Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-05-15
NUMBER SO.

throb as he realized his danger, and for a
moment he hesitated, not knowing what
to do. To run seemed useless The
rocks were pitiIess. and would not let
him stand on one side Of the track to let
the engine pass. Yet, already it was
struggling on the upgrade toward where
he stood
ItwouId soon reach hin. Conscious
Of the terrible fate that would then be
his, he threw away his cane, turned and
ranl
How slow were his steps compared with
the revolutions Of the wheels Twice be
looked back, as his feet slipped and
stumbled on the rough floor of the tun-
mel, and the third time the red-hot sparks
beating against the roof, not half-mile
below him, showed how remorselessly
the engine was lessening at every swift
revolution Of its wheels the distance be-
tween them.
He threw away his patched and soiIed
coat to cool his reeking body. Des-
perately he struggled to increase his
speed; despairingly he saw that it would
soon be too latel
The choking fumes Of sulphur from
the fire-box almost strangled him. The
strong exhausts grew louder; every Sec
ond the fierce sparks were nearer, and
the roar and rattle of the train, confined
to the narrow walls, almost deafened
him. He was accustomed to all the
dangers of the mines, but to be crushed
beneath the iron wheels when his we'd
ding-day was 50 neari He gave hoarse
cry at the thought, and the warning
words Of Job sounded again in his ears
sob, sweethearti" All the agony Of
his mind came to his lips in those words,
as he looked back and saw the faint out
line Of the engine short distance below
him, surrounded by halo Of fire. His
breath came in quick sobs; his legs re-
fused TO move; fascination held him mo-
tionless until the sparks from the stack
almost rebounded from the roof against
him Then with despairing cry he
took his hat from his head to cover his
facet
His lampl
He had no matches, but with trembling
hand he forced the cover open, bending
over he poured the oil out on the rails,
and then took few steps up the track.
Throwing his lamp away, he stumbled
on over the ties, fell down and closed his
eyes.
A second more and the wheels Of the
engine struck the oiled surface Of the
rails, and the friction between them being
diminished, the wheels spun around
helplessly; the train being on heavy up
rade, came to speedy stop. Then all
was still.
Dennis fell back unconscious. The en-
gineer, cursing angrily at what he knew
not particularly, climbed out Of the cab,
followed BY the fireman, to see what was
the matter. No sound betrayed the
cause Of their stoppage. The escaping
steam from the safety-vaive hissed spite
fully, until the discovery of the lamp and
the oiled rails explained the mystery. A
few steps further up the track was dis
covered the PROSTATE form Of a man,
lying across the ties.
Tenderly they picked him up and
carried him to the cab Of the engine,
where they made bed of coats for him;
and the wheels that would have crushed
him bore his weight over the rails to the
foot of the shaft
The pure air soon revived him, and the
s'footmana and driver-boys crowded
around the engine as they saw it coming
without its customary train. A dozen
lights flashed in his face as he opened his
eyes and met the sympathizing looks of
his comrades, while the engineer tersely
explained his narrow escape.
The next ascending "cage carried
him and two attendants upward to the
earth, that never before looked 50 beau
tiful in the hazy twilight as then; and
as the engines pulled loudly with their
heavier burden of coal coming up on the
other q cage, he walked slowly away in
dream, not able to realize that the pure
air Of heaven was blowing in his face
The news was quickly noised about,
and soon reached the ears Of his sweet
heart whose consoling words made even
the harsh voice of Job sound sweet that
evening. Youths Companion