The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-09

the other side are the pine forests,
thick and dense as when they were
owned by the Indians. In this forest
little space has been cleared, and within
this are score or more of houses,
where the miners live. One day, not
many years ago, a stout, strapping
miner named Bill left his wife and ba-
bies at the cottage door-for this mi
ner's wife was neat and thrifty soul
and had beautifed their house until it
was the pride of the camp-and started
for the shaft. In his great coat pockets |
he had few slices of bread and a flask |
of liquor, together with piece of meat,
in case he met with any accident while
under ground. With his comrades he
descended the long shaft, the end of
which reached way down into the very
bowels of the earth. Hand over hand
he climbed down the first ladder, then
down the next, then the next, and still
down another, and then another, get
ting down deeper and deeper into the
darkness, farther and farther into the
warm blackness of those regions where
the light of day is never seen, down
again another ladder and still another
he went, until at last he reached the
solid rock and was soon at the farther
end of one of the great tunnels which
stretch out from the base of the shaft
like the legs of spider, so crooked and
black are they. All the morning long
they worked, until it was almost noon
time and he was just preparing to leave
his work for his luncheon The lamp
on his glazed hat had burned almost
out. His strong arms were tired with
their hard labor, and he was not sorry
that the day was half over. He gave
one more stroke of his pick, sinking its
sharp point into the ore and bringing
to his feet small piece which sparkled
and glowed like great black diamond
in the dim rays of his lamp. AS he
stopped over to pick it up he heard a
sound that blanched his brown cheek,
turned his blood into water and made
his heart stand still--a sound that once
heard is never forgotten-the sound of
fire damp explosion. 1t was a dull
roar, which made the earth tremble as
if with fear. Then there was darkness,
an unhealthy, suffocating closeness, and
all was over. With wisdom born of
experience, Bill instinctively felt in his
pocket for his matches, then hastily
extinguishing his lamp threw himself
upon his face and waited. Soon he
heard call which was answered by
another call, then another, and he soon
found that there were six live miners
cooped up in this narrow tunnel-for
the explosion had blocked one end with
an unyielding mass of rock in Egyptian
darkness-cooped up there to starve, OF
perhaps to suffocate. Shut out forever
from the blessed light of day, from
| ha fran oir. cbI1t thorn
as though they were buried alive in
their collins, with not single chance
to live. With an instinct more than
reason, Bill kept this little piece of iron
in his hand until it was warm and damp
with the sweat of horror before he dis
covered that he had it. Then he put it
into his pocket mechanically, then took
it out to throw it away, and then again
unthinkingly put it back, as man
might idly count his fingers as he stood
upon the gallows.
How long they sat there, dumb with
| horror, they couldn't tell. The tunnel,
fortunately, was high, and the air they
, breathed promised to last some time,
but what use was that? 1t only pro-
, longed their agony, and when they
realized this they groaned again. AT last
they felt the pangs of hunger and they
, ate. AT length, tired out with excite
, ment, they slept, and thus the hours
| passed into days, until finally their food :,
, treasured with the utmost care, had
l dwindled into nothing, not even bite,
| and, weak with hunger, they dragged
5 themselves to the lower end of their
l grave and laid themselves down to die.
, " Finally, they heard the faint tap
5 ping of pick The miners were COM
: ing to their rescue. AT first they could
l hardly believe their senses. But there
could be no mistake about it. Louder
r grew the noise. Nearer came their
, rescuers. AT length they could almost
y hear their voices. Then, for a time,
these ceased.
"Oh, the fools!' gasped the prison
ers, in horror. 'They are going to leave
us, now that they are only a foot away,
e and we can't make them know that we
: are alive One miner staggered up to
It the partition and vainly kicked it. Then
d they united their voices in shout
y Then they waited. Poor fools! they
might as we'll have whispered. Then
1t they screamed and shouted and criet
b and sobbed, but the thick walls of theil
d grave shut in their cries as they did the
II daylight and air. Again the picks
were heard and again they stopped
|, Suddenly Bill recollected the rocl
II which lay in his pocket. He drew i
forth, and, with all the energy of hi
y fast-departing strength, he threw i
" against the wall. Then they waited
d breathlessly. For moment there was
silence. Then the picking began AGAR
- with redoubled energy. The signal hat
been heard. They were saved Will
m a great cry the dying men dragged
themselves nearer together, threw thei
- grimy arms around each others neck
l. and wept for joy. They were safe a
:, last. Half an hour later the picks wer
2 through the wall, and that afternoon
y the dead were brought to life and thu
lost were restored to their families"
he g." added the Weight, modestly
at "was made of that piece of iron
That's my story"
" " But how did the master come to ge
you? Does he know your story?" aske
a the Knife.
n, - think he does. 1t was he VIII
or dug me out. His name is Bill. Be,
of jomin Northrup, IN NeO York Graphic