Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-05-11
CHAPTER XXI.
TIE RESCUE.

action.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE RESCUE.
The effect of his words was magical;
the chaos resolved itself into discipline.
They had been taught to hate or despise
that pale, slender man as their natural
enemy and oppressor. But now, in the
hour of dire need. he was proving him.
self the wisest, coolest and strongest OF
all. Even Matthew North, whom they
had once blindly followed, had never in
the days of his absolute power seemed
like this-so calm, SO confident, SO self
forgettul.
And there was one present to whom
he seemed more, far more than all this.
AS she stood beside her horse, little
withdrawn from the forefront Of the
throng, gazing upon him where, poised
upon an elevation overlooking the scene,
he issued his orders and directed the
movements Of his men with the indie
scribable magnetism of voice and mien
which marks the born leader, thrill Of
pride swelled the girls heart and flush
ed her cheek-pride and more than pride
love! With the frankness which was
part of her nature she confessed the
truth, put it into words and spoke them
under her breath-how sweet they were!
- love him, love him!"
The first gang of rescuers, armed with
the necessary tools and implements, were
now ready to descend, and Monckton
prepared to join them. He was staid
by a soft touch upon the arm, and o pair
of beautiful eyes were raised in anxious
questioning to his.
Must you 60, Ralph"
~ must 60, Imogene.
There is danger, Ralph-danger of
poisonous gas in the old tunnel, of wa
ter rising and engulfng you too.
heard them speaking Of it in the crowd.
Can you not let some one 90 in your
place, Ralph"
What, shirk my duty, Imogene, be.
cause there may be a little danger7
Surely you cannot counsel me to do
| that"
She hung her head moment. "Go
then, >" she said in low voice, and with
an accent that made his heart leap, "tut
be careful, Ralph-for my sakel''
He pressed the hand which she gave
him and turned to enter the cage after
his men, when he was confronted by Mat
thew North.
II have no right TO ask favor from
any man." said the miner, "you least
| of all. But ] am to blame for this,
heaven help me, and want to do what
little ! can to undo my wrong. Let me
60 down with you. SIR"
Come"
The old gallery fortunately proved to
be free from gas, and with North's help
a spot Immediately over the chamber,
where it was hoped that the imperiled
miners might have taken refuge, was
located. At the end of the first half
hour good progress had been made. The
men worked as only men can work to
save human life. but none among them
toiled as did Matthew North. He seem.
ed to possess the strength Of two and
never to require rest. Gang after gang
came and went, but he refused to yield
the pick which he piled with giant
strokes. Monckton, too, remained at
his post, directing the movements Of the
laborers and frequently handling the
shovel with vigor which his slender
figure belied. He also felt that he had
something to expiate, q wrong to undo.
From time to time q halt was called
for the purpose Of listening for any pos
sible signals which might be made from
below. The excavation was now seven
feet deep, and as yet no sound Of life had
encouraged the workers. North's face
was growing paler with terrible dread,
and at Monckton's heart the same fear
was beginning to knock, when during
one of the pauses there came, faint, far
of, yet distinctly audible, three dull
blows. One Of the men signaled in re-
Spouse with his heavy crowbar-and,
yes, there could be no doubt now; the
three blows were repeated! With loud
cry, North fell upon his knees in tho
loose soil Of the pit, and raising his
clasped hands above his head exclaimed:
Almighty Father, ! thank thee that
am spared at least this one sim"
Meanwhile tho great thronE waited
and watched above. The silence of deep
awe had fallen upon them.
Imogene Duke had found a seat near
the mouth of the mine, where she could
see the cage as it came up into the fare
Of the lamps. Hour after hour passed
heavily by; gang after gang Of exhaust
ed workers came up, and still he tar.
ried, while her heart grew faint In her
bosom and cold deathly chill crept
over her limbs. Oh. if anything should
happen to him nowl If now, when he
had proved himself the noblest, bravest
and best Of men, she should lose him!
The thought sickened her; it seemed
that she must 60 to him, must see him
and hear his voice to assure herself that
he was not swallowed up and buried
away from her forever in that horrible
abysm hundreds of feet below. And II
he were to die there she would be to
blame for it, for it was her words that
had awakened his energies, aroused the
good that was dormant in him and
shamed him of his apathy, his idleness
and his frivolity. But that far she had
done right; SO much. at least, she could
never regret. for the vapid, Indifferent
cynic to whom she had spoken those
singing words was not the Ralph
Monckton at that moment waging splen-
did. knightly battle in behalf of his Eel.
low beings-the Ralph she loved, her
Ralph.
Still the cage rose and sank; still the
gangs Of workers came and went; still
the crowd, exhausted and haggard, wait
ed and watched. The night grew apace,
and Joyce, who had established him
self as her guardian and protector, was
snoring in fitful discord and nodding
fearfully on his barrel at little dis
lance. The suspense and the terror were
growing intolerable; she felt that her
senses were fast slipping from her, when
what was it? A deep hoarse murmur
ran along the crowd. swelling into q
shout, "a roar that shook the very earth.
Hundreds-men, women and children
were leaping. dancing. embracing. sing
ing and weeping, as if all the world had
suddenly gone stark mad.
She lose to her feet. tottering; her
head swan, and there was mist before
her eyes Ruf she saul oh bloccoI boax,