Omaha daily bee., 1885-11-12
GERM1NAlb
CT the Story Of Great Miners Strike,
BY EMILE ZOLA.
CHAPTER NNNIN
Translated from ule Fronoh

CHATTER xXXIx
Below the shalt, the unfortunate men
shouted with terror. The water had now
reached their stOmuChS. Inc noise OF the
torrent stunned them. the last fails of the
tuning made tnom think it the final
crash of the world and that which com
plettd their terror was the nCighing OF
tine horses smut up in th stable, the
death cry, terrible, ncVur'tO bo.tOrg gotten,
of strangled animal.
The game is up hcrG,' cried Mouque.
I've must try by Requillart.
This thought that they might bo able
10 get out by the old mnc in the vicinity,
If they arrived there before the passage
was cut oil. filled them now. The TWEEN
~ hustled together ia single file, holding
their lamps above their heads that the
water might not cXtinguish them.
Fortunately the gallery had slight
though imperCcptiblC ascent. They pro.
cccdcd &JJ metres, lighting against the
flood, but without being overcome. Slum.
brring crerdS re awakened in their lost
souls; they invoked the earth, Ii was
tho earth VIII Gh was avenging itself,
pouring out thus the blood OF the vein,
because one OF its arteries had been cut.
An old man was stammcrlng forgotten
prayers, twlrlng hls thumbs TO appcaSJ
the evil spirits OF the mine.
Anton was the last to run, delayed by
Catherine, parulyzcd by fear aud fatigue.
lie would hlyH turncd to tao right wit,
Cheval. for he thought il tue right road,
but, willing to remain ut tho bottom, hC
had drawn back, glad to bu frcCd from
the presence of the man he eXncratcd.
Besides, the separation continued. Other
comrades had drawn oil. Six only now
followed old MouQue.
Hang on TO my neck, I'll carry you,
said Anton to the young girl, seeing her
grow weaker.
mo, leave me, she murmured, 81 can
do no more; I'd rather die ut once "
They had stopped, and he was raising
her in spite of her resistance, when the
gallery was suddenly blocked up, an
enormous heap falling in and separating
them from the others. The fool already
washed rocks and crumblngs were heard
on all sides Thus driven back they had
to retracu their steps. Then they knew
no longer on what side they were walk
ing. it was finished; they must abandon
the idea of ascending by Requillart
Their only hope was to retreat before the
flood, to reach the upper levels, whence
perhaps they would come to deliver them
If the waters ubatcd,
Anton ut last recognized the William
vein
Good" said he, 81 know where we
are My God we were III the right road
. Listen! let us go straight on
we II climb up bv the chimney"
Anton sclHed Caiharine and carried hcr
away But it was long time before
they could reach the chimney, which they
assembled. He had to help her, for sac
had no longer strength enough to cling
to the timber. Three times he feared
that she was slipping from him, that she
was falling into the deep sea whose tide
was roaring behind them. Nevertheless SIS
they could breathe for few moments
when they found the first road still free.
The water reappcared, they must hoist
themselves up again. And for hours to-
gethcr, TINS ascent continued. the stream
chasing them from level to level, forcing
them always upward. AT the sixth res
pte inspired them with hope, it seemed
to them that tho water remained station
| cry.
But a stronger rise took place, they hat
| to Chamber up to tho seventh, tnen to the
| eighth.
Crashing rovcrberations were heard
| every moment The whole mine WA!
shaken At the end of the galleries, tn,
air, driven back, was collected, com
| pressed, resulting In formidable cXplo
| sions amid the shIvered rocks and failing
earth 1t was the terrifying confusion o
internal convuSons, a small sample o
the old battle when the deluges visitec
| tho earth beating down the mountain.
under the plains
To reach the inclined plane, they wer,
compelled to walk STOPPING: agnin tn,
water reached their should r.. The rs
| cent again commenced, more dangerous
| by that way entirely wooded for owe
fifty metres. First he tightened the ca
bic: they fastened down ut the bottom
one of the ears. for If the other had de
sceudcd during their ascent it woult
have crushed them. Finally they tool
the risks. not daring to make use of tina
cable which they feared and cllngins
with their nails. He climbing behinc
her, protected her head when she slipped
with bleeding hands. Suddenly the,
struck against some beams which Ob
structed the plane. Some earth hnl alst
| fallen, u cavern prevented them from
going higher. BY chance, adoor opened
| there and they passed into road.
Before them the ravs of a lamp amaZot
| them. A man ungrily led;
Some more fools as crazy as ma
| Cheat heavens get out OF here. don
want to see yon others die"
They recognized Cheval. He had beer
blocked there by Il cavc-in which hat
filled mp the inclined plane; and the tw,
| comrades who had set ont with him haC
been left on the road with their heads
spit open ny the IAN OF rocks. lie VIII
n wounded shoulder, had crawlcd along
beside them to take their lamps an,l sterl
their sandwiches, As he jumped back
IL last shock behind him had filled up the
gallery.
He Immediately thought that he would
bG compelled to share his provisions
with their comrades who had arrived
No he would kill them first. Then ~
he recognized them his rage pnsscC
away and he laughed wicked laugh
"Ah' it's vou Cutherine' so you hnv,
come back here to lind your man. Thai
was right,
He affected not TO notice Anton who
agitatcd hr this meeting made IL gesture
ms if to protect the girl who drew closer
| 10 his side However hc must accept th'
situation, he simply said to the comrnde
as though they had left each other goo,
iri,n nds, mn hour before.
IF we knock, perhaps they will hear
81 ann tired of knocking; bu
take that stone, try and see ii you WI