Year: 1873

hand and kissed it; and though she
looked away then, it seemed to me as
though she pressed it very gently.


I stepped up towards the pits mouth,
where there was dead silence, for no
one would volunteer; and, in a half
clustering way, l said, "I'll 60 down"


There was regular cheer rose up as
I said those words; but hardly heed
ed it, for was looking at Mary, and
my heart sank as saw her standing
there smiling with joy.


..She thinks shall save him, )" I said
to myself bitterly. ..Nell, I'll do it,
if I die in the attempt; and God for
give her, for she has broken my heart"


The next minute stepped into the
cage, and it began to move. when
voice calls out, "Blow it all, Dick Old |
shaw shan't 60 alone p and a young
pitman sprang in by my side.


Then we began to descend, and
through an opening just caught sight
Of Mary Andrews falling back senseless
in the arms of woman Then all was
dark and ] was nerving myself for what
| had to do.


To go the way by which | had helped
to save Andrews was, I knew, impossi-
BILE; but had hopes that by going
round by one Of the old workings we
might reach him, and told my CON-
| panion what thought.


That's right-of course it is," he
said, slapping me on the back. "That's
books, that is. wish I could read"
Turning short off as soon as we were
at the bottom, | led the way, holding
my lamp high, and climbing and stumb-
ling over the broken shale that had fall
len from the roof forthis part of the
mine had not been worked for years.


Now we were in parts where we could


breathe freely, and then working along
where the dense gas made our lamps


sputter and crackle, and the opening of


one for an instant would have been a


flash and death for us both. Twice over


thought we had lost our way: but l


had the plan Of the pit at home, and


quite often | had studied it. little think


ing it would ever stand me such good


stead as this; and by pressing on 1


found that we were right and gradually


nearing the point at which the accident


had occurred.


AS We got nearer, T became aware of


the air setting in strong draught in


the direction in which we were going,


and soon after we could make out dull


glow, and then there was deep roar


The pit was indeed on fire, and blazing
! furiously, SO that as we got nearer,


trembling, I'm not ashamed to own it,
| for it was an awful sight, was


the coal growing of fierce red heat /;


but, fortunately, the draught set toward


an old shaft fully a quarter of mile


farther on, and SO we were able to ap-


proacn till, with cry of horror, | leapt


over heap after heap of coal. torn from


roof and wall by the explosion. to where,


close to the fire, lay the body of John


Kelsey-so close that his clothes were


already smouldering and the fire scorch-


ed my face as | laid hold of him and


dragged him away. =


How VIC ever got him to the foot Of
, the shaft l never could tell +; for to have
!, carried him over the fallen coal of the


disused galleries would have been i'm.
possible. 1t was either to risk the gas
of the regular way. or to lie down and
die by his side. / remember standing


there for a few moments. and sending a
prayer up to Him who could save us
) and then, with a word to my mate. We
} had John up between US, and staggered
! towards the shaft in strange. helpless,
: dreamy way. To this day it seems lit


tie less than a miracle how we could
| have lived but the fire must have ven.
! tilated the passages sufficiently to allow


us to stagger slowly along till we fell
more than climbed. into the cage, and
e were drawn up.


0 have some faint recollection of hear
ing cheer. and of seeing the dim light
of the chill December day; but the only


thing that made any impression upor
t me was voice which seemed to b,
i Mary's, and a touch that seemed to b,
t that of her hand. heard voice saying
e Terribly burned, but he's alive. Go
!, a pipe and matches in his hand:' ant
{. ! knew they were speaking about Johl
t Kelsey, and the thought came upon M
once more that had saved him for her
! and, with an exceeding bitter cry,


covered my poor, fire blinded eys ant
lay there faint and half insensible.
IS And it's not much more that | cal
G recollect, only of being in wild, fever
: ish state, wandering through dark pass
u ages, with fire burning my head, an,


coal falling always, and ready to crusl
v me; and then seemed to wake from
]" long, deep sleep, and to lie thinking i
|, a weak, troubled way about getting uE
Ie 1t was month. though, before I coul
D. do that; and then there was tende
re arm to help me, and soft cheek eve