Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-18
CHAPTER III. THE ECSCCE
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tncNSelEeS more cleIfly upon ElIQ, tlc 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 lad thrust into his boot when lie 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. Ike mass of broken ore which had fallen down the manhoie had brO- ken out q 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 6o with the dead weight of Erie? 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 q second, and then he felt the shock of q statement he made to himself that life was not worth having il 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, ito die drowned like a rat in hole" The love of life was strong in him. He felt the water rising more and more rapid- ly It was nearly to his waist now. He felt the blood from the wound in his T l.; .-;, I, held up the unconscious body. Once in awhile Eric stirred. Once he opened his eyes, and Stuart thought he was re- covering. 1f only he could regain enough strength to help himself even ! little. Stuart's mind went info q whirl as he thought of all possible ways to pull himself and Erie up even 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 al the top was evidently blazing fercely. Fragments of charred wood dropped down the ore shaft. Leaning over and looking up, Stuart could see q great flaming mass of twisted beams and iron rods curling over the mouth of the shaft. He moved over under tle manhole, dragging Erie with him. and looked lip that. The flames and smoke were sweeping over it like mist over q ridge. He thought that even at that distance he could see that the ladders at the top had caugh. and were blazing fantastically.
 He gave up all hope. Still, with the instinct of life strong in him, he drag 'pi fn ho which cfnn1 just out of the water now. and by the exercise of all 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 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.
 "W'here are we:" he muttered. "You have been hurt, Erie" Erie groaned and closed his eyes. Then he opened them again, and the sight of Stuart'S pale face seemed to tell him a part of the truth. The water was running over the hand of his right arm, which hung down helpless from bis 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 ,J. 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 q mans voice, the sweetest sound he ever heard, l 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 1 ders to the rescue. Whoever he was he 1 was evidently coming as fast as the nature Of the passage would allow, for | the next time the cry was uttered Stu l art could hear words of encouragement and then a voice speaking from the point where the last round of the lad der remained, saying very distinctly and in even precise English, Who is l there:'
 | Tt is I, Stuart Duncan. I an here 1 with Eric, and he is hurt and helpless. 1 can't lift him up alone.'
 "I always believed in being on time, '' replied the voice. If you can move Up under the foot of the shaft will throw you this ropa'
 | Stuart lifted Eric from his position and plunged over toward the ladder hole. The water was above his shoul- 1 ders. A rope was thrown, and he se- cured it under Eric, who had again tainted from the pain and shock Ther With an exercise of strength and skill such as men possess in times of facing l death, the two men, one above and one 1 below, succeeded in drawing Erie up and the man above secured him some how, while Stuart, using the sides of the ladder for support, pulled himself out of that wntery grave.
 He was not a minute. too soon, for | the water was flowing in more rapidly now, and the large cavity at the bot tom being almost filled the torrent be- gan to rise in the shafts very fast. He