The Hope pioneer., 1922-12-07
CHAPTER xvu-continued.

A6uu u mOdu 1IOLu IIlc ludu Ou LlIc
bed, and at last a slight resistance to
the sting of the batteries. An hour
passed. two; gradually Harry came to
himself, to stare about him in Won
dering, vacant manner and then to
fasten his eyes upon Fairchild. He
seemed to be struggling for speech, for
coordination of ideas. Finally, after
many minutes
"Yes, Harry" N~ISf'
"But where are we?"
"We're in a hospital, and you're
knocked out. Don't you know where
you've been?"
II don't know anything since I slid
down the WALL"
"Since you what?"
But Harry had lapsed into semi
consciousness again. And it was not
until late in the night after the rescue,
following a few hours Of rest forced
upon him by the inferno, that Fair
child once more could converse with
his stricken partner.
"1t's something I'll ave to show you
to explain" said Harry. II can't tell
you about it. You know where that
little fssure is in the 'anging wall,
away back in the stope?"
EYES,"
swell, that's it. That's where I got
out"
"But what happened before that?"
"What didn't 'appen?" asked Harry,
with painful grin. Everything in
the world 'appened. but what did
the assay show?"
Fairchild reached forth and laid a
hand on the brawny one of his part
ner.
"We're rich, Harry" he said, "richer
than I ever dreamed we could be- The
ores as good as that of the Silver
Queen!"
"The bloody ell it isl" Then Harry
dropped back on his pillow for long
time and simply grinned at the cell
ing. Somewhat anxious, Fairchild
leaned forward, but his partners eyes
were open and smiling. I'm just let
ting it sink I'M" he announced, and
Fairchild was silent, saving his ques-
tions until ut" had sunk. Then:
''You were saying something about
that fissure?"
"But there is other things first.
After you went to the assayers, I
fooled around there in the chamber,
and thought I'd just take flyer and
blow up them 'oles that I'd drilled in
the 'anging wall at the same time that
shot the other. So put in the
powder and fuses, tamped 'em down
and then thinks, thinks I, that there's
somebody moving around in the drift.
But I didn't pay any attention to it
you know. was busy and all that,
and you often .'ear noises that sound
funny. So set 'em off-that is, lit
the fuses end started to run. Well,
I 'adn't any more'n started when
bloeyy-y-y, right in front Of me, the
whole world turned upside down, and
I felt myself knocked back into the
chamber. Ard there was them fuses.
All Of 'em Burning. Well, managed
to pull out the one from the foot wall
and stamp it out, but didn't ave time
to get at the others. And the only
place where there was a chance for
me was clear at the end Of the cham
Der. Already I was bleeding like a
tain 'ad it me on the 'ead, and I
didn't know much what was doing. I
just wanted to get be'ind something
that's all could think Of So SHE'D
for that fissure in the rocks and
crawled back in there, trying to
squeeze as far along as I could. And
'ere's the funny part Of it kept on
going!"
"YOu what?"
'Kept on going. I'd always thought
1t was just place where the 'anging
wall 'ad slipped, and that it stopped
d few feet back. But it don't-it goes
on. 1 crawled along it as fast as l
could-I was about woozy, anyway
and by and by 'eard the shots go off
be'ind me. But there wasn't any use
in going back-the tunnel was caved
in. So kept on.
A1LcT Willie, L ran lutO SCredm OF
water that came out of the inside of
the Ill somewhere, and I took drink.
1t gave me bit of strength. And
then kept on some more-until all Of
q sudden, slipped and fell, just when
was beginning to see dyelight. And
that's all I know. 'ow long ave !
been gomez"
"Long enough to make me gray.
headed" Fairchild answered with q
little laugh. Then his brow furrowed.
"You say you slipped and fell just as
you were beginning to see daylight?"
Eyes. It looked like it was reflected
from below, somewyes."
Fairchild nodded.
"Isn't there quite a spring right by
Crazy Laura's house?"
"Yes; it keeps going all year
there's current and it don't freeze
up. It comes out like it was water.
fall-and there's roaring noise be.
t.