantity is dumped +into the old breasts down in the workings to fill them up, and at the +same time to get rid of it easily." + +"But isn't there a great deal of coal that would burn in this mountain +of refuse?" asked the girl. + +"Yes, indeed, there is; and sometimes the piles get on fire, and then +they seem to burn forever." + +"I have an acquaintance in Philadelphia," said Mrs. Halford, "who has +been trying experiments with the dust of these waste heaps. He pressed +it in egg-shaped moulds, and has succeeded in making capital stove coal +from it. The process is at present too expensive to be profitable, but I +have no doubt that cheaper methods will be discovered, and that within a +few years these culm piles will become valuable." + +"What's the use of bothering with it when there's an inexhaustible +supply of coal in the ground?" asked Miss Nellie. + +"But there isn't," answered Derrick. "This coal region only covers a +limited area, and some time every bit of fuel will be taken out of it. I +have heard that it is the only place in the world where anthracite has +been found. Isn't it, Mrs. Halford?" + +"I believe so," answered that lady; "or at least the only place in which +anthracite of such fine quality as this has been discovered. Inferior +grades of hard coal are mined in several other localities, and +bituminous or soft coal exists almost everywhere." + +From the culm pile they went to see the great pumping-engine, and the +huge fans that act as lungs to the mine, constantly forcing out the foul +air and compelling fresh to enter it. Then, as the day was growing warm, +they did not care to go any farther, but went back towards the house to +prepare for their descent into the mine. + +On their way they stopped to call on Mrs. Sterling at Derrick's home, +which, covered with its climbing vines, offered a pleasing contrast to +the unpainted, bare-looking houses lining the village street beyond it. +Here both Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie were greatly interested in Bill +Tooley, of whom they had already heard. He could not be induced to enter +into conversation with them, merely answering, "yes, 'm" or "no, 'm" to +their questions; but from what he said after they had gone he evidently +thought their call was intended solely for him. For a long time he +cherished it in his memory, and often spoke of it as a most wonderful +event. + +Derrick took this opportunity to secure his lunch-pail and water-can, +which he slung by their chains over his shoulder. When the ladies had +prepared themselves for their mine expedition, he was amused to see that +Miss Nellie was similarly equipped, she having found and appropriated +those belonging to her uncle. Both the ladies wore old dresses, and +India-rubber boots, which they had brought with them for this very +purpose, and both were provided with waterproof cloaks. + +At the mouth of the slope Derrick said something through a speaking-tube +that reached down into the mine. Directly the clang of a gong was heard +in the breaker above them, and the great wire cable, extending its vast +length between the rails of the tracks, began to move. Two minutes later +a new coal-car, one of a lot that had been delivered in the mine the day +before, and had not yet been used, was drawn up out of the blackness to +the mouth of the slope, and stopped in front of them. Some hay had been +thrown into the bottom, and as the ladies were helped in, Miss Nellie +exclaimed that it looked as though they were going on a straw-ride. + +Handing each of them a lighted lantern to carry, and lighting the lamp +on his cap, Derrick tugged at the wire leading to the distant +engine-room, and gave the signal to lower. The car at once began to +move, and as they felt themselves going almost straight down into the +blackness between the wet, glistening walls of the slope, and were +chilled by the cold breath of the mine, the mother and daughter clung to +each other apprehensively. + +At first they looked back and watched the little patch of daylight at +the mouth of the slope grow rapidly smaller and more indistinct, until +it looked almost like a star. Then Derrick warned them that there was +danger of hitting their heads against the low roof, and said they must +hold them below the sides of the car. When next they lifted them they +were amid the wonders of the underground world, in the great chamber at +the foot of the slope. They were surrounded by a darkness that was only +made the more intense at a short distance from them by the glimmering +lights of a group of miners who had gathered to watch their arrival. +Here Derrick left them while he ran to the stable to get his mule. + +The ladies did not get out of the car, but stood in it after the cable +had been cast off, and watched the loaded coal-wagons as, one at a time, +they were pushed to the foot of the slope, and quickly drawn up out of +sight. During this interval their eyes gradually became accustomed to +the lamp-lit darkness, so that they could see much better than at first. + +In a few minutes their young guide returned, leading Harry Mule, whose +swinging collar-lamp and wondering expression struck Miss Nellie as so +comical that she could not help laughing at him. + +"Haw! he-haw, he-haw, he-haw!" brayed Harry Mule, in answer to the +unaccustomed sound; and at this greeting the girl laughed more heartily +than ever. + +The mule was hitched to the car, Derrick sprang in front, cracked the +whip that had hung about his neck, and they started on what, to two of +them at least, was the most novel ride they had ever undertaken. + +When they reached his stable Harry Mule stopped short and refused to go +on. + +"What is the matter?" asked Miss Nellie. + +"I expect he wants us to go in and see his house," answered Derrick. + +"Why, I never heard of such a funny mule. Do you suppose he knows we are +visitors?" + +"Of course he does," answered the boy, gravely; "and he knows that +visitors always want to see the mine stable." + +So they all went in to look at it. In the long, low, narrow chamber, +hewn from solid rock, were thirty stalls. Several of them were occupied +by spare mules, who turned an inquiring gaze at the visitors, and +blinked in the light of their lanterns. At one end were bales of hay and +bags of oats, while just outside the door stood a long water-trough, +which, as mine water is unfit for use, was supplied from above-ground +through iron pipes brought down the slope. In spite of living in a +continual midnight, so far from pastures and the light of day, which +some of them did not see from one year's end to another, these mine +mules were fat and sleek, and appeared perfectly contented with their +lot. + +Apparently satisfied that justice had been done to his place of abode, +Harry Mule offered no further objection to moving on, when they again +got into the car, and the stable was quickly left behind. + +By-and-by Derrick called out "Door!" + +As it opened for them to pass, and Paul Evert recognized his friend, he +cried, "Oh, Derrick, Socrates--" Then seeing the visitors, he stopped +abruptly, and stared at them in confusion. + +"Never mind, Polly; we'll be back pretty soon," shouted Derrick, as the +car rolled on, "and then you can tell us all about it." + +"What did he say?" inquired Mrs. Halford. + +"I didn't quite understand," replied Derrick; "but, if you don't mind, +we'll go back there after a while and eat our lunch with Polly--he'd be +so pleased!--and then we'll ask him." + +"Who is Polly?" asked Miss Nellie. + +"He's Paul Evert, my best friend, and he's a cripple." + +"Oh, he's the boy you saved from the burning breaker! Yes, indeed, +mamma, let's go back and eat our lunch with him." + +Mrs. Halford agreed to this, and after they had visited the blacksmith's +shop, where a cheery young fellow named Aleck was installed in Job +Taskar's place, they went back to Paul's station. + +Both the ladies were charmed with the gentle simplicity and quaintness +of the crippled lad, and he thought he had never been so happy as in +acting the part of host to this underground picnic party. He showed them +all the strange and beautiful pictures on the walls of the gangway, and +Derrick managed to break off for them a couple of thin scales of slate +on which were impressed the delicate outlines of fern leaves. + +Mrs. Halford sat in Paul's arm-chair, and he made a bench of the +tally-board for Miss Nellie. The two boys were content to sit on the +railway track, and each ate out of his or her own lunch-pail. + +All at once Paul said, "'Sh! There they are! See!" + +At this the visitors looked in the direction indicated, and both +screamed. + +"Oh, you've frightened them away!" said Paul, regretfully. + +"Why, I do believe they were rats!" cried Mrs. Halford, in a tone of +great surprise. + +"Of course they were," answered Paul--"my rat Socrates and Mrs. Socrates +and a whole lot of little Soc rats. I meant to tell you, Derrick; he +brought them out this morning, his wife and a family of such cunning +little fellows." + +When the ladies had heard the whole story of Socrates the rat, and how +wise he was, they became greatly interested, and wished he would appear +again. + +"He will," said Paul, "if we only keep quiet. He's too wise to stay away +at lunch-time, but he don't like loud talking." + +So they all kept very quiet, and sure enough the rat did come back after +a little while, and sitting upon his hind-legs, gravely surveyed the +party. In the gloom behind him could be seen the shining beady eyes of +some members of his family, who made comical attempts to sit up as he +did. + +Being duly fed, they all scampered away with squeaks of thanks, and soon +afterwards Harry Mule broke up the picnic by coming jingling back from +his stable, to which he had been sent for dinner. + +"I think he is just the very dearest old mule I ever saw," said Miss +Nellie, when they were once more seated in the car, and Harry, was +taking them towards a distant heading. + +"Yes, indeed, he is," answered Derrick, proud to hear his mule thus +praised; "and I love him as much as--as he loves me," he finished, with +a laugh. + +They spent several hours in visiting different parts of the mine, and +becoming acquainted with all the details of its many operations. At the +end of one heading they found the miners who had just finished drilling +a hole deep in the wall of coal beyond them, and were about to fire a +blast. The visitors were intensely interested in watching their +operations. First a cartridge of stiff brown paper and powder was made. +The paper was rolled into the shape of a long cylinder, about as big +round as a broom-handle, the end of a fuse was inserted in the powder +with which it was filled, and the cartridge was thrust into the hole +just prepared for it. Then it was tamped with clay, the fuse was +lighted, the miners uttered loud cries of "Blast ho!" and everybody ran +away to a safe distance. + +In less than a minute came a dull roar that echoed and re-echoed through +the long galleries. It was followed by a great upheaval of coal, a dense +cloud of smoke, and the blast was safely over. + +These miners had a loaded car ready to be hauled away. One of them asked +Derrick if he would mind hitching it on behind his empty car, and +drawing it to the junction, adding that the boy who had taken his place +that day was too slow to live. + +"All right," said Derrick. "I guess we can take it for you." + +So, with two cars instead of one to pull, Harry Mule was started towards +the junction. On the way they had to pass through a door in charge of a +boy who had only come into the mine that day. This door opened towards +them, and they approached it on a slightly descending grade. + +As they drew near to it, with Harry Mule trotting briskly along, Derrick +shouted, "Door!" + +Again he shouted, louder than before, "Door! door! Holloa there! what's +the matter?" + +The little door-tender, unaccustomed to the utter silence and solitude +of the situation, sat fast asleep in his chair. At last Derrick's +frantic shoutings roused him, and he sprang to his feet, but too late. A +crash, a wild cry, and poor Harry Mule lay on the floor of the gangway, +crushed between the heavy cars and the solid, immovable door! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A LIFE IS SAVED AND DERRICK IS PROMOTED + + +Mrs. Halford and her daughter were flung rudely forward to the end of +the car by the shock of the collision, and were, of course, badly +frightened, as well as considerably shaken up and somewhat bruised. They +were not seriously hurt, however, and with Derrick's assistance they got +out of the car and stood on the door-tender's platform. + +Derrick sent the boy who had been so sleepy, but who was now wide-awake +and crying with fright, back to ask the miners they had just left to +come to their assistance. Then he turned his attention to Harry Mule. +The poor beast was not dead, but was evidently badly injured. He was +jammed so tightly between the cars and the door that he could not move, +and the light of Derrick's lamp disclosed several ugly-looking cuts in +his body, from which blood was flowing freely. + +The tears streamed down the boy's face as he witnessed the suffering of +his dumb friend, and realized how powerless he was to do anything to +relieve it. He was not a bit ashamed of these signs of grief when he +felt a light touch on his arm, and turning, saw Nellie Halford, with +eyes also full of tears, standing beside him, and gazing pityingly at +the mule. + +"Will he die, do you think?" she asked. + +"I don't know, but I'm afraid so, or that he's too badly hurt to be made +well again, and so will have to be killed." + +"No, he sha'n't be killed. My uncle sha'n't let him. If he does, I'll +never love him again!" exclaimed Miss Nellie, with determined energy. +"Poor old mule! poor Harry! you shall have everything in the world done +for you if you only won't die," she added, stooping and patting the +animal's head with her soft hand. + +Feebly lifting his head and pricking forward his great ears, Harry Mule +opened his eyes, and looked at the girl for a moment so earnestly that +she almost thought he was going to speak to her. Then the big, wondering +eyes were closed again, and the shaggy head sank on the wet roadway, but +Nellie felt that she had been thanked for her pitying words and gentle +touch. + +After a while the little door-tender came hurrying back, followed by the +men for whom he had been sent. They were much excited over the accident, +on account of the character of the visitors who had been sufferers from +it, and were inclined to use very harsh language towards the boy