The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-03-02

knlgnIS Lney WciO, wv, 80 L-.l
ter: for though armed only with snovel
and an nick. they were as daring and as
generous as ever belted prince who
Rode lance in rest, to right imaginary
wrongs; and they were ready now c 70
risk every danger to save the poor lei
low buried in the mine beneath.
On reaching the scene found our
machinery apparently uninjured, but
looking more closely | discovered that
| the pump was not raising drop OF wa
ter and it would not be long before the
entire mine would be flooded. The
pump must be relieved at once, or we
could not hope to save the mine, much
less to rescue our friend. Calling BOD
Piper, tall, black-bearded miner, who
had worked at his trade in every min
ing country, from the English Channel
to the Pacific ocean, and who, for his
skill courage and experience, was the
mining oracle of our camp pointed
him to the pump which was wearing
itself out in vain, for it lifted no water
"Bob," said |, 1--WE must fix that
pump! 1t is our only hope to save Lit
tie Jimmy"
"We1l fix it," replied Bob, quietly.
"The pumps starved-choked up at the
bottom. We'll fix it; and as for the
poor lad, we'll git un out"
Bob was aWest-ofEngland man, and
h;s d;alact stuck tn him
"We'll git I'm out, bonny; | think he
bean't dead. I've helped dig men out
in the old country, and this too; and,
God helpin' us, We'll git un out now;
won't we, Benny"
Benny, thus appealed to, answered
with an emphatic "you bet," and the
next moment he and Bob, followed by
two others, were clambering down the
steep and slippery flight of ladders that
led into the mine, until their candles,
glimmerng like stars, were one by one
swallowed up in the black shaft. Axes
had been sent down in bucket, and in
few moments were heard blows ring
ing on the mass of wood and iron that
composed the barrel Of the pump. 1t
had already risen above their waists,
and the mouth of the lowest drift was
nearly submerged,
The machinery was cracking and
grooming and the wheel dashing round,
but it was idle show, and the mine was
filling up, and soon the men would be
driven out; but meantime we could all
hear the blows Of the axes Presently
the clumsy walking-beam quit groan-
ing, stood still, and began to trcmblc.
the wheel had stopped for moment,
then began to move slowly and went
round with surge There was ire
mcndous rush of water through the
pump, and it was all right Our old
wooden pump was equal TO the occa-
sion. The flood-gates were opened on
the great overshot wheel, and it was
required TO do its best. 1t rushed on
steadily, and in an hour the mine was
freed from water, so that men could
press into the drift
1t was arranged that If Little Jimmy
were found alive, the fact should be tel
egraphed aloft by two strokes of the
signal bell; but if dead, one tap should
announce it. Men were working under
ground as only such men could work.
They had been told off into gangs of
four each, which relieved each other
every fifteen minutes; and as they ad-
vanced into the avalanche of rocks and
earth that filled the drift, every inch
had to be propped with heavy timbers,
for the vast mass above them had been
shaken and had lost its cohesion, and
at any moment might crush down like
a mountain.
Presently, to those who were waiting
bbove, there came a sharp peal of the
aell-then another. He was alive !!
What shout went up from the men
assembled there! Out of the depths of
that canyon, above its cliffs and crags,
and over the trees that waved on their
submits, and above the mountains that
lowered beyond-far above them all it
rose like an incense. It assembled into
Heaven; for it was prayer-a prayer
of thanksgiving and of praise; not
formed in speech, not framed in lam
geage, but the OVERLOOKING of the heart
that cannot be framed in words.
My story is done. Little Jimmy had