Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-12-18


and iron drippings.
.Where the deuce are we nowp' asked the
young master.
'sWhar, Master Jargep" repeated my uncle,
with friendly grin. Fright dawn under
sac"
Redruth glanced at me.
How far down, Trelawney"'
Twenty fathoms under the sea level, sir,
and three hundred feet or more, out beyond
low-water mark"
"Weu, where's the damage? It all seems
snug enough"
He was certainly very COOL though he had
not been underground more than once or
twice in his life: and l wondered to myself
whether his insOlci1ncc came from bravado
or sheer stupidity.
"Come this way, Master larger said my
| uncle crawling forward, until we reached
narrow space with just room for two of US to
stand abreast. Suddenly, we found ourselves
ankle deep in water and at the same time
thick drops like heavy rain fell from the
rocks above US.
My uncle reached up with his hands, and
touched the roof which was partially forti-
fed with wood and cement.
81 plugged this var last night Master
Jarge," he explained, 1.-The salt water were
streaming in like fall
AS he spoke, the roar deepened to a crash,
and we could distinctly hear the sea grind
ing on the pebbles, right above our heads. 1t
| seemed momentarily as if the whole fabric of
the rock would break in, under the lux and
refiux of the rolling waves.
saw Redruth start back, and glance to-
ward the gallery down which we had come.
But he recovered his sang froid in mo-
! ment
THE deucer he muttered. How thick
is the ceiling here, Trelawney"'
six feet at the thickeSt, sir; at the thin
nest, where you see the wooden plug, not
more than three"
Young Redruth looked up again. and TAX
ing candle from his person. examined the
rock. 1t was actually percolated with sea-
water oozng through the solid granite mass,
and covered with green and gliStenlng OOze;
but through all the dampnesS and slimineSs
the stripes of pure copper ran in rich bars,
forming part of the finest and most precious
lode in the whole mine.
"Why, it's almost solid ORE" he said.
'Iss, Master large" returned my uncls
'but us can't go no further thsways without
flooding the shaft. 1t would be warth thou
sands O pounds to gaw on, and twill cost a
heap to keep tight and safe as it be-
SIS that so, Trelawney?"
'Yes, sir We must build up this part of
the gallery and have it closed. l can't keep
the men from using their picks where the
ore runs thickest, even when every inch of
stuff they loosen is bringing them nearer to
their death"
The young master made no further remark
| just then, but continued his exa njnation of
| the other parts Of the mine. In several other
| places the roof was dangerous. My uncle
| pointed out the various unsafe portions, and
led the way from gallery to gallery, until the
| tour Of inspection was complete.
| At last we rvaScended to the sunshine
| How bright and dazzling all seemed after
that su0agucous darkness! Redruth seemed
| in a brown study. Not until he had washed
himself and resumed his ordinary attire, did
he find his tongue By this time, my uncle
! had returned to his labors down below, and
we two We're left alone.
us there anything else you wish to re-
port%' asked Redruth, sharply, as we stood
| together at the Office door.
! Nothing more than l have already report
! ed in wri-.ag''
We'll. what was that?'
| THE whole mine wants repair. Putting
aside the outlying galleries, where the sea
| may enter at any minute, the engines and
machinery need replacing, the ladders are
| rotten; in fact, everything is in the last stage
| OF decay; and no wonder, seeing that scarce
! ly penny has been spent on it within my
| memory"
He frowned, and bit his lips; then he look
| ed at me coHtGmptuOusly from head to foot
| You are a pretty fellow, a very pretty fell
| low. You want to ruin me- clip"
mo, sir; bit [ want to insure the safety
| of the men,"
"Pshaw' You are croaker, and know
| little or nothing of the matter" he said, turn
| ing on his heel.
| "At any rate, Sir,' | returned, following
him, you will have the outer galleries filled
up, at once? If you don't, I'll not answer
for the consequences"
"Who the devil asked you?" he cried
your place is to report, not to advise. IS
to ceasing to work the outer galleries. sup
pose you know that the richest lode of ore
runs there, and that the inner portion of the
mine is almost barren?'
Il know that, but"
| But you prefer mutiny and disaffection to
study of your employers interests? | tell
you fatty, don't intend to listen to such
nonsense. Thanks to you, the mine at pres
ent yields little or no profit, and | am in a
| fair way to become a beggar"
| He saw me smile incredulOusy, as cried !:
| 'Then YOU will do n0thng?'
Il will do nothing under your advice, for
don't trust you. A gentleman IN whom l
| have the utmost confidence will be here to-
morrow morning. You will accompany him
down the mine, and you will show him what
you have shown me. | shall then be guided
| BY his advice, not by yours"
| " it'll these words he walked away.
| Soon after sunrise the next morning, IS
| sat i'll the office at the mine head, I was visit
| ed by the person to whom young Re truth
| had alluded. He was a thin spare, sandy
| haired young man of about thirty, " it'll a
| mean type of cOuntenance, and an accent
! which was curious compound of &c ckney-
| iSms and AmericaniSmS. He had. indeed,
| been born within the sound of Bow Bells;
| but having spent portion of his manhood in
| the United States, be affected the free and
| easy manners of Yankee citizen.
He gave me his card, on which was printed
| the words:
EPHRAIM S. JOHNSON,
CtUU Engineer,
Bethesda,
State Of New York.
glanced at the mama aDd tbap tool q