whose +neglect of duty had caused it. This, however, was prevented by Mrs. +Halford, who declared she would not have the little fellow abused. She +said it was a burning shame that children of his age were allowed in the +mines at all, and it was no wonder they went to sleep, after sitting all +alone for hours without anything to occupy their thoughts, in that awful +darkness and silence. + +The loaded car proved so heavy that it had to be unloaded before it +could be moved. Then the empty car was pushed back from Harry Mule, and +he made a frantic struggle to regain his feet. After several +unsuccessful attempts he finally succeeded, and stood trembling in the +roadway. It was now seen that he had the use of only three legs, and an +examination showed his right fore-leg to be broken. + +"He'll never do no more work in this mine," said one of the men. "The +poor beast will have to be killed." + +"He sha'n't be killed! He sha'n't, I say. We won't have him killed; will +we, mother?" cried Nellie Halford, her voice trembling with emotion. + +"No, dear, not if anything we can do will prevent it," answered the +mother, gently. + +"Don't you think," continued the girl, turning to Derrick, "that he +might be mended if anybody would take the time and trouble?" + +"Yes, I think he might, because there is a mule at work in the mine now +that had a broken leg, and they cured him. He was a young mule, though. +I'm afraid they won't bother with one so old as Harry." + +"He's listening to every word we say," interrupted the girl, "and I do +believe he understands too. Just look at him!" + +The wounded mule was standing in a dejected attitude on the very spot +where he had been so badly hurt; but his patient face, with its big +eyes, was turned inquiringly towards them, and it did seem as though he +were listening anxiously to the conversation about himself. + +He managed to limp a few steps away from the door, so that it could be +opened, and was then left in charge of the little door-tender, who was +instructed to keep him as still as possible. + +After the miners had given the empty car a start, Derrick found that he +could keep it in motion, and undertook to push it as far as the +junction, Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie following on foot. The two miners +remained upon the scene of the accident to refill the car they had been +compelled to unload. + +The ladies and Derrick had gone but a short distance when they heard, +faintly, through the closed door behind them, a plaintive "Haw, he-haw, +he-haw, he-haw." + +As Nellie Halford said, it sounded exactly as though poor dear old Harry +Mule were begging them not to leave him. + +They had nearly reached the junction when a cheery voice rang out of the +gloom ahead of them, saying, + +"Holloa there! where's your mule? and where's your light? You wouldn't +run over a stranger, would you?" + +"I'm the mule," replied Derrick, as, panting and perspiring with his +exertions, he looked around a rear corner of the car to see who was +coming. + +"Why, Derrick, is that you?" inquired the voice, in a tone of great +surprise. "What has happened? where are the ladies?" + +"Oh, Warren!" exclaimed Mrs. Halford, from somewhere back in the +darkness, "I'm so thankful to see--I mean to hear--you. Here we are." + +"But I don't understand," said Mr. Jones, for it was he who had so +unexpectedly come to their assistance. "What is the meaning of all this? +Where's the bumping-mule?" + +"We had a collision with a door," explained Miss Nellie, "and poor Harry +Mule got crushed. His leg's broken, and he's all cut up. But oh, Uncle +Warren, you won't have him killed, will you?" + +"I can't promise until I find out how badly he is injured." + +"Oh, but you must, Uncle Warren. If you have him killed, I'll never love +you again," insisted Miss Nellie, repeating the threat she had already +made. + +"Well, dear, I'll promise this: he shall not be killed unless I can show +you that it is the best thing to be done, and you give your consent." + +"Then he'll live to be an old, old mule!" cried Miss Nellie, joyfully; +"for I'll never, never consent to have him killed." + +As the ladies once more got into the car, and the mine boss helped +Derrick push it towards the junction, Mrs. Halford said, "How do you +happen to be back so early, Warren? I thought you were to be gone all +day." + +"Why, so I have been," he answered, with some surprise. "Don't you call +from six o'clock in the morning to nearly the same hour of the evening +all day?" + +"You don't mean to say that it is nearly six o'clock?" + +"I do; for that witching hour is certainly near at hand." + +"Well, I never knew a day to pass so quickly in my life. I didn't +suppose it was more than three o'clock, at the latest." + +"It is, though; and to understand how time passes down in a mine, you +have but to remember two often quoted sayings. One is, 'Time is money,' +and the other, 'Money vanishes down the throat of a mine more quickly +than smoke up a chimney.' Ergo, time vanishes quickly down in a mine. Is +not that a good bit of logic for you?" + +Both the ladies laughed at this nonsense, but it served to divert their +minds from the painful scene they had just witnessed, and therefore +accomplished its purpose. + +From the junction Mr. Jones sent some men back to get Harry Mule and +take him to the stable, where his injuries could be examined and his +wounds dressed. He also ordered a report to be made concerning them that +evening. Then the ladies' car was attached to a train of loaded +coal-wagons, and the party were thus taken to the foot of the slope. + +As the great wire cable began to strain, and they started slowly up the +slope towards the outer world, both Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie looked +back regretfully into the mysterious depths behind them. + +"I wouldn't have believed that in a few hours this awful place could +exercise such a fascination over me," said the former. "I really hate to +leave it, and wish we were coming down again to-morrow." + +"So do I," exclaimed Miss Nellie; "and if I were a boy, I'd study to be +an engineer, and spend my life down among the 'black diamonds' of the +coal-mines." + +Did this girl know of the hopes and ambitions of the boy who sat beside +her? This question flashed through his mind; but he quickly answered it +for himself: "Of course not, Derrick Sterling. What a fool you are to +fancy such a thing! She only knows and thinks of you, if she thinks of +you at all, as a mule-driver, such as she has seen a dozen of to-day." + +Although the sun had set when they reached the top of the slope, and a +breeze was blowing, the outer air felt oppressively warm after that of +the mine, and the ladies became suddenly aware of a weariness they had +not before felt. + +Derrick was made very happy, and almost forgot for a time his sadness at +Harry Mule's pitiable condition, when Mr. Jones invited him to come and +take tea with them. Joyfully accepting the invitation, the lad hastened +home to change his clothes, and the others, walking more slowly gazed +after him. + +"I think he's splendid!" exclaimed Miss Nellie, with the outspoken +decision that generally marked the expression of her thoughts; "and I do +hope he will have a chance to become a mining engineer." + +"He will, if he keeps on trying for it as he has begun," said her uncle. +"Any boy, no matter if he is born and brought up a gentleman, as Derrick +Sterling certainly was, who goes in at the very bottom of any business, +determined to climb to the top, will find a way to do it." + +"I like to see a boy not ashamed to do dirty work, if that is what his +duty calls him to do," said Mrs. Halford. "He comes out all the brighter +and cleaner by contrast when the dirt is washed off." + +If Derrick's right ear did not burn and tingle with all this praise, it +ought to have done so; but perhaps he was too busy telling the exciting +news of the day at home to notice it. + +He did not walk past the Jones's house, nor hesitate before ringing the +door-bell on this occasion, as he had the evening before, but stepped up +to it with all the boldness of one who was about to meet and greet old +acquaintances. Besides, his mind was too full of the sad fate that had +befallen his mule to admit of more than the briefest consideration of +personal feelings. + +At the supper-table the conversation was wholly of mines, collieries, +and the perils of miners' lives, in regard to which Mr. Jones related a +number of interesting incidents. + +"How wonderful it is!" said Miss Nellie, who had listened to all this +with eager attention. "Who first discovered coal, anyway, Uncle Warren? +and how did people find out that it would burn?" + +"If you mean who discovered anthracite coal, I believe the credit is +generally given to a man named Philip Gunter, who lived in a cabin on +the side of a mountain not far from where we are now sitting. He was a +hunter; and the story goes that one day in the year 1791 he had been out +hunting for many hours, without securing any game, which made him feel +very badly, for when he left home that morning there was no food in the +house. Towards night he was returning, greatly depressed in spirits, and +paying so little heed to his footsteps that he stumbled and fell over +some obstacle. Stooping to see what it was, he found a black stone, +different from any he had ever before noticed. He had, however, heard of +stone coal, and thought perhaps this might be a lump of that substance. +Having nothing else to carry, he decided to take it home as a curiosity. +Soon afterwards he gave it to a friend, who sent it to Philadelphia, +where it was pronounced to be genuine coal. A few gentlemen became +interested in this discovery, and formed themselves in the 'Lehigh +Coal-mine Company.' A mine was opened, and four laborers were employed +to work it; but as there was no way of getting the coal they mined to +market they were soon discharged, and the project was abandoned for the +time being. + +"Nothing further was done until 1817, when Colonel George Shoemaker, of +Pottsville, took four wagon-loads of anthracite coal to Philadelphia, +and tried to sell it there. People laughed at him for telling them that +those black stones would burn; but he guaranteed that they would. Upon +this a number of persons bought small quantities on trial; but all their +efforts failed to set it on fire. Then they became very angry, and tried +to have Colonel Shoemaker thrown into prison for cheating them. He fled +from the city, pursued by officers who held warrants for his arrest. +Finally he managed to elude them, and reached his home, thoroughly +disgusted with coal, and ready to swear that he would have nothing more +to do with it. + +"In the mean time a lot of the black stones had been purchased for trial +by the Fairmount Nail-works. It was placed in one of the furnaces, and +the proprietor spent a whole morning with his men in trying to make the +stuff burn. They were unsuccessful, and finally, completely disheartened +by their failure, they shut the furnace door and went off to dinner, +uttering loud threats against the man who had sold them such worthless +trash. Upon their return to the works they were filled with amazement, +for the furnace door was red hot, and a fire of the most intense heat +was roaring and blazing behind it. Since that time there has been no +difficulty in selling anthracite coal nor in making it burn. Now the +production of coal in this country has reached such enormous proportions +that its annual value is equal to that of all the gold, silver, and iron +mined in the United States during the year." + +Just here Mr. Jones was interrupted by the arrival of the report of +Harry Mule's condition. It was very brief, and pronounced the animal to +be so badly injured, and his chances of recovery so slight, that it +would cost more to attempt to cure him than he was worth. + +"Now what am I to do about him?" asked Mr. Jones. + +"I want to buy that mule, Warren," said Mrs. Halford. + +"Please give him to me," pleaded Miss Nellie. + +"I should like to have a chance to try and cure him," said Derrick; and +all these requests were made at once. + +Mr. Jones looked at them with a puzzled smile, thought a moment, and +then said, "All right: I will sell him to you, sister, for one cent, +provided you will give him to Nellie, and that she will leave him with +Derrick to care for and cure if he can." + +"That's a splendid plan!" cried Miss Nellie. + +"Have you any place in which to take care of him?" asked Mrs. Halford of +Derrick. + +"Yes," answered the boy, "we have a little empty stable back of our +house that will make a tip-top mule hospital." + +"Then it's a bargain, Warren; and if you take care of him, Derrick, you +must let me pay all the doctor's bills, and furnish all necessary hay, +corn, and oats." + +Thus it was decided that Harry Mule should be restored to health and +usefulness, if money, skill, and kind care could do it. + +Before Derrick left, the mine boss said to him, "Now that there is no +Harry Mule for you to drive, I am going to promote you, and let you work +with Tom Evert as his helper. In that position you will gain a +thoroughly practical knowledge of mining. You may report to him +to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A "SQUEEZE" AND A FALL OF ROCK + + +As it was impossible for Harry Mule to climb the gigantic stairway of +the travelling-road, his legs were bound so that he could not move them, +a platform was laid across two coal-cars from which the sides had been +removed, and he was placed on this, and firmly lashed to it. In this +manner he was drawn to the top of the slope, and from there he managed +to limp, though with great difficulty and very slowly, to the little +stable behind the Sterlings' house. + +Here, by order of the mine boss, carpenters had been at work since early +morning making a roomy box-stall in place of two small ones, and +providing it with a broad sling of strong canvas, which was hung from +eye-bolts inserted in beams overhead. This was passed beneath the mule's +belly, and drawn so that while he could stand on three legs if he +wished, he could also rest the whole weight of his body upon it. + +After Harry Mule was thus made as comfortable as possible, a skilful +veterinary surgeon set his broken leg, and bound it so firmly with +splints that it could not possibly move. He also sewed up the cuts on +various parts of the animal's body, and said that with good care he +thought the patient might recover, though his leg would probably always +be stiff. + +These operations occupied the attention of Mr. Jones, the Halfords, and +the Sterling family, including Derrick, until noon, when it was time for +Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie to take the train for Philadelphia. + +Before leaving, Mrs. Halford had an interview with Bill Tooley, who was +now able to hobble about with the aid of a crutch. She said that if he +would, under Derrick's direction, take care of Harry Mule, and see that +all his wants were promptly supplied until he got well, she would pay +him the same wages that he could earn by working in the breaker. + +Of course Bill gratefully accepted this offer; and either because he had +a feeling of sympathy for an animal that was suffering in much the same +way that he was, or because his own trials and the kindness shown him +had really softened his nature, he proved a capital and most attentive +nurse. + +Often after this, when Derrick entered the stable unexpectedly, he +discovered these two cripples engaged in conversation. At least he would +find Bill Tooley perched on the edge of the manger, where he balanced +himself with his crutch, talking in his uncouth way to the mule; while +the latter, with great ears pricked forward, and wondering eyes fixed +unwinkingly upon the speaker, seemed to pay most earnest attention to +all that he said. + +As Derrick watched the train bearing his recently made friends roll away +from the little station, and disappear around a sharp curve in the +valley, he experienced a feeling of sadness, for which he was at first +unable to account. In thinking it over, he decided that it was because +he felt sorry to have anybody go away who had been so kind to his +much-loved bumping-mule. + +Turning away from the station, he walked slowly back to the mouth of the +slope, jumped into an empty car, and was lowered into the mine. + +Why did the place appear so strange to him? All the interest, of which +it had seemed so full but the day before, was gone from it, and Derrick +felt that he hated these underground delvings. A feeling of dread came +over him as he started along one of the gangways in search of Tom Evert, +to whom he had been ordered to report for duty. The air seemed close and +suffocating, and the lamps to burn with a more sickly flame than usual. +To the boy the faces of the miners looked haggard, and their voices +sounded unnaturally harsh. He overheard one of them say, "Ay, she's +working, there's no doubt o' that; but it's naught to worrit over; just +a bit settlin' into place like." + +Derrick wondered, as he passed out of hearing, what the man meant; and +as he wondered he was startled by a sharp report like the crack of a +rifle, only much louder, and a horrible grinding, crushing sound that +came from the rock wall of the gangway close beside him. The sound +filled him with such terror that he fled from it, running at full speed +through the black, dripping gallery. He ran until he came to a group of +miners who were strengthening the roof with additional props and braces +of new timber. He told them of his fright, and they laughed at him. + +"He's heerd t' mine a-talking, and got skeert at her voice," said one. + +"She's allus a-cracklin' an' a-sputterin' when she's uneasy and workin' +hersel' comfortable like; don't ye know that, lad? It's only a +'squeeze.' Sich noises means naught but warnin's to put in a few new +timbers here and there," explained another, more kindly. He was an old +man, in that his cheeks were sunken and his hair was gray, though he had +lived less than forty years. This is counted old among miners, for their +terrible life and the constant inhaling of coal-dust ages them very +rapidly. Seeing him thus aged, and feeling that he would be less likely +to ridicule him than the others, Derrick ventured to ask him if there +was really any danger of a general caving in of that part of the mine. + +"Hoot, lad! there's allus danger in t' mine," was the reply. "But if ye +mean is there more now than ordinary, I'd answer ye 'No.' It's a common +thing this squeezing and settling of a mine, and times there's men +killed by it, but more often it's quieted without harm bein' done. No, +no, lad; haud ye no fears! I'd bid ye gang oot an' I thocht ye war in +danger." + +Although Derrick was greatly comforted by these words, he could not help +dreading to hear more of the rock explosions, which are caused by the +roof, walls, and pillars of the mine giving slightly beneath the vast +crushing weight of material above them. When he reached Paul Evert's +station, and found that the crippled lad had heard some of the same loud +snappings and crackings, but was not alarmed at them, he felt ashamed of +his own fears, and casting them entirely aside, asked to see what the +other was drawing. + +Paul was very fond of drawing with a pencil, or bit of charcoal, or +anything that came to his hand, on all sorts of surfaces, and really +showed great skill in his rude sketches of the common objects about him. +Since coming into the mine he had found more time to indulge his taste +than ever before; and though his only light was the wretched little lamp +in his cap, he had produced some beautiful copies of the dainty ferns +and curious patterns imprinted on the walls about him. He had also +afforded Derrick great amusement by making for him several sketches of +Socrates the wise rat in various attitudes. Until this time he had never +hesitated before showing his friend any of his efforts, but now he did, +and it was only after much urging that he reluctantly handed Derrick the +sheet of paper on which he had been working. + +It was an outline sketch of the figures composing their underground +picnic party of the day before, including Socrates, and Derrick had no +sooner set eyes on it than he declared he must have it. + +"I was doing it for you, 'Dare,'" said Paul, using his especial pet name +for Derrick, which he never did except when they were alone. "But you +must let me finish it, and that will take some time; there is so much to +put in, and my light is so bad." + +Derrick was obliged to agree to this, though he would have valued the +sketch just as it was, and handing it back, he went on towards where +Paul thought his father was at work. At last he found him, in a distant +heading that was exhausted and about to be abandoned, engaged in the +dangerous task of "robbing back." + +In cutting into a vein it is often necessary to leave walls and pillars +of solid coal standing to support the roof, and when the workings about +them are exhausted it is customary to break away these supports for the +sake of what coal they contain. This is called "robbing back," and is so +dangerous a job that only the very best and most experienced miners are +intrusted with it. Sometimes the roof, thus robbed of its support, +falls, and sometimes it does not. If it does fall, perhaps the miner +"robber" gets killed, and perhaps he escapes entirely, or with only +bruises and cuts. + +Tom Evert was a "company man"; that is, he received regular wages from +the company owning the mine, no matter what quantity of coal he sent +out, or what kind of work he was engaged upon. Most of the other men +were paid so much per cubic yard, or so much by the car-load, for all +the coal they mined. Evert was considered one of the best workmen in the +mine, and for that reason was often employed on the most dangerous jobs. +On this occasion he was "robbing back" in company with another skilful +miner; but they had only one helper between them. The burly miner would +have been glad to welcome any addition to their force, but he greeted +Derrick with especial cordiality, for the boy was a great favorite with +him. + +"It does me good to see thee, lad," he exclaimed, when Derrick reported +to him as helper, "and I'll be proud to have thy feyther's son working +alongside of me. Pick up yon shovel and help load the wagon, while we +tackle this chunk a bit more, and see if we can't fetch it." + +A miner's helper has to do all kinds of work, such as running to the +blacksmith's with tools that need sharpening, directing the course of +drills beneath the heavy hammer blows, holding lamps in dark places, +loading cars, or anything else for which he may prove useful. Shovelling +coal into a car is perhaps the hardest of all, and this was what Derrick +was now set at. It was hard, back-aching work, but he was fresh and +strong, and he took hold of it heartily and vigorously. + +Suddenly he dropped his shovel, sprang at Tom Evert who was stooping +down to pick up a drill, and gave him so violent a push that he was sent +sprawling on his face some little distance away. Carried forward by his +own impetus, Derrick fell on top of the prostrate miner. Behind, and so +close to them that they were covered with its flying splinters, crashed +down the great pillar of coal, weighing several tons, that the "robbers" +had been working on. It had unexpectedly given way before their efforts, +and would have crushed Tom Evert beyond human recognition but for +Derrick's quick eye and prompt action. + +When the big miner regained his feet he appeared dazed, and seemed not +to realize the full character of the danger he had so narrowly escaped. +He gazed at the fallen mass for a moment, and then, appreciating what +had happened, he seized Derrick's hand, and shaking it warmly, said, +"That's one I owe thee, lad. Now we'll knock off, for I'll do no more +'robbing' this day." + +On their way to the foot of the slope the little party met the mine +boss, superintending the placing of new timbers, and taking such other +precautions as his experience suggested against the effects of the +"squeeze," which still continued, though less violently than when +Derrick entered the mine. He was surprised at seeing them thus early, +for it wanted nearly an hour of quitting-time. When he heard of Tom +Evert's narrow escape, he acknowledged that they had a good excuse for +knocking off, and complimented Derrick upon his presence of mind. + +"By-the-way, Tom," he said, "you may quit 'robbing' for a few days. I +want you and your partner to go down on the lower level and pipe off the +water that's collecting in the old gangway--the one in which Job Taskar +was killed, you know." + +"It'll be a ticklish job, boss." + +"I know it, and that's the reason I send the steadiest man in the mine +to do it. It's got to be done by somebody, or else it will break through +some day and flood the whole lower level." + +"All right, sir; I'll do my best wi' it; but I'll be mor'n glad when +it's safe done." + +With this Tom Evert went on towards the slope; but Derrick stayed behind +with the mine boss to learn what he might of the operation of placing +the timber supports of a mine roof. + +He had not watched this work long when a distant muffled sound, +something like that of a blast, and yet plainly not produced by an +explosion, reached their ears. Although not loud, it was an ominous, +awe-inspiring sound; and Derrick would have taken to his heels and made +for the bottom of the slope had not his pride kept him where he was. + +To his surprise the mine boss, who had listened intently to the sound +while it lasted, seemed to regard it as a most natural occurrence. +Giving a few directions to his men, he turned to the boy, saying, "Come, +Derrick, let us go and see what is the trouble back in there." + +For an instant Derrick looked at him to see if he were really in +earnest; then realizing that he was, he followed him without a word. + +When they reached Paul Evert's door, the mine boss said, "It's +quitting-time, Paul; so get out of this as quickly as you can. It is +just possible that we may all have to run," he explained to Derrick, +after Paul had obeyed his order and left them, "and in that case all +those using crutches will need a good start." + +Of course this did not greatly reassure Derrick, and he would gladly +have followed his friend Paul had not duty commanded him to remain with +his friend the mine boss. + +Finally they reached the place where, less than an hour before, Derrick +had been helping to "rob" the old heading; and here they discovered the +cause of the sound they had heard. The roof above that entire set of +workings, so far as they could judge, had fallen; and had not Tom Evert +decided to quit work when he did, it is probable that no trace would +ever have been found of him or those with him. + +Derrick felt deeply thankful that his life had been thus preserved, as +he walked thoughtfully beside the mine boss away from the scene of +disaster. + +"How invariably Nature asserts herself in the end, and defies the puny +efforts of man to alter her ways," said Mr. Jones to himself, musingly. +Then to his companion he said, "I brought you with me to try you, +Derrick. I hated to come myself, for I did not know what might be going +on, after all these squeezes and movements of the mine. It had to be +done, though, and it seemed a good opportunity for testing your courage, +so I asked you to come with me. As a mining engineer, you will often be +called upon to perform similar unpleasant and dangerous tasks." + +"I was afraid, and didn't want to come one bit," said Derrick, with a +nervous laugh. + +"That doesn't make any difference. I was afraid too, but we came all the +same. The proof of your courage is not whether you are afraid to do a +thing or not, but whether or not you do it." + +So Derrick's courage was tested, and withstood the test, which was +indeed fortunate; for, within a short time, he was to be placed in a +position that would try the courage of the bravest man in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +BURSTING OF AN UNDERGROUND RESERVOIR + + +Upon reaching the surface that evening, Derrick and the mine boss found +that the weather had greatly changed since noon and that a storm +threatened. It set in that night, and the rain poured down in a steady, +determined sort of way, as though it had made up its mind that this +time, at least, the earth should be thoroughly watered. + +When Derrick joined the other miners at the mouth of the slope in the +morning, it was still raining, and as they were lowered into the +underground world, the men joked with each other about getting in out of +the wet, and pitied the poor fellows who were obliged to work +above-ground on such a day. + +Descending the second slope into the lowest level of the mine, Tom Evert +and his party made an examination of the place in which they were to +work. The new excavations on this level were of limited extent, work +having only recently been begun on them; but a powerful pump had been +placed at the top of the slope leading down into them, and it was to +bring the accumulated water in the old workings within reach of it