Oxford Democrat., 1906-09-11

boss In his arms, the water surging
about his les. but he was soon so ham,
pered that lie drew Jernigan's shoul.
ders under him arm and then rushed
on again. dragging his burden. The
heavy air roared In his ears, and he
choked with the humping Of bis heart.
He had already been under pressure
longer than the usual time. And still
he waded, the water now up to bis
waist. He held Jernigan's head above
the food.
Thus he came to the air lock and
pounded on the steel door. He knew
that there was not one chance In q
thousand that any one would dare to
open 1t, for the water was already
above the upper frame. There, too,
had come Billy, the tunnel mule, drag
glng his empty car behind him. He
had not hurried, though he realized that
something was wrong. and he now
stood with quiet patience, his nose
close pressed to the steel door. 1t had
always opened to him before. He had
faith to believe 1t would open now.
Although sore pressed, Swanson
stroked the mules rough neck, then
bent his shoulder into the water and
unlocked the harness traces. He felt
that there was no chance for any Of
them, but he wanted to give Billy an
equal opportunity to fight for his life.
There were presently just room and air
between the top Of the tunnel and the
top of the water to accommodate Swan
sons head and .Jernigan's, which
Swanson held up. Swanson could see
the long row of electric lights cleaning
on the muddy food. They were at the
highest point in the tunnel, and the
water had not yet reached them.
Again he knocked on the wall, and
some one knocked in reply. Swanson
fancied there were voices, but he could
not make out what was said for the
buzzing in his ears, but the door did
not open. A few feet away the soft
gray nose of Billy, the mule. rose above
the water. Swanson reached out and
touched it with dripping fingers. There
was beseeching look in the dumb eyes,
as IL the mule knew that he could not
last much longer. Swanson said moth
ing. There was a strange likeness be-
tween the man and the brute. Both
were slow, dull, powerful Of body, with
the patience that Outwears suffering
and the dumb, accomplishing faith
that goes down to death without q
culver. Neither made an outcry. Hav-
ing done all that was possible, they
waited. Swanson's eyes presently be-
gan to fail him. The lights grew dim,
but he still held Jernigans head above
the water.
All this time the great pumps above
ground were drawing to their utmost
on the flood, and the engines were driv.
Ing compressed air into the deep work
ings, though those outside had little
hope Of rescuing the entombed men,
and yet, what human hands We're so
weak in doing, blind circumstance had
already accomplished, for the terrific
thrush Of water at the tunnels end had
brought In great quantities Of sand.
clay and powders, which soon filled the
tunnel for many feet and finally chok-
ed the break, so that water could no
longer enter.
The tunnel had overreached itself In
its treachery, and now, slowly, the
pumps and the compressors began to
lower the food within the pressure
workings. Swanson was dimly con-
scious of the change. He felt the wa
ter, which was Icy cold to bis half
naked body, leave his shoulders, then
creep down his breast He was lean
ing now against the wall. still holding
Jernigan up. Presently, though he
fought against 1t, he sank to his knees,
and thus they found him, with the
mules gray nose resting on his shoul-
der. They dragged the two men Into
the air lock, followed by rush of wa
ter. Both were unconscious. Billy tried
to follow, but they pushed him back.
and when the door was closed he still
stood there patiently, waiting With
faith the rough kindness Of his mas
ters. He had known all along that the
door some way, some time, would
open; had 1t not always opened be-
fore?
Jernigan came to himself first In the
hot room. He was not able to get up,
but he rolled over, and when Swanson
opened his eyes he said. in strange con.
trast to his usual comments:
you're O good man, Swanson"
And Swanson looked up at him like
a dumb, wounded animal.
They forced Swanson to bis feet,
dosed him with black coffee and walk.
ed him up and down the room. though
he groaned with pain and begged them
to let him sleep.
Then Barclay came and swore about
the water and, upon consideration.
gave Jernigan $50 and Swanson $40.
with the express condition that there
should be no talking to reporters. And
two weeks later Jernigan and Swan.
son again went into that black hole
of death, for their calling was danger
without expectation Of reward for
meeting 1t.