The weekly examiner., 1901-07-06
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON
CHAPTER III.
THE RESCUE.

themselves more clearly upon him, the first excitement over, Stuart grew calmer. The candle in his hat was nearly burned out, but he had another one that, after the fashion of the min CTS, he had thrust into his boot when he changed his dress in the dryroom. He pulled this out and lighted it, put ting it in the candle holder in place of the piece so nearly gone.
 Then he looked at the ladders care fully. The mass of broken ore which had fallen down the manhole had bro- ken out a dozen rounds at the very foot of the ladder. By stretching up to his full height Stuart could just reach an unbroken round.
 But what could he do with the dead weight of Eric? He could never lift him up that distance. For once and only one swift second Stuart consider ed the thought of leaving Eric. It was simply the love of life asserting itself. Why should both men die? His death would not save Eric. It was only second, and then he felt the shock of a statement he made to himself that life was not worth having if certain mem ories had always to be carried with one. He could never abandon the man who had once risked his life to save him, when the danger was fully as great as now. -
 "But, O God,'' Stuart cried out, "to die drowned like a rat in holev' The love of life was strong in him. He felt the water rising more and more rapid iy. It was nearly to his waist now. He felt the blood from the wound in his shoulder warming his own side as he held up the unconscious body. Once in awhile Eric stirred. Once he opened his eyes, and Stuart thought he was re- covering. If only he could regain enough strength to help himself even a little! Stuart's mind went into a whirl as he thought of all possible ways to pull himself and Eric up even a short distance. But the bottom of the mine was of such shape that there were no projections or slopes which afforded even foothOld.
 The fire at the top was evidently blazing fiercely. Fragments of charred wood dropped down the ore shaft. Leaning over and looking up, Stuart could see a great flaming mass of. twisted beams and iron rods curling over the mouth of the shaft. He moved over under the manhole, dragging Eric with him, and looked up that. The flames and smoke were sweeping over it like mist over a ridge. He thought that even at that distance he could see that the ladders at the top had caught and were blazing fantasticaIly.
 He gave up all hope. Still, with the instinct of life strong in him, he drag ged Eric over to the pump, which stood just out of the water now, and by the exercise of all his strength he managed to place the body upon it in such way that it was two or three feet above himself as he stood on the bot tom of the floor of the mine. The wa ter had risen now to his armpits and was whirling around him in great red pool. He shuddered, it looked so like blood in the light of the candle The movement he had made with Eric, to- gether with the contact with the cold water, had reused him. He stirred and even spoke feebly.
 "Where are we?" he nuttered.
 "You have been hurt, Eric"
 Eric groaned and closed his eyes. Then he opened them again, and the sight of Stuart's pale face seemed to tell him part of the truth. The water was running over the hand of his right arm, which hung down helpless from his wounded shoulder. He reused him. self, evidently with the greatest diff culty.
 You will drown. Leave me. I am dying anyway"
 ''No, no, Eric. I will not leave you here alonew Stuart spoke calmly, al most cheerfully. Eric's face was droop- ing over close to Stuart's shoulder. Stuart kissed his cheek and at that very moment he heard a mans voice, the sweetest sound he ever heard, echoing down the ladder shaft
 He shouted back in reply and wait ed. Again the cry came in response Some one was coming down the lad ders to the rescue. Whoever he was he was evidently coming as fast as the nature of the passage would allow, for the next time the cry was uttered Stu art could hear words of encouragement and then voice speaking from the point where the last round of the lad der remained, saying very distinctly and in even precise English, "Who is thereF'
 Tt is I, Stuart Duncan. I am here with Eric, and he is hurt and helpless. can't lift him up alone.''
 'I always believed in being on time," replied the voice. 'fIf you can move up under the foot of the shaft will threw you this rope"
 Stuart lifted Erie from his position and plunged over toward the ladder hole. The water was above his shoul- ders. A rope was thrown, and he se- cured it under Eric, who had again fainted from the pain and shock. Then with an exercise of strength and skill such as men possess in times of facing death, the two men, one above and one below, succeeded in drawing Eric ufo l