that +the mine boss had sent them down. + +Going up the old gangway, past the chamber at the foot of the air-shaft +which Derrick had such good reason to remember, they soon came to the +fallen mass of rock, coal, and earth through which they were to cut a +channel and insert a pipe for the release of the water beyond. The +material was too loose for blasting, so the work had to be done with +pick and shovel, and the debris removed with wheel-barrows, and +distributed along the gangway. It was hard, dangerous, and exhausting +work, and at the end of three days Derrick was heartily tired of it. + +Still the rain poured steadily down, and people in the upper world began +to talk of danger from floods, and great damage to the ungathered crops. +Even in the mine the effect of the heavy rain began to be noticed. The +drippings from the roof fell thicker and faster, the tricklings down the +walls became little rivulets, and the black streams in the ditches +swirled along angrily. The great pumps worked steadily, night and day, +at their fullest speed, and from the mouths of the waste-pipes young +rivers of black water were poured; but the mine grew constantly wetter +and more uncomfortable. + +Finally the mine boss decided that it was almost time to temporarily +abandon the lower workings, and allow them to fill up, so that the whole +force of both pumps might be directed towards keeping the upper level +free of water. He spoke to Tom Evert of this, and the latter begged for +just one day more, as he thought he had nearly cut through to the water, +and was anxious to get the pipe laid, and have that job off his hands. + +"Very well," said Mr. Jones, "you may have one day, Tom, and no more +until after the rain stops; for without both pumps in the upper level we +shall, very soon, have to shut down altogether." + +During the morning of that fourth day they uncovered a wall of rock, +which barred their way completely, and Tom Evert decided that at least +one blast would be necessary to force an opening through it. After +lunch-time he left the other miner, with the two helpers, to drill a +hole in it, while he went up into the village to procure some powder and +fuse for the work. + +Those left below had not been long at work when Derrick noticed a little +stream of water spurting out at one side of the rock. He called the +attention of the miner to it, and he, without a word, sprang to the +place and tried to check the stream, first with earth, and then with +strips torn from his shirt, but could not. As he stopped its flow at one +point, it burst out at another. + +Finally he exclaimed, "It's no use, boys! we'll never be able to draw +this water off through any pipe; it's going to take that business into +its own hands, and the best thing we can do is to get out of here quick +as we know how." + +Even as he spoke there came a rattling rush of earth and loose rock, +followed by the roar of angry waters, as they leaped out of the +blackness like a savage animal upon its prey. The long pent-up waters, +swollen by the heavy rains and scorning any effort to draw them off +gradually, had burst forth in all their fury, and in less time than it +takes to write of it, the old gangway was filled with the surging +torrent. + +At the first outbreak Derrick and his companions started to run for +their lives down the gangway, but as they reached the door of the +Mollies' meeting-room the torrent was upon them. They had barely time to +spring inside the door and close it as the mad waters swept past. The +door offered but a momentary protection, but ere it had been crushed in +they were climbing the old air-shaft towards the upper level. It was a +desperate undertaking, for the few timber braces left by those who had +cut the shaft were so far apart that often they had to dig little holes +for their hands and feet in the coal of the sides, and thus work their +way slowly and painfully upward. It was their only chance, and they knew +it, for they could hear the detached bits of falling coal and rock +splash into the water as it rose in the shaft behind them. + +Finally they reached the top. As they drew themselves wearily, with +almost the last of their strength, over the edge, and lay on the floor +of the gangway, they were filled with new terror at seeing the light +from their lamps reflected in the black waters apparently but a few feet +below them. The water was evidently rising into the upper level, and +before long their present place of refuge would be flooded. Urged by +this peril, they made all possible speed down the gangway into the new +workings at the foot of the slope, where they were confronted by a scene +of the greatest confusion. + +The gangways, headings, chambers, and breasts of the lower vein were +already full of the turbid flood, and the few miners who had been at +work down there had barely escaped with their lives into the level +above. Now the water was rising so rapidly that it was evident the upper +level would also be flooded in a few minutes. + +In the great chamber at the bottom of the slope that led to the upper +world and safety, miners were flocking from all parts of the workings. +Some were trying to drive frightened mules up the travelling-road; +others were throwing movable property into cars to be drawn up the +slope, and others still were crowding into the same cars, that they too +might reach a place of safety. + +The two men who were with Derrick ran to one of these cars, calling on +him to follow them. It was already so crowded that they could not wedge +themselves into it, so they clung on behind, and were thus dragged up +the slope. + +That Derrick did not follow them was because he thought of Paul Evert. +Poor little lame Paul! where was he amid all this danger and confusion? +Had he already got out of the mine, or was he still at his station back +in the dark gangway, unmindful of danger? Perhaps somebody had seen him. +Derrick shouted, "Where is Paul Evert? Has anybody seen him?" + +The answer came in the voice of one of the mule-boys. "Yes, I seed him, +'bout five minutes ago, when I run out de las' load. He ain't come out +yet." + +Could Derrick leave him down there, to take his chances of getting out +or drowning, while he sought safety for himself? + +With one instant of agonized thought he decided that he could not. +Snatching up a can of oil on which his eye happened to light as it stood +by the track just at the foot of the slope, he dashed into gangway No. +1, shouting as he did so, "I'm going to try and get Paul Evert out! If +we don't get back come and look for us; we'll hold out as long as we +can." + +They tried to stop him, and shouted to him to come back; that there was +no hope, and he was only throwing away his own life; but he paid no +attention to them, and was gone before they could prevent him. + +He had hardly disappeared from their sight when the water began to rush +and roar up from the mouth of the lower slope, in a froth-crowned, +surging torrent. At the same instant it poured out from the old gangway, +to which it had access through the air-shaft up which Derrick and his +companions had escaped. + +They knew by its great leaps and spurts that some other reservoir had +broken loose, and that before it found the level it was seeking the +whole mine must be flooded and drowned. There was no more thought of +saving property, but each man became intent only on escaping with his +life from the swirling flood. + +They had got several cars fastened together, ready for such an +emergency, and now these were quickly filled with grimy-faced, +frightened men and boys. The signal was given to hoist. There came a +strain on the great cable, and as the fierce waters rushed at them, and +even flung their black, wet arms about them as if to hold them back, the +cars were drawn up, slowly up, beyond reach of the destroying flood, +towards daylight and safety. + +At the top of the slope was another scene of wild anxiety and confusion +most pitiable to witness. Men, women, and children stood, without other +protection than their thin garments, in the pitiless rain, praying, +shouting, discussing, asking questions which nobody could answer, and +crowding forward to scan, with breathless anxiety, the faces of each +car-load of miners as it reached the surface. + +At the mouth of the slope stood Mr. Jones, in constant communication +with a trusty fellow down in the mine, at the other end of the +speaking-tube. With him were half a dozen steady men, upon whom he could +depend, and to whom he had given orders not to allow a living soul to go +down in any of the empty cars he was despatching as rapidly as possible +to those below, + +"There are plenty down there now," he said, "and perhaps more than can +be drawn up before the water reaches them. You can do no good there yet +awhile. When the time comes that I want volunteers to go down I'll let +you know fast enough." He kept the mouth of the travelling-road +similarly guarded, and no one was allowed to descend. + +Among those who pressed close to him, and begged, almost with tears in +their eyes, to be allowed to go down and make one effort to save their +loved ones before the waters reached them, was burly Tom Evert. + +"My lad, my crippled lad's down there, boss; ye can't refuse a feyther +the chance to save his boy," pleaded the big miner. + +"Tom, if he's not already at the foot of the slope, you know as well as +I that there's not one chance in ten thousand of finding and getting him +out. They tell me the water's rising fast on the upper level already. +No, my poor fellow, you must wait a bit. You're to be my right-hand man +in the work that I fear is ahead of us. I can't let you throw away your +life without a chance of its doing good." + +"And Derrick, boss, the brave lad I left in the low level facing the +waters. It's fearful to think on. If he's drownded and my lad's +drownded, their death'll be on my hands. I might ha' gone more slow and +cautious like. I might ha' kep' out altogether the day, an' let the low +level flood, as ye talked of, boss, but for being a pig-headed fool." + +"Don't take on that way, Tom. Cheer up, man. You'll see them all coming +up out of the trouble safe and sound yet. And don't take this matter to +heart as you're doing. If there's any blame to be placed it's on my +head; but I don't think there's blame to be placed on any of us. There's +One above who rules such matters, and who sends rain and floods as He +does the sunshine, all for some wise purpose." + +Just then word came up the speaking-tube that the water was gaining so +fast that all hands were about to leave the mine. At the same instant +the harsh clang of the engine-room gong was heard. The wire cable was +strained taut, and then began to move slowly over its rollers. "They are +coming!" shouts the mine boss. "Stand back and give them room." + +But the crowd could not stand back. Who were coming? Were all there, or +were some left? It was not in human nature to stand back. They must see, +and learn the worst at once. + +Oh, how slowly the cable moved! How terrible was the suspense! A great +silence fell upon the waiting people. It was unbroken save by the +creaking of the rollers on the slope, the pattering of raindrops, and an +occasional hysterical sob. + +At last the twinkling lights are seen down in the blackness. Then the +first car comes in sight; then another, and another, until at last the +entire train, with its human freight, has reached the surface. + +"Stay where you are, men!" commands the mine boss, "Answer to your names +as I call them off." + +The young man's voice rings out sharp and clear as he calls the long +roll, beginning, "Adams, Andrews, Apgar," and so on down the alphabet to +"Zegler"; and clear and prompt come back the answers, "Here, here, +here," of those who have come up from the pit. + +At last it is finished, and the awful truth is known. Nine men and boys +are unaccounted for, and they were not at the foot of the slope when the +cruel waters sprang into the great chamber and the last car was drawn +up. Nine are down there, alive or dead; and among them are Derrick +Sterling, Paul Evert, and Monk Tooley. + +With the cries and tears of joy over those who had come up and were +restored to loving hearts, a shudder passed over the assembly, and a +groan of anguish rose from it that was pierced by a single sharp cry. It +was that of a widowed mother for her only son. + +Springing on an empty car, and standing where all could see him, the +mine boss spoke to them. + +"It will all come out right yet," he said. "Keep up your courage. Those +brave fellows down there are not going to let themselves be drowned like +rats in a hole. They'll make a strong fight for life first, and it's +going to be a fight that we can help them in. They're safe enough for +the present, in some high place beyond the reach of the water, and there +they'll stay till we go for them and fetch them out. We'll have two more +pumps here and at work before morning. They will soon make room for us +to work down there. Then if we don't find the lads we're after, we are +no miners, that's all. There's a promise for you now! See it, men?" + +With this the speaker pointed to the eastern sky, and all eyes were +turned in that direction. From horizon to horizon it was spanned by a +glorious rainbow. One end rested on the opposite side of their own +valley, above the old workings of the mine, while the other was uplifted +on a lofty mountain-top. In the west the sun had broken through the +black rain-clouds, and was now sinking in a glory that passes +description. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IMPRISONED IN THE FLOODED MINE + + +Mr. Halford looked up from the paper that he was reading at the +breakfast-table in the pleasant Philadelphia home, and exclaimed, +"Here's an account of a terrible colliery disaster, wife; and I do +believe it is in Warren Jones's mine, the very one you and Nellie +visited a few days ago." + +"Oh, husband, it can't be!" + +"It certainly is, though. 