The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-03-22

iar ~ the subtle poison known as mephitic
air. Tyrrell's guide had sufficient consid-
Grafton TO seize him 10y the arm, and hurry
him away at such breathleSs pace ia at
h. scarcely knew what had happened until
he found himself beyond The point where
the first earth had fnlIen
Even here the panic had spread, and the
men were retr-ating. "Alls NJ now,
they said. mo hope Tor any man let in
there when that gets at MIN. The devil
himself couldn't live in foul air"
Where is Mr. Churciill?' demanded
Tyrrell, as soon IA he could be heard
Then, rs mn ominous silence followed the
question: For Coils sake, you don't
mean 10 tell me that You are men, ana
that you have LETT a man who could not
help himself, to perish there ? ls it possi-
ble-has il been done?"
1t had indeed been done. No one had
thought OF him. Each uan had blindly
rushed from the danger, and left the un.
conscious one behind
"he l. dead, some of them nail by wav
Of excuse
mo man knows that" Tyrrell answered
NO man can dare to say that he felt either
his heart or his pulse The presum ption
is that ne is alive-and call upon you as
brave men to go back with me Tor him.
There was a dead silence. Brave enough
they were, the most Of them but not 20
brave as this. They had faced danger.
from The falling earth, but they could not
face certain death from mephitic air. No
body stirred. Most OF them were silent :.
only one or two murmured that there had
been deaths enough, and that they had
their families To consider.
Very well, said Tyrrell, scorniully, Il
will go alone. Give me lantern-some-
thing that cannot be eXtingushed easily:
and will show you whether or not Won
are set OF ptiiul coward. Only"-he
stopped moment and considerable am
AFRAID l could scarcely bring him out
alone. Is there any one here that can be
brlbed to do his duty 10y a thousand dol.
lars II so, let him speak at once. There
is not a second TO lose, and | will write a
cirque before | 60
His taunt stung one man at least into
action. a stout, dark-browed young tel.
low stepped forward.
"Iou may keep your money, Mr.. TYR
rell,' he said. "Ill 20 without a bride.
Its like to be certain death but I've no
one depending on me, SO it don't matter
much nohow"
"All right" said Tyrrell, with quick
glance at him. "Youll DO" he added.
Get the light we are to take-lhe quicker
the better
couple OF lanterns were brought. and n
bucket oil water for each OF them, with
which 10 dispel in measure the POISON
Gus gas While these were being provided
lyrrell heard an old miner explain the
presence OF the foul air The mine WAS.
on old one, with several long disised cham
transformations which had been cut off
by much such an accident (though in the
lorner case harmless) as the present; and
~ was evidently into one of these tn At the
new excavation led. Nobody had suspect
ed It until the unguaried strokes of two or
three men had laid bare the danger.
1t certainly was terrible danger into
which Tyrrell and his companion now
venIHred They lclt it in the iaintness
which made them staggcr and reel like
drunken men when the first breath of
mephilic atmosphere came over them:
aud, as they advanced it of course grew
worse
We must he quick said the Young
miner, in II half stifled voice: I'VE cant
stand this many minutes' he set down
his lantern hastily, and, raising his bucket
Of water with both hInds to a level with
his shoulder, cast The contents in showrv
da-hes all around and over himself andi
his companion then dropping the bucket
snaiched mp the light and hurried forward
Fortunately they had but few steps TO 90
from the entrance Of the excavation to
where Churchill was laying face down.
ward, just rs he had been lett by the men
when they fled Tor their lives.
Thank God-here he is 20 cried Tyr
rell
''Pui down your light" exclaimed the
miner, who had already put lis own ont
of his hand aud with one vigorous effort.
bad turned Hugh upou bus back Dash
your water over hi- iacc--uow 10. it 900 and