Down the Slope

by James Otis

  CHAPTER XVI

  GOOD SAMARITANS

  Knowing that Joe and Bill were in Mr. Wright's confidence Donovan had nohesitation about placing guards as desired, and immediately after theyascended from the slope every exit was closely watched.

  "Now you boys can see we've fixed things in proper shape," Bill said, ina tone of triumph. "Do whatever you choose until to-morrow, an' Joe an'me'll attend to Mr. Billings' case."

  "But he might get into the lower level by the same way we did," Samventured to suggest.

  "There are plenty below to take care of that."

  "Then there's no reason why we should come back?"

  "Not unless you want to see the game played out."

  "We'll run down to Fred's house, and then have a look at the place wherehe went through."

  "Suit yourselves about that," was the careless reply, as Bill startedtoward the store to confer with the superintendent.

  "Now is our chance," Sam whispered. "It won't take us more than tenminutes to run over to your house, and we can get back before Billcomes."

  Fred started at a rapid pace, and by the time the miners had finishedtelling their story to Mr. Wright, Mrs. Byram knew of the interview withSkip.

  "Of course I will give you some food," she said, readily. "It may proveto be the best possible thing for him that he should be so thoroughlyfrightened. Can you carry oil enough in a bottle?"

  "As much as will be needed until to-morrow. It won't do any harm if hescrapes along on short rations for a while," Sam replied, with a laugh."The only thing is to get him something before Joe an' Bill go back."

  A generous package of food, a small quantity of oil, the whole in apaper parcel, and the good samaritans started for the slope once more,noting with satisfaction as they passed that the miners had not yet leftthe store.

  No particular attention was paid to them as they entered the slope, andscreening the package as much as possible from view, the boys went withall speed to the repentant regulator's hiding place.

  So far as could be seen, the cutting through which Fred had fallenremained as when they ascended, and after letting themselves down thisthe task was well nigh accomplished.

  Skip was most extravagant in his demonstrations of gratitude when theyentered the chamber and displayed the supplies.

  "It'll take me a mighty long while to straighten this thing up; but I'lldo it somehow," he said, and Sam replied, roughly:

  "We'll talk about that later. Jest now there's a chance others will findout where you are, for Joe and Bill have gone after men to help searchfor Billings."

  "Then they didn't find him?"

  "No."

  "I reckon he has gone to Taylor's."

  "That won't do him much good unless he walks out of town, for now it isknown he's near by, all hands are bound to hunt him down."

  "Then they'll be sure to find me."

  "We'll hold on in the old drift till they get back, an' try to preventthem from coming up here by saying we've searched this slope," Fredsaid, after a moment's thought. "That's the only way I know of to keepthe secret."

  "It won't do any harm to make the attempt," Sam added. "Don't light yourlamp, and keep perfectly quiet."

  Skip retreated once more to the farther corner of the chamber, and theboys walked slowly down to the drift, halting a short distance from themouth of the slope as Sam picked up a shovel.

  "Here's another tool belonging to the company. It must have been thrownaway by Billings or Skip when you dropped on their heads."

  "Keep it to show we've been hunting; it can't be long now before the mencome, and we'll need some good excuse for loafing here."

  "Let's sit down till we hear them. I'm tired enough to want a rest."

  Seated on the decaying timbers of the car track the boys discussed inwhispers the possibility of aiding Skip to escape from his unenviableposition, with never a thought of the deed with which Billings was tocrown his villainous career.

  The leader of the mob had immediately begun to look about for a chanceto wreak his vengeance on the company, when Joe and