'Raven Brook Colliery. Flooded last evening +just as men were about to quit work. Rushing waters cut off retreat of +nine men and boys, of whose fate nothing is yet known. Rest escape. +Water still rising. But little hope of a rescue. Following is list of +victims: Sterling, Evert, Tooley----'" + +"Not Derrick Sterling, father, nor Paul Evert, nor Bill Tooley?" +interrupted Miss Nellie, as she left her seat and went to look over his +shoulder. + +"Yes, my dear, those are the very names. Derrick, Paul, and Monk--not +Bill--Tooley; and here is something more about one of them: + +"'Derrick Sterling, whose name appears among those of the victims, is +the only son of the late Gilbert Sterling, a mining engineer, formerly +well known in this city. The young man was seen at the foot of the slope +just before the final rush of waters. He might easily have escaped, but +went back into the mine in the vain attempt to save his friend Paul +Evert, a crippled lad. He fully realized the terrible risk he was +running, for his last words were, "If we don't get out, come and look +for us." This is a notable instance of modern heroism, and is an example +of that greatest of all love which is willing to sacrifice life for +friendship.'" + +"Poor Derrick! Poor little Paul! Oh, it is too awful!" and +tender-hearted Nellie Halford burst into tears. + +So all the world knew that Derrick Sterling was a hero, and that, alive +or dead, he was somewhere in that flooded mine. After that morning +thousands of people who had never heard his name before eagerly scanned +the daily papers for more news concerning him and the poor fellows whose +fate he was sharing. + +Derrick had not gone far in his search for Paul Evert when his lamp, +which had been burning dimly for some minutes, though unnoticed in his +excitement, gave an expiring flash and went out. The boy's impulse was +to return to the foot of the slope for a new supply of oil. Then he +remembered that he had a canful with him, the one he had almost +unconsciously snatched up when he started on his present errand. Filling +the lamp in the dark was slow work, and occupied several minutes of +valuable time. + +While thus engaged his ear caught the sound of rushing waters that +seemed to come from out of the darkness behind him. Nearer and nearer it +came, and it grew louder and louder, as with trembling hand he struck a +match and relighted his lamp. Its first gleam fell upon a wall of black +waters rolling rapidly towards him, up the gangway, breast-high, and +cutting off all chance of escape. + +What should he do? It was useless to run; the waters could run faster +than he. It would be impossible to stem that fierce current and fight +his way out against it. Must he, then, die, alone in that awful place +with no sound save the roar of waters in his ears? Could it be that he +should never again see his mother and little Helen and the sunlight? Was +his life over, and must he be carried away by the black flood that was +reaching out to seize him? + +Like a flash these thoughts passed through his mind, and like another +flash came a ray of hope. Close beside him was the mouth of a chute +belonging to a breast that he knew followed the slant of the vein upward +for a great distance. + +He sprang towards it, flung his oil-can into it, and in another moment, +though the chute was above his head, he had climbed the slippery wall +and entered it. As he drew himself up beyond their reach the savage +waters made a fierce leap after him, and swept on with an angry, +snarling roar. A few minutes later they had risen above the mouth of the +chute and completely filled the gangway. Derrick was entombed, and the +door was sealed behind him. + +In the mean time a similar escape was being effected but a short +distance from him, though he knew nothing of it. Monk Tooley and four +other men working near him in a distant part of the mine received no +intimation of the outbreak of waters and the disaster that was about to +overwhelm them. Their first warning of trouble came with the stoppage of +the air-currents that supplied them with the very breath of life. + +For a few minutes they waited for them to be resumed; then, flinging +down their tools, and filled with a strange fear, they started through +the maze of galleries towards the slope. On their way they were joined +by Aleck, the blacksmith, and Boodle, his helper. Next they came upon +Paul Evert, standing anxiously by his door. He had become conscious, +without being able to explain how, that something terrible was about to +happen, though he had no idea what form the terror was to take. + +Joining the fugitives, he was hobbling along as fast as possible, and +trying to keep pace with their rapid strides, when Monk Tooley stopped, +picked him up, and, holding him like a baby in his strong arms, said, +"We'll get on faster dis way, lad." + +Half-way to the slope they met the advancing waters from which Derrick +had just escaped. + +The miner who was in advance gave a great cry of "It's a flood, mates, +and it's cut us off. We're all dead men!" + +"No we beant!" shouted Monk Tooley. "Up wid ye, men, inter de breast we +just passed." + +Running back a few steps to the mouth of a chute he had noticed a moment +before, the miner tossed Paul up into it much in the same way that +Derrick had tossed his oil-can into a similar opening. Springing up +after him, Tooley lent a hand to those behind, and with an almost +supernatural strength dragged one after another of them up bodily beyond +the reach of the flood. Only poor Boodle was caught by it and swept off +his feet; but he clutched the legs of the man ahead of him, and both +were drawn up together. In another minute they too were sealed in behind +an impassable wall of water. + +Although they did not know it at the time, they were in a chamber +adjoining that in which Derrick had sought refuge, and were divided from +him only by a single wall of coal a few feet thick. It was a very small +chamber, for the coal found in it proving of an inferior quality, it had +quickly been abandoned. The one on the opposite side of the wall from +them, in which Derrick found himself, was of great extent, being in fact +several breasts or chambers thrown into one by the "robbing out" of +their dividing walls of coal. + +"Out wid yer lights, men!" cried Monk Tooley as soon as they had all +been dragged in. "De air's bad enough now, an' de lamps 'll burn de life +outen it. Besides, we'll soon have need of all de ile dat's left in +'em." + +The air of that confined space was already heavy and close, with eight +men to breathe it, and eight lamps to consume its oxygen. Extinguishing +all the others, they sat around one lamp, pricked down low, for they +could not bear the thought of absolute darkness. + +Monk Tooley had assumed a sort of leadership among them, and by virtue +of it he ordered every lunch-pail to be emptied of what scraps of food +it contained, and all of it to be given to Paul for safe keeping. There +was not much--barely enough of broken crusts and bits of meat to fill +Paul's pail; but it was something, and must be doled out sparingly, for +already the men gazed at it with hungry eyes. + +Then they tried to talk of their situation and discuss the chances of +escape. On this subject they had but little to say, however, for they +all knew that long before the waters could be lowered so that any +attempt to save them could be made, the foul air of that small chamber +would have done its fatal work. Indeed, they knew that before one day +should have passed their misery would be ended. + +Even as they tried to talk, poor Boodle, saying that he was sleepy, lay +down on the bare rock floor, where he was almost instantly fast asleep +and breathing heavily. "'Tis like he'll never wake again," said one of +the miners, gloomily. + +"Let him sleep, then; 'tis the easiest way out of it," responded a +comrade. + +One after another they succumbed to the effects of the heavy atmosphere, +and fell asleep. Finally, all excepting the crippled lad, even including +Monk Tooley, whose light Paul had taken and set beside him, lay +stretched out on the hard floor, sound asleep and breathing in a +distressed manner. + +Paul felt drowsy, but the horror of his surroundings was too great to +admit of his sleeping. He wanted to think, and try and prepare his mind +for the awful unknown future that overshadowed him. As he thought, great +tears began to run down his thin cheeks, then came a choking sob, and he +buried his face in his hands. Gradually he became calm again, and his +thoughts resembled delightful dreams, so full were they of pleasant +things. In another moment they would have been dreams, and the last of +that little band would have been wrapped in a slumber from which neither +he nor they would ever have wakened. From this condition a sharp squeak +caused Paul to start and look up. + +Directly in front of him, and so close that he could have touched it, +was a large rat, whose eyes twinkled and glistened in the lamplight. As +Paul lifted his head it uttered another squeak and sat up on its +hind-legs. + +"I do believe it's Socrates," said Paul; and sure enough it was. + +Mechanically, and without thinking of what he was about, Paul took a bit +of meat from his lunch-pail and tossed it to the rat, which immediately +seized it in its mouth and scampered away. Then Paul realized that he +was wasting precious food, and made a vain effort to catch the rat. The +beast was too quick for him, and darted away towards a dark corner of +the chamber, whither Paul followed it, hoping to discover its nest and +perhaps recover the meat. + +He saw the rat run into a hole in the wall about two feet above the +floor; and putting his face down to it, trying to look in, he felt a +delicious current of fresh air. It was not very strong, but it caused +the flame of his lamp to flicker, so that he withdrew it hurriedly for +fear it should be extinguished. + +Suddenly he started as though he had been shot, and almost let fall the +lamp in his excitement. Had he heard a human voice? Of course not! How +absurd to imagine such a thing! But there it was again; and it said, + +"Holloa! Is anybody in there?" + +The sound came to his ear distinctly enough this time through the hole, +and placing his mouth close to it, Paul shouted back, + +"Holloa! Yes, we're in here, and we want to get out. Who are you?" + +The boy almost screamed for joy at the answer which came to this +question; for it was, + +"I'm Derrick Sterling. Are you Paul Evert?" + +Derrick was almost as greatly affected when the voice said, + +"Yes, I'm Paul, and there are a lot more of us in here, and we are +stifling. But oh, Derrick, dear Derrick! I'm so glad you're not +drowned." + +Then Paul went back to the others, and found it almost impossible to +waken them. He finally succeeded; and when they comprehended his great +news, each one had to go to the hole, draw in a deep breath of the fresh +air, and call through it to Derrick, for the sake of hearing him answer. +It was so good to hear a human voice besides their own; and though they +knew he was a prisoner like themselves, it somehow filled them with new +hope and longings for life. They had no tools with them, but all fell to +work enlarging the hole with knives, the iron handles of their +lunch-pails, or whatever else they could lay hands upon, while Paul +stood by and held the lamp. + +Although Derrick had plenty of air and space to move about in, his +situation had been fully as bad as theirs, for he had been alone. +Nothing is so terrible under such circumstances as solitude, with the +knowledge that you are absolutely cut off from mankind, and may never +hear a human voice again. + +He had pricked his lamp down very low so as to save his oil, and was +lying at full length on the cold floor, a prey to the most gloomy +thoughts. All sorts of fantastic forms seemed to mock at him out of the +darkness. He could almost hear their jeering laughter, and was rapidly +giving way to terror and despair, when a ray of light flickered for a +moment on the rocky roof above him. + +Springing to his feet and rubbing his eyes, he looked in the direction +from which it seemed to have come, and saw it again, shining through +what he had taken for a solid wall of rock. Then he called out, and Paul +Evert, the very one of whom he had been in search, answered him. + +Half an hour later the hole was sufficiently large to allow a man to +squeeze through it, and Derrick had thrown his arms around Paul, and +hugged him in his wild joy and excitement. + +The thing for which the miners felt most grateful, next to their escape +from the little stifling chamber and their meeting with Derrick, was his +can of oil. Now they knew that with care they might keep a lamp burning +for many hours; and the dread of total darkness, which is greater than +that of hunger, or thirst, or any form of danger, no longer oppressed +them. + +Aleck, the blacksmith, had a watch, and from it they learned that it was +still early in the evening; though it already seemed as if they had been +imprisoned for days. Some of the men began to complain bitterly of +hunger and to beg for food, but Monk Tooley said they should not eat +until the watch showed them that morning had arrived. + +To divert their thoughts, he proposed that they should make their way +along the breast to its farther end, so as to be as near as possible to +the slope and a chance of rescue. Acting upon this advice, they made the +attempt. It was a most difficult undertaking, for the floor was of +smooth slate, sloping at a sharp angle towards the gangway. It was like +trying to crawl lengthwise of a steep roof to get from one row of the +timbers that supported the upper wall to another. They were several +hours on the journey, but finally reached the end of the long breast in +safety. There they must wait until relieved from their awful situation +by death, or by a rescuing party who would be obliged to tunnel through +many yards of rock and coal to reach them. + +They managed to construct a rude platform of timbers, on which to rest +more comfortably than on the smooth sloping rock floor, and here most of +them lay down to sleep. + +Derrick and Paul lay side by side, with arms thrown about each other's +necks. The former was nearly asleep when his companion whispered, +"Dare!" + +"Yes, Polly." + +"Here's something for you; and if I don't live to get out, you'll always +keep it to remember me by, won't you?" + +"I shouldn't need it for that, Polly; but I'll always keep it, whatever +it is." + +It was Paul's sketch of the underground picnic-party, and Derrick knew +what it was when he took it and thrust it into the bosom of his shirt, +though days passed before he had a chance to look at it. + +Three days after this the same men and boys lay on their log platform, +in almost the same positions, but they were haggard, emaciated, faint, +and weak. Their last drop of oil had been burned, and they were in total +darkness. A light would have shown that they lay like dead men. + +Suddenly one of them lifts his head and listens. "Thank God! thank God!" +he exclaims, in a husky voice, hardly more than a whisper, "I hear them! +they're coming!" + +Derrick's quick ear had detected the muffled sound of blows, and his +words gave new life to the dying men around him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +TO THE RESCUE!