Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-06-13
Nv A TUNNEL.

you'll get caught some day." said
Job Davis, shaking his head wisely as he
rolled some powder into "squib -
Gard then you'll have a lively run to es-
cape. When you've had as much expe-
rience in mining as l have, you won't
take any chances"
Dennis laughed softly, but continued
shoveling coal into the car, his lamp,
hung in his hat, throwing fantastic
shadows across the chamber against the
black walls on either side as he worked
"It's no laughing matter, boy" con-
tinued Job. -" learned to be careful in
just the same way you'll have to. After
you have had one or two pinches, you'll
listen to me. l worked seven years in
the old country in vein only three feet
thick, and had to lie on my side all day
to mine the coal. That's the kind of ex-
perience you want These Pennsylvania
veins are thick enough for giant to
stand up in, and there's some kind of a
show for man when there's an explo-
sion or accident; but there" and Job
shook his head dismally at the recollec-
ton.
Were you ever in a tight place9''
asked Dennis, leaning on his shovel and
looking attentively at his friend.
"Lots of times, boy" Job growled, fix
ing the squib in blasting barrel that
led to the powder tamped in the hole.
"More'n once I've had to crawl on my
hands and knees for my lifel You can't
run there as you can here, and if miner
was as reckless as you are, it'd be all up
with him in a week. Look out now
I'm goin' to light it'll"
Dennis dropped his shovel and started
down the chamber; and Job, after
knocking the crust from the wick of the
lamp, applied it to the squib. There was
faint sputter, he cried "Fire' for a
warning. and turned and ran toward the
shelter, his heavy boots waking the dis
NAL echoes of the place.
''lt'll be a good shot, hope" he said,
very much out of breath, as he joined
Dennis behind large prop. "It ought
to blow down enough coal to last till
quitting-time."
"You were long enough getting it
ready" Dennis remarked, dryly.
eyes, boy" Job said, scraping a hand
full of tobacco from his pocket and put
ting it in a short, black pipe. II learned
to take time when was about your age.
I've, seen many a man carried home on a
Btretcher because he didn't take time
and some day I'm afraid you'll have tc
be taken out of the tunnel in the same
way"
"Don't worry about it, job"
"But 1 will, " putting loudly to clear
the stem. ''You know as we'll IS l dc
that the tunnel isn't safe, and yet yor
60 out that way every night in spite Of
my warnings"
Dennis laughed again, at which JoI
shook his head sadly. go your owl
gait, he said; land if you don't LOST
your life, you'll lose your job, and ther
you'll remember what | said"
"I'll do nothing of the kind, for hav
my life and my job, and intend to keel
them both"
81 hope SO, boy, hope so, he said
but his countenance plainly belied hi
words. I've seen so many men rIsa risk
and get beaten that know it's only
matter of time for your turn to come"
'May the day be far distant" sale
Dennis, gravely disturbed by Job
words. 81 always try to bel
The explosion at that moment inter
rupted him. There was rush of air,
dull roar and the sound of fragments 0
coal falling around them.
'That was good one, I'll betn ex
claimed Job, gleefully. "There's fv
cars of coal in that shot if there's
pound"
Waiting q few minutes longer unit
the smoke had cleared away, the
walked back to where the yelloJ
glare from their lamps showed the devas
3 tation the powder had made. Larg
blocks Of coal had been thrown severa
feet from the face" of the chamber
and many smaller pieces lay scattere
around. Job began to split up the larg
chunks, and Dennis, after looking at tn
hole made by the explosion, seized hi
shovel and began filling the car, singin
wild song in minor key as b
worked.
The song continued most of the da
with few interruptions. OCCASIONAL
Job had something to say, or a story
tell, to cheer up the solitude of the plac,
while through the darkness came the +,
ports and conclusions Of numerous e.
blossoms around them and the shrieks {
the engines whistle in the distant tul
mel; but as every day before had passec
so did this one, until the regular numb
of cars had been loaded and it began
get dark outside of the mines. The
packing away their tools in small DO.
they hung their dinner and tea cans {
their shoulders by small cord, al
walked slowly down the chamber Wht
they reached the gangway Job stoppe
"Are you going through the tunnel
he asked.
eyes" answered Dennis, quietly, Il
rim Of his hat shading his eyes from h
lamp.
Job shook his head. "You'll {
through it once too often, I'm afraid, ~
said; "but mind, l warned you'll You
better take more time and go out of Il
slope with me-"
"Oh, mop laughed Dennis IN
sweetheart is waiting for me, and l mu
hurry"
"Shell wait in vain some day." sa
the old man; and nodding his head un
his lamp nearly fell from his hat,
burned down the gangway muttering
himself.
Dennis watched him minute or tw
and was almost persuaded to follow hi
cut shaking off the impression Jol