News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-02-20
CHAPTER III.
THE RESCUE.


THE RESCUE.
AS tho facts of his position forced
themselves more clearly upon him, tn
first eX element over, Stuart gre
calmer The candle in his hat wa
nearly b. rned out, but he had another
one that, after the fashion Of the min.
ers, he adj thrust into his boot when
he changrd his dress in the dryroom,
He pulle,. this out and lighted it, put,
ting it in the candle holder in place OF
the piece SO nearly gone.
Then h. looked at the ladders care.
fully. II e mass of broken ore which
had fallel down the manhole had bro
ken out a dozen rounds at the very
foot of tie ladder. By stretching up
to his fu height Stuart could just
reach an tnbroEen round.
But what could he do with the deaL
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. 1t was
simply the love of life asserting itself
Why should both men die? His death
would not save Eric. 1t was only a
second, and then he felt the shock of a
statement lie made to himself that life
was not worth having if certain mem
cries had always to be carried with
one. He could never abandon the mai
who had oil ce risked his life to save
him, when the danger was fully a.
great as nov.
But, o 3D." Stuart cried out, 'tO
die drowned like rat in a hole" The
love of life as strong in him. He felt
the water ri ing more and more rapid.
ly. 1t was n, srly to his waist now. He
felt the bloc from the wound in his
shoulder wa ming 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 a 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 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 SET
that the ladders at the top had caught
and were blazing Enthusiastically.
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 oil his strength he managed
to place the body upon it in such q
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 a great rec
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 colo
water, had reused him. He stirred anC
even spoke feebly.
"Where are WEI" he muttered.
"You have been hurt, Eric"
Eric groaned and closed his eyes
Then he opened them again, and tn
sight of Stuart's pale face seemed t
tell him part of the truth. The waite
was running over the hand of his RICH
arm, which hung down helpless fror
his wounded shoulder He reused him
self, evidently with the greatest diff
Guilty.
"You will drown. Leave me. I al
dying anyway"
mo, no, Eric. l will not leave 20
4 here alone" Stuart spoke calmly, a
/ most cheerfully. Eric's face was drooI
ing over close to Stuart's shoulder
Stuart Kissed his cheek and at tina
, very III oment he heard mans voice
} the sweetest sound he ever hearC
echoing down the ladder shaft.
! He shouted back in reply and wal
ed. Again the cry came in respons,
[ Some one was coming down the Lac
| ders to the rescue. Whoever he was h
/ was evidently coming as fast as I'll
nature Of the passage would allow, fC
/ the next time the cry was uttered ST.
{ art could hear words of encouragement
I and then a voice speaking from I'll
Q point where the last round of the La
der remained, saying very distinct
t and in even precise English, "Who
Q thereW
I at Is I, Stuart Duncan. I am hei
with Eric, and he is hurt and helples
I can't lift him up alone"