Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-04

way. He began to realize that the alarm
was not without reason. He paused once
and shifted the air. and held his lamp to
the coal wall in various places. without
finding traces Of gas. but the evidences
OF squeeze became more and more ap-
parent as he penetrated farther into the
workings. He had volunteered to get
the men out Of the new gangway. and
he was now intent upon fulfilling this
promise. The conditions were serious.
but the overchanging strata might adjust
themselves without a general collapse;
or even II the catastrophe were inevitable
1T might not come for days or weeks.
He had reached a region whose lines
were strange to him. and the cracking
ard splintering were more prevalent: but
the flow Of air was good and he kept on.
He saw faint lights ahead, the lamps of
the men he sought; they had taken warn
ing of their own senses and were re-
treating toward the shaft.
I'VE left a man back. there-a fall of
slate caught him." shouted one.
Don't leave him in there. There's
plenty Of time" Joe yelled: but they
scampered by. huddled together in their
fear.
He crowded into the opening of the new
gangway and peered about In a mo-
ment he heard the means Of the injured
man and crawled to where he lay. His
body was half covered by debris. and
hearing Joe he cried out in a strange
tongue for help. A great slab Of slate
lay across his back. and this Joe proceed
ed to lift by the aid of a crowbar. The
sounds Of the straining Of the crust grew
less ominous for time. and as Joe
strove to free the prisoner he had no
fear OF being unable to escape. So long
as the gangway was not blocked by fall
ing rock and the air supply continued
good, 1t would be merely a matter of
time to reach the shaft and safety.
Perhaps ten minutes passed before he
had moved the heavy slate. but when the
miner was quite free he could not rise.
and when Joe had lifted him to his feet
old man. Pole-who begged Joe in his
meager English not to leave him.
You can't walk, partner; / guess you
got to ride out" said Joe. He got down
on his knees and drew the crippled miner
legs. and crawied. out into the main gang
way: 1t was as dark as pitch. and the
oppressive silence continued: there was
In 1t now something unearthly that
struck Joe ominously. but he hurried
with his burden down the long tunnel.
He could stand nearly upright, but the
tramway was rough and covered wiCh
particles OF coal, and his progress was
slow. He was aware that the clasp of
the injured mans arms on his shoulders
relaxed suddenly. and as with the loss
Of his hold his body slipped back, Joe
laid him down in the tramway and held
the lamp to his face. The man was quite
dead.
Satisfied or this. Joe sprang to his feet,
and on the instant the walls Of the earth
about him shook With q mighty commo-
ton. Just behind him the tunnel shut
with sharp snap as OF a monsters
jaws, and the expelled cir swept by him
like hurricane. knocking him down,
and he lay very still. with his face to the
ground. expecting an inflow of gas or an
explosion. He Judged from the sound
that the collapse had occurred some dis
lance Behind him, and as he lay cough
ing In the dust he heard the thunder and
rumble Of other commissions of the earth
at more remote points. The driving blast
OF air had extinguished his lamp, but he
thrust out his hands and found himself
quite free. He had lost. his sense of di-
rection, but crawled along the tramway
to the body Of the dead miner and got
his bearings, and again started toward
the shaft. He had gone about forty
yards when he began stumbling upon
debris; in ten yards more q wall of rock
and slate rose before him.
He missed now the current OF sweet
air that had seemed to continue after the
first shock. and he suddenly felt the bite
threw himself FIAT and waited, his face
pressed against his coat sleeve. Waves
Of the foul air poured In upon him from
all sides Of the black. narrow chamber
that imprisoned him. He staggered to
his feet and beat with his hands on the
grim barricade. His ears rang with q
horrible fierce 0lamor; before his eyes in
the dense dark flashed LIGHTS in weird
fantastic and IMAGINABLE colors.
They're CALM strikes on me- he
muttered. and blinded, choking and fight