--A MESSAGE FROM THE PRISONERS + + +From the moment the news came that nine men and boys were imprisoned in +the flooded mine, preparations for their rescue, or at least of learning +their fate, were pushed with all vigor. Although it had stopped raining, +the night was dark, and great bonfires were lighted about the mouth of +the slope. These were placed in charge of the old breaker boss, Mr. +Guffy, and his boys, who fed them with dry timbers, and kept up the +brilliant blaze until daylight. + +Around these fires the entire population of the village stood and +discussed the situation; and by their light the workers were enabled to +perform their tasks. The miners were divided into gangs, headed by the +mine boss and by Tom Evert, and their work was the fetching of the steam +pumps from across the valley and setting them up near the mouth of the +slope. They had to be connected, by long lines of iron pipe, with the +boilers under the breaker, and from each a double line of hose was +carried down the slope until water was reached. + +It was nearly daylight when these operations were completed, and a faint +cheer went up from the weary watchers as they saw four powerful streams +of water added to the torrent that the regular mine pump had kept +flowing all night. + +"Now, men," said the mine boss, when he saw that all was working to his +satisfaction, "I want you to go home and get all the solid rest you can +in the next two days, for after that I shall probably call upon you to +work night and day." + +"We'll be ready boss, whenever you give the word," was the prompt answer +from a score of stalwart fellows. Then all turned towards their homes, +knowing they could do nothing more until the pumps had prepared a way +for them. + +During the next day the news of the disaster spread far and wide, and +from all sides visitors poured into the little village. Among these were +a number of reporters from the metropolitan papers, some of whom, filled +with a sense of their own importance, buzzed around like so many +bumblebees. They blundered into all sorts of places where they had no +business, bored everybody whom they could approach with absurd +questions, and made of themselves public nuisances generally. + +While some among them acted thus foolishly, there were others who +behaved like gentlemen and the sensible fellows they were. Of these the +most noticeable was a well-built, pleasant-faced young man, named Allan +McClain. He asked few questions, but each one had evidently been well +considered and was directly to the point. He was quiet and unobtrusive, +never displayed a note-book or pencil, kept his eyes and ears wide open, +and, as a result, sent to his paper the best accounts of the situation +that were published. How he did it was a mystery to the others, few of +whom had even thought of giving to their business the careful study and +attention that McClain bestowed upon it. + +The mine boss had been particularly annoyed by the conduct of several of +these members of the press, and when they applied to him for permission +to accompany the first gang of workmen down into the mine, he firmly but +courteously said "No." + +He explained to them the dangers attending the proposed undertaking, and +that there would be no room in the mine for any but those actively +engaged in the work of rescue. + +Some of the reporters made such an outcry at this, and talked so loudly +of their rights and of what they would do in case the mine boss +persisted in his refusal, that he finally said if they could not behave +better than they had he should be compelled to order them from the +colliery altogether. + +During this scene Allan McClain listened to all that was said without +speaking a word. Shortly afterwards the mine boss, meeting him alone, +said, "I am sorry, sir, to be obliged to include you in my apparent +discourtesy, but you know that if I made a single exception I could not +enforce my rule." + +"I know it, Mr. Jones," was the pleasant answer, "and I do not expect +any privileges that may not be extended to the rest. Your action will, +however, make no difference to me, as I expect to leave the village +to-day." + +Allan McClain did take the afternoon train away from Raven Brook, after +bidding his companions good-by; but none of them knew where he had gone +or the reasons for his departure. + +The pumping of the mine was so successful that two days later the water +in it was lowered a few feet below the roof of the great chamber at the +bottom of the slope. The mine boss had watched it closely, going down +almost every hour to note the change of its level, and he now decided +that the time had come to begin more active operations. + +The day before, a sturdy young man, much begrimed with coal-dust, and +wearing a rough suit of mine clothes that had evidently seen long +service, had presented himself at the mouth of the slope, and asked +leave to take part in the rescue, in case there was any way in which he +could be made useful. He said that he came from the neighboring colliery +of Black Run, where the Raven Brook men had once rendered good service +during a time of disaster, and that his name was Jack Hobson. The mine +boss had thanked him for his offer of assistance, and said he would +gladly accept it if he found an opportunity. The young man remained near +the scene of operations, making himself so generally useful, and +performing with such promptness and intelligence any little task given +him, that the mine boss took a decided fancy to him before the day was +over. + +Now that Mr. Jones wanted three reliable men to go down with him and +make an exploration, he selected Tom Evert, Jack Hobson, and another +young miner who had a brother among the victims of the flood. + +The departure of this little party was watched by a great crowd of +people, who realized that if work could not be begun at once there would +be little chance of finding any of the imprisoned men alive. Among the +spectators were many reporters, any one of whom would gladly have paid a +round sum to be taken along, and thus gain an opportunity of describing +the appearance of the drowned mine. + +At the foot of the slope the exploring party found a rude but strong +flat-boat that the mine boss had caused to be built and sent down for +this very purpose. Sitting in it with bent bodies, for there was but +little space beneath the roof of the chamber, they pushed off across the +black waters and began a voyage so weird and mysterious that at first +their thoughts found no expression in words. + +All about them floated traces of the disaster; here the body of a +drowned mule, and there a bale of hay, or a quantity of timbers that, +wrenched and broken, told of the awful force of the waters. These and +many like tokens of destruction came slowly within the narrow circle of +light from their lamps, and vanished again behind them. + +After a careful search along the opposite side of the chamber, they +located gangway No. 1, in which the water was still within two inches of +the roof. + +"It'll be some time afore we can get in there, sir," said Tom Evert. + +"Yes, Tom, three days at least, perhaps more." + +"T' big breast lies in here on this side t' gangway." + +"I know it, Tom; and if you'll pick out the spot that promises easiest +working, we'll open a heading into it. We may find them there. If we +don't we can work our way through it, above the water level, to the wall +that divides it from the next one. Some of them are almost sure to be +there if they're still alive." + +"That's what I think, sir; and if you say so, we'll start in right here. +Can you tell just how far in t' breast lies?" + +"If that's all, we'll soon knock a hole through that, and then, please +God, I'll find my crippled lad, an' t' brave one that went back after +him. If we find 'em dead, old Tom Evert don't never want to come out +alive. He couldn't." + +"Never fear, Tom, we'll find them alive," said the mine boss, cheerily. +"I have full faith that we shall. If they're only in the big breast +we'll have them out in three days more. Now, men, drive those staples +into the wall, make the boat fast to them, and pitch in. As soon as +you've cut a shelf to work on, I'll go back for fresh hands. This job's +going to be done with half-hour reliefs." + +Jack Hobson held the staples in position while Tom Evert, lying on his +side, drove them into the wall of solid coal with a dozen blows from his +heavy hammer. + +These were the blows heard faintly by Derrick Sterling on the farther +side of that massive wall; and the welcome sound carried with it new +life and hope to him and his fainting comrades. + +Dropping the hammer, and seizing his pick, the burly miner struck a +mighty blow at the wall, and followed it up with others so fast and +furious that the coal fell rattling into the boat, or splashing into the +water in glistening showers. The work of rescue was begun. + +As he sat there, Jack Hobson's eye lighted on a long, dark object +floating near them, and calling attention to it, he said, + +"Don't you think, sir, that water trough might be bailed out and used as +a sort of boat to establish communication between this point and the +foot of the slope? I have been used to canoes, and believe I could +manage it." + +The mine boss said it was a good idea, and he could try if he wanted to. + +So the trough, which was simply a long, flat-bottomed box, was brought +alongside, bailed out, and placed in charge of the young man from Black +Run. He made a rude paddle, and during the next two days did capital +service in ferrying miners and tools back and forth between the opposite +sides of the chamber. By this addition to the underground fleet the +large boat could be left at the entrance to the heading, where it proved +most useful as a landing-stage. + +The work was pushed with all possible speed, a dozen of the strongest +and most skilful miners, who handled their picks with desperate energy, +taking half-hourly turns each at driving the heading. Behind the miner +who was thus at work, other men passed out the loosened material from +hand to hand, and thus kept the opening clear. Whenever there was no +demand for his services as ferry-man, Jack Hobson took his place among +these workers, and by his cheering words and tireless energy kept up +their spirits and spurred them on to greater efforts. + +When they had got about half-way through it was thought best to close +the outer end of the heading with an air-tight door, and place another +ten feet behind it, thus forming an airlock. Fresh air was forced into +and compressed in the heading by means of an air-pump operated from the +flat-boat at the outer end. These precautions were taken for fear lest +when they broke through into the breast the air in it, compressed by the +flood, should rush out with destructive force. It was also feared that, +relieved from its air pressure, the water in the breast would rise and +cut off the escape of any persons who might be in there. + +The position of those engaged in the work of rescue was by no means free +from peril. The pumps, running at fullest speed, were barely able to +keep the water from rising and flooding the new heading, so great and +continuous was the flow into the mine from the soaked earth above it. +They did not know but that any moment some fresh and unsuspected +accumulation in the old workings might break forth and send a second +flood pouring in upon them. Above all there was an ever-present danger +from foul gases, which formed so rapidly that at times work had to be +entirely suspended until they could be cleared away. Thus every time the +relief men went down to their self-imposed labor their departure was +watched by anxious women with tearful eyes and heavy hearts. + +For a day and a night these stout-hearted men worked without knowing +whether they sought the living or the dead. On the afternoon of the +second day, during a momentary pause in the steady rattle of the picks, +Jack Hobson, who was at the inner end of the heading, thought he heard a +knocking. Calling for perfect silence, he listened. Yes, it was! Faint, +but unmistakable, it came again. + +"Tap, tap, tap; tap, tap, tap; tap, tap, tap," and a pause. Then it was +repeated, and its meaning could not be doubted. As plain as human +speech, it said, + +"Here we are, still alive, but in great distress. We know you are +coming, but you must hurry." + +From mouth to mouth the joyful news was carried out from the heading, +across the sullen waters, up the slope to the anxious waiting throngs, +and on throbbing wires throughout the length and breadth of the land. + +Mrs. Sterling heard it and lifted her tear-stained face in earnest +thankfulness to Heaven. The Halfords heard it in Philadelphia, and Mr. +Halford said he could stand it no longer, but must go to Raven Brook and +be on hand when the men were rescued. Before another sun rose that faint +tapping made in the recesses of the drowned mine by Derrick Sterling +with a bit of rock had been heard around the world. + +Now the brave fellows in the heading knew what they were working for, +and the blows of their picks fell faster and harder than ever on the +glistening wall that still opposed its black front to them. + +The excitement at the mouth of the mine was now intense, and every man +who came up from it was besieged by anxious inquiries for the very +latest news. What was the meaning of the three taps three times +repeated? Did it signify that there were nine persons in the breast, or +only three? If only three, where were the others? Who were the three? +How many were alive? Were any dead? These and a thousand like questions +were asked and discussed, but nobody could answer them certainly. + +The reports brought up were only regarding the progress of the work. So +many feet in an hour, so many yards a day. Now there are only six feet +more to cut through; now five, four, three, and now but eighteen inches. +The suspense is terrible. To the mothers and wives waiting for the end +up in the little village it is almost too great to be borne. To the +haggard men behind those eighteen inches of black rock it seems as +though the breath of fresh air for want of which they are dying would +come too late. + +They press eagerly against the wall, and in their feebleness pick vainly +at it with their fingers. It will not yield. Even Monk Tooley, who was +so fierce and strong five days before, can make no impression on it. + +Now but one foot of wall remains, and Tom Evert pauses in his task to +dash the sweat-drops from his eyes, and to call, as he has already a +dozen times, + +"Holloa! Holloa in there!" + +Like an echo comes the answer, faint but distinct, + +"Holloa! Hurry!" + +He only stops to call louder than before, but with a tremble in his +voice, + +"Is--Paul--Evert--alive?" and with ear held against the wet wall he +breathlessly awaits the answer. + +"Yes." + +The word is enough, and with the fury and strength of a giant he again +attacks the wall. He pays no attention to the relief who is ready to +take his place. He knows nothing, cares for nothing, save that his boy +is waiting for him beyond those few inches of crumbling coal. + +At last his pick strikes through. A few more desperate strokes and the +barrier is broken away. He springs into the breast. Another instant and +his crippled lad, whom he had thought never to see again, is strained to +his heart, and the burly miner is sobbing like a child. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +RESTORED TO DAYLIGHT + + +In the overwhelming joy of the moment, Tom Evert had no thought save for +the son whom he had snatched from the very gates of death. He was +absolutely unconscious of the presence of another human being in the +breast, nor did the broken words of blessing and gratitude uttered by +the faint-voiced miners find their way to his ear. His instinct was to +get his lad out from that stifling, foul-aired place, and, still holding +him in his arms, he crawled back through the heading, was borne swiftly +across the waters from which he had snatched their prey, and drawn up +the slope. + +As he stepped from the car at its mouth, and they saw what it was he +bore so tenderly and proudly, a mighty cheer went up from the assembled +throng. Another and another. They were wild with joy. The long suspense +was over, the terrible strain was relaxed, and they gave way to their +feelings. + +Suddenly they noticed that the drooping head of the lad was not lifted +from the broad shoulder on which it rested. His arms hung limp and +lifeless. A great silence came over the multitude. They stood +awe-stricken, as in the presence of death, and pressing aside in front +of the advancing miner, they made way for him to pass. + +Still bearing his burden, unconscious of all besides, and looking +neither to the right nor to the left, Tom Evert passed through the human +lane thus formed, and went home--home to the rude, unpainted house in +which Paul was born, and which, during the darkness and despair of the +past five days, had been a constant picture before his mind's eye--home +to the mother whose tenderest love has ever been for her crippled boy. +Home! + +Although Tom Evert, with eyes and ears only for his own, had no thought +of the others for whom he had broken open the prison door, there was no +lack of warm hearts and willing hands to help them. + +Following close after the miner Warren Jones entered the breast, and +directly behind him was Jack Hobson. The light from their lamps dazzled +the eyes that for three days had lived in a darkness as absolute as +though no light existed in the universe. Turning them away from the +light, the prisoners listened eagerly for the voices of their +deliverers. The first words they heard were from the mine boss, the man +on whom they had depended, and who they knew had planned and carried out +their rescue. + +"Are you all here, men?" + +"There's nine of us." + +"And all alive?" + +"All alive yet, thank God; though Boodle, poor lad, is wellnigh gone." + +"Where is Derrick Sterling?" + +"Here I am, sir," came a weak but well-known voice from back in the +darkness. + +Before Mr. Jones could locate it, the young man who had followed him so +closely into the breast sprang to the side of the lad, and seizing his +hand, exclaimed, + +"Derrick Sterling, you are a splendid fellow, and this is one of the +very happiest moments of my life!" + +"Who are you?" asked Derrick, faintly. + +"My name is Allan McClain," was the answer, "and if you will give me +your friendship I shall consider it an honor to be proud of." + +Trying weakly to return the hand-pressure of the young stranger, Derrick +answered, + +"He who has come to our rescue at the risk of his own life must indeed +be my friend!" + +Then the mine boss found them, and saying, "Drink this, my poor, brave +lad," gave him a cup of rich warm soup, that had been made nearly an +hour before, and kept warm over a spirit-lamp in the boat, just outside +the heading. + +It filled the boy with new life, and when he and the others had drank of +it all that was allowed them, they felt strong enough to crawl out +through the heading. + +Derrick was the first to go and the first to be drawn up the slope, +supported in the car by the young man to whom he had just given his +friendship. As they approached the blessed sunlight, and the weary lad +caught its first gleam, still far above him, he pressed the hand of his +companion, and could do nothing but gaze at it. Could it be the very +light of day that he had longed for and prayed for and despaired of ever +seeing again? He knew it must be, but it seemed almost too glorious to +be real. + +When they reached the surface, the light that had roused such a tumult +of feeling within him revealed two great tears coursing slowly down +through the grime of his hollow cheeks. + +The excitement over Paul Evert's appearance was as nothing compared with +that aroused by the sight of Derrick Sterling. Had not his name been a +household word throughout the land for days? Was he not a brave fellow +whom they all loved? Could they cheer loud enough or long enough to do +him honor, and testify their joy at his deliverance? It did not seem as +though they could; and poor Derrick stood before them, trembling with +strong emotion, without knowing which way to turn or look. + +The reporters, who were taking mental notes of his appearance, also +gazed curiously at the young man who had come up from the mine with him, +and on whom he now leaned. He was a miner, of course, for he was dressed +in mine clothes, and was as begrimed as the sootiest delver of them all, +but who was he? He had somewhere lost his miner's cap, and the yellow, +close-cropped curls of his uncovered head had a strangely familiar look. + +He noticed their stares, knew what was passing in their minds, and +laughingly said: + +"Yes, fellows; I'm McClain of the _Explorer_, and I guess I've got a +beat on you all this time." Then to Derrick he said, "Come, Sterling, we +must get out of this; there's a mother waiting for you over there." + +Just then another car-load of rescued men was drawn up, and again the +excited spectators broke forth in a tumult of cheers. Under cover of +this diversion, Derrick, half supported by Allan McClain, walked slowly +away towards the little vine-covered cottage at the end of the village +street. Here his mother awaited him, for she felt that their meeting was +something too sacred to be witnessed by stranger eyes. + +At the mouth of the slope similar meetings were taking place between +others who had less self-control or less delicacy, but who, in their +way, showed equal affection and deep feeling. Wives greeted husbands who +appeared to them as risen from the dead, and mothers wept over sons whom +they had deemed lost to them forever. + +As Monk Tooley stepped from the car, the first to hold out a hand to him +was his son Bill, leaning on a crutch, and still bearing traces of his +illness. His greeting was, + +"Well, feyther, we've missed yer sad! Thought maybe yer wouldn't get +back no more." + +"I'm not dat easy got rid of, lad. Had a plenty ter eat, hain't yer?" + +"Plenty, feyther, sich as it was." + +"Dat's more'n I have, an' I hope yer've saved a bite fer yer dad. +Starvin's hungry work." + +Nothing else was overheard; but the tones of the rough man and his +equally rough son held an unwonted accent of tenderness. As they grasped +each other's hand, one gazed curiously at his father's haggard face, and +the other cast a pitying glance at his son's rude crutch. + +Not the least interested spectator of these touching scenes was Mr. +Halford, who had arrived that morning from Philadelphia. When, after all +the rest had been sent safely to the surface the mine boss was drawn up +the slope, and was in turn greeted with a rousing cheer, that gentlemen +slipped an arm through his, and led him away, saying, + +"You have done nobly, Warren, and I am proud to call you brother." + +"I could have done nothing, Harold, if these brave fellows had not stood +by me as they have." + +"And they could have done nothing without your level head to direct them +and your splendid example to stimulate them." + +So the great colliery disaster was happily ended, and in Raven Brook +village great sorrow was turned to great joy. + +As the two gentlemen sat talking together in the room that the mine boss +called his den, that evening, Mr. Halford said, + +"By-the-way, Warren, I did not take this trip wholly out of curiosity to +witness your rescue of the miners. I want to learn something of this +young Sterling. Did you know his father?" + +"Yes, he was one of my warmest friends." + +"Was his name Gilbert?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you know whether he ever lived in Crawford County?" + +"That is where he came from; he was born and raised there." + +"Did you ever hear him speak of owning any property there?" + +"I have heard him mention a little old rocky farm that was left to him; +but he always spoke of it as being too poor to have any value. In fact +he once told me that it was not worth the taxes he paid on it." + +"I declare, I believe it is the very place! If these Sterlings turn out +to be the people you lead me to think they are, Warren, there's a small +fortune awaiting them." + +"What! a fortune awaiting the widow Sterling and Derrick? It can't be! +Why, they haven't a relative in the world." + +"That may all be, but what I tell you is true. If this Gilbert Sterling +was a son of Deacon Giles Sterling of Newfields, in Crawford County, his +heirs are the owners of one of the most valuable bits of property in the +State. Why, man, this little old rocky farm you speak of, if it is the +same--and I am inclined to think it must be--lies in the very centre of +the richest oil district that has yet been discovered. The best-paying +well owned by our company is located on its border. For a clear title to +that farm I am authorized to offer twenty-five thousand dollars cash, +and a one-fifth interest in whatever oil may be taken from it." + +The next morning Mr. Jones called at the Sterlings', and was amazed to +find Derrick already showing signs of recovery. A splendid constitution +and a determined will, aided by twelve hours of sleep and an abundance +of nourishing food, were already beginning to efface the traces of +hunger and suffering. + +The boy gave his visitor a cheerful greeting, and tried to express +something of his gratitude in words, but they failed him utterly. + +The other said, "Don't try, Derrick. It's over now, and we all have +cause for the most profound gratitude; but each of us understands the +other's feelings, and there is no need of words between us." + +Mrs. Sterling's eyes were filled with happy tears as, sitting beside her +son, she tried to tell something of the pride she felt in him. After a +while she said, + +"I know it's wrong, but I can't help trying to look ahead a little, and, +I confess, with some anxiety. I want my boy to do what is right, and I +do not want him to remain idle; but oh! Mr. Jones, I cannot let him go +down into that awful mine again. It has nearly killed him; and I am sure +I could not survive another such experience." + +"I don't blame you for feeling as you do," said the young man, "and I +think perhaps some other arrangement can be made. One reason for my +calling this morning was to ask if I might bring a gentleman to see you +who is greatly interested in Derrick, and desirous of making his +acquaintance. Are you willing that I should, and do you think Derrick is +strong enough to receive visitors?" + +"Certainly I am," said Mrs. Sterling; and Derrick answered for himself +that he felt strong enough to see any number of gentlemen who were +interested in him. + +So Mr. Jones left them, and shortly afterwards returned with Mr. +Halford, who soon won his way to the mother's heart by saying pleasant +things about her boy, and to Derrick's by thanking him for his kindness +to Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie. He said that he had been especially +commissioned by his daughter to inquire concerning the welfare of her +bumping-mule, and was glad to hear from Derrick that that knowing animal +was rapidly recovering from his injuries. + +The conversation was led on from one thing to another, until Mr. Halford +was satisfied that he had really found the family of whom he was in +search. Then he told them of the good-fortune in store for them, +provided they could prove their ownership of the little Bradford County +farm. + +Trembling with excitement, Mrs. Sterling brought out a box full of her +husband's papers, among which was found a deed for the farm, and +receipts for taxes paid up to the time of his death. + +Having satisfied himself of the correctness of these, Mr. Halford made +them the offer of which he had spoken to Mr. Jones the evening before. +Then he left them, saying he knew they would want some time to consider +his proposition, and that he would call the next day to learn their +decision. + +After their visitors had gone, Derrick and his mother gazed wonderingly +at each other. Could it all be true? Were their days of poverty really +over? Was the overworked mother to have a release from the toil and the +bitter anxieties that made her look so thin and careworn? Were Derrick's +dreams of a college education and a profession about to be realized? + +Long and earnestly they talked, but not as to what answer they should +give Mr. Halford. They had decided that almost before he left. They +talked with grateful and loving hearts of the Heavenly Father who had so +ordered their ways as to turn their very darkness into brightest light. +As she thought over her mercies, the wonderful promises that had +sustained the widowed mother through so many an hour of trial came back +to her with their fullest force. + +That afternoon Derrick felt strong enough to walk out, and went to the +Everts' to see his dear friend and recent companion in suffering. He +found Paul able to see and talk to him, but in bed, and very weak and +languid. + +"If I could only get away, far away from it all, Dare," he said. "The +horror of the mine hangs over me all the time, and I'd almost rather +never get well than go down into it again." + +Then Derrick bent down and whispered something that brought a new light +into the crippled lad's eyes and a faint flush to his pale cheeks. + +"Oh, Dare!" he exclaimed. "Is it true? Really! Do you mean it?" + +Derrick answered that it was true, and he meant every word of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +GOOD-BY TO THE COLLIERY + + +What Derrick whispered to Paul Evert as he bent over him was: "You +needn't ever go down in the mine again, Polly. I want you to go to +Philadelphia with me to learn to be an artist. The money's ready, and +it's all fixed that I'm to go; and if you only say the word it will be +fixed for you to go too. I'm only waiting for you to get strong to tell +you the whole story. Don't say a word about it yet, though, for it's a +secret." + +A hope like this was a wonderful medicine to the delicate lad, and when, +an hour later, his father came in, he was astonished at the change for +the better that had come over him. + +"Why, Paul lad, an hour since I was thinking I'd saved thee for naught +but to die, after all," said the miner. "Now I find thee bright and +smiling, and chipper as a tomtit. Whatever's happened?" + +"Derrick's been to see me, father." + +"Ay; I might ha' know'd it. No other could cheer thee like him. He's a +noble lad, and a true friend o' thine, Paul. I doubt if another would +ha' gone back i' t' face o' t' skirling waters on chance o' saving +thee." + +"I'm sure not, father." + +While Paul was thus talking of Derrick, Derrick was talking of Paul. + +He had gone home full of a newly formed plan. In fact plans had formed +themselves so rapidly in his mind since Mr. Halford's visit that they +were already trying to crowd each other from his memory. The one now +uppermost was in regard to Paul. + +Going to his own room, he took out from a small drawer, where he kept +his choicest treasures, the sketch of the underground picnic party that +Paul had drawn down in the mine, and given him while they were +imprisoned together in the darkness. It was soiled and a little torn, +but every spot of grime upon it was a memento of that terrible +experience; and though the picture was of recent origin, associations +were already clustered so thickly about it that to Derrick it was a +priceless treasure. + +Showing it to his mother, he asked what she thought of it. + +"I think it is capital!" she exclaimed. + +Then Derrick told her the story of the sketch, of Paul's longing to be +an artist, and his dread of going into the mine again. He ended by +saying, "Now, mother, when I go to Philadelphia to prepare for college, +can't Polly go with me and study to be an artist? He won't be very +expensive, and I'm sure we're going to have money enough for all." + +"Of course he can, Derrick. I would much rather you had a companion than +to go alone, and I know you two will enjoy much together, and be of +great help to each other. As for the money, dear, I would rather remain +poor all my life than not have you willing to share whatever you have +with those who need it. The longer you live, Derrick, the more fully you +will realize that the greatest pleasure to be gained from money is by +spending it for the happiness of others." + +So it was settled that Derrick and Paul should go to Philadelphia +together, and Paul made such haste to get strong, so as to hear the +whole story, that it had to be told to him that very evening. + +By the next morning, when Mr. Halford called upon the Sterlings to +receive their answer to his offer, they had already in imagination spent +so much of the money they expected to receive from him that it would +have been impossible for them to say anything but "Yes," even if they +had wanted to. + +Mr. Halford was greatly pleased with the plans made for Derrick and +Paul, and promised to look out for them in Philadelphia, secure a +pleasant boarding-place for them, and see that they got into the best +schools in the city. He said they ought to start as soon as possible, +for the autumn terms were about to begin. Before he left he handed Mrs. +Sterling a check for a larger amount of money than she had ever in her +life possessed. He said she might find it convenient for immediate use +while the necessary steps for the transfer of the little Crawford County +farm to the great oil company were being taken. + +In two weeks after Mr. Halford's departure everything was in readiness +for that of the boys, and the time had arrived for them to start for the +great city. + +Harry Mule, whose leg had been so well mended that it could be taken out +of splints, was to be left in charge of Bill Tooley. Bill was to be +allowed to hire him out to the mine boss as soon as he was able to work, +and that gentleman had promised them both a job at hauling waste cars +over the dump. Thus neither of them would be obliged to go down into the +mine again. + +Bill Tooley was now able to walk without his crutch; but his leg would +always be stiff, and he would never be free from a limp in his gait. As +Harry Mule had the same peculiarity in his, they became known in the +colliery as the two "Stiffies." Under this title they acquired +considerable fame for their fondness for each other, and for the wisdom +of one of them. + +The first of October was a glorious autumn day, and even the ragged +colliery village looked pretty, after a fashion, in the golden haze +through which the rising sun shone down upon it. + +As Derrick, and Paul, accompanied by Mrs. Sterling, Helen, the mine +boss, and burly Tom Evert, walked down to the little railway-station, +the miners of the day shift were gathering about the mouth of the slope, +and preparing to descend into the recently pumped-out workings. From +them came many a rough but honest farewell shout to the boys who had +endeared themselves to all the village. + +"Tak' care o' thysels, lads!" "We'll not forget ye, an' ye'll bear us in +mind!" "Whene'er thee's tired o' city, coom back, an' ye'll find a +welcome!" "Mind t' fire-damp i' t' city, lads, an' use naught but +safeties!" "Good-by!" + +As long as they were within hearing the boys, shouted back such answers +as, "We'll try to!" "Thank you, Ike! We won't forget you; never fear!" +"Good-by all!" + +Then the train came along. A few loving words were hastily spoken, and +they were off. The hard, grimy, perilous life of the breaker and the +mine was left behind, and a new one of study, ambitious dreams, and +successes was opening broadly before them. + +[Illustration: GOOD-BY TO THE COLLIERY] + +At first the boys were inclined to feel very homesick, and their +conversation was only of the dear ones whom they had just left. +Gradually the feeling wore off, as their attention was attracted by the +grand scenery through which they were travelling. + +Paul revelled in the gorgeous coloring of the autumnal foliage which +covered mountain, hill, and valley with splendid mantles of crimson and +gold. As the train, following the picturesque windings of the Lehigh, +crept along some mountain-side hundreds of feet above the low-lying +bottom lands, his delight at the vast expanse of exquisite scenery +unfolded before them knew no bounds. + +"I didn't know the world was so beautiful," he said to Derrick, with a +sigh of deep content, as the vivid pictures of the grand panorama +flashed rapidly by. + +Derrick shared this enthusiasm, though to a less extent. He was more +interested in the various forms of mining operations which were to be +seen on all sides. His continued exclamations of, "Oh, Paul! look at +that new breaker," or, "Isn't that a capital idea for a slope?" at last +attracted the attention of a middle-aged gentleman who, with a lady, +occupied the seat immediately behind them. + +Finally he leaned forward, and, speaking to Derrick, said, "Excuse me; +but as you seem to be familiar with mining operations, perhaps you will +kindly tell me what the great black buildings, of which we now see so +many, are used for?" + +"Why," answered Derrick, somewhat surprised that anybody should be +ignorant regarding what to him were among the commonest objects of life, +"those are breakers." Then seeing that the other was still puzzled, he +explained, simply and clearly, the uses of breakers, and in a few +minutes found himself engaged in earnest conversation with the stranger +upon mining in general, and coal mining in particular. + +At last the gentleman said, "You seem to be as well informed on the +subject as a miner." + +"I am, or rather I have been employed in a mine until very recently," +answered Derrick. + +"Indeed! It must be a most interesting occupation, but I should think a +very dangerous one. I have a son who visited one of these coal-mines at +the time of a disaster that threatened a number of lives, and his +accounts of what he saw and experienced at the time are very thrilling. +It was, I believe, at a place called Raven Brook." + +It was now Derrick's turn to be interested, and he said, "Why, that's +where we have just come from! Raven Brook is the station at which we +took the train." + +"If I had known that we were to stop there," said the gentleman, "I +believe my wife and I would have got off and waited over one train, for +we have been very curious to see the place. We have been on a trip to +the West," he added, by way of explanation, "and our son's accounts of +his experience came to us by letter. Besides, we read much of that +disaster in the papers." + +"It was awful," said Derrick, simply. + +"Then you were in the village at the time? Perhaps you know a brave +young fellow named Derrick Sterling?" + +A quick flush spread over the boy's face as he answered, "That is my +name." + +"What!" exclaimed the gentleman; "are you the young man who went back +into the mine and risked his life to save a friend?" + +"I expect I am," answered Derrick, with burning cheeks; "and this is the +friend I went to find." + +"Well, of all wonderful things!" cried the stranger. "To think that we +should meet you of all persons. Wife, this is Derrick Sterling, the +brave lad that Allan wrote to us about, and whose name has been so much +in the papers lately." + +"You don't mean to say," exclaimed Derrick, "that you are Allan +McClain's father?" + +"I am," answered the gentleman; "and this is his mother. We are both +very proud to make the acquaintance of the Derrick Sterling of whom our +boy writes that he is proud to call him friend." + +Paul received an almost equal share of attention with Derrick; and +during the rest of the journey their new-found friends did everything in +their power to make the time pass quickly and pleasantly to them. + +Both Mr. and Mrs. McClain gave the boys an urgent invitation to make +their house their home, at least until they selected a boarding-place, +and were greatly disappointed to learn that this was already provided +for them. + +Nothing could exceed Allan McClain's amazement when, upon meeting his +parents at the railway-station in Philadelphia, he found them in +company, and apparently upon terms of intimate acquaintance, with two of +his friends from the Raven Brook Colliery. He was delighted to learn +that Derrick and Paul had come to the city to live, and promised to call +the next day and arrange all sorts of plans with them. + +Mr. Halford, who was also at the station, was almost equally surprised +to see them with the McClains, who, he afterwards told Derrick, were +among the best families in the city. His carriage was at the station, +and in a few minutes more the two boys, who but a short time before had +been only poor colliery lads, were ushered into a handsome house, where +Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie were waiting to give them a cordial +welcome. + +Two days later they were established in pleasant rooms of their own, had +begun their studies, and, above all, found themselves surrounded by a +circle of warm friendships. + + * * * * * + +Very nearly five years after the date of this chapter, just before +sunset of a pleasant summer's day, a barge party of gay young people +rowed out over the placid Schuylkill from the boat-house belonging to +the University of Pennsylvania. In the stern of the barge, acting as +coxswain, sat a young man of delicate frame and refined features. His +pale, thoughtful face showed him to be a close student, and the crutch +at his side betrayed the fact that he was a cripple. + +On each side of the coxswain sat a young lady, both of whom were +exchanging good-natured chaff with the merry-faced, stalwart fellow who +pulled the stroke oar. + +"I don't believe rowing is such hard work after all," said one of them, +"though you college men do make such a fuss about your training and your +practice spins. I'm sure it looks easy enough." + +"You are quite right, Miss Nellie," answered the stroke; "it is awfully +easy compared with some things--cramming for a final in mathematics, for +instance." + +"Oh, Derrick!" exclaimed the other young lady, "you can't call that hard +work. I'm sure it doesn't seem as though you had spent your time +anywhere but on the river for the past two months. If you can do that, +and at the same time graduate number one in your class, with special +mention in mathematics, the 'cramming,' as you call it, can't be so very +difficult." + +"All things are not what they seem," chanted Derrick. "It may be, sister +Helen, that there are some things in heaven and earth not dreamt of in +your philosophy, after all!" + +"Oho!" laughed Nellie Halford. "_Pinafore_ and Shakespeare! What a +combination of wit and wisdom! It's quite worthy of a U. P. Senior." + +"He's not even a U. P. Senior now," said the coxswain, from the stern of +the barge. "He has gone back in the alphabet, and is only an A. B." + +"An idea for your next cartoon, old man," cried Derrick. "The downfall +of the Seniors, and their return to the rudimentary elements of +knowledge. By-the-way, Polly," he added, more soberly, "do you remember +that to-day is the anniversary of your entering upon the career of +breaker-boy five years ago?" + +"It is a day I never forget, Dare," answered Paul Evert, gravely, as he +gazed into the handsome sun-tanned face in front of him, with a look in +which affection and pride were equally blended. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Derrick Sterling, by Kirk Monroe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DERRICK STERLING *** + +***** This file should be named 21863.txt or 21863.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/8/6/21863/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Brett Fishburne, Mary Meehan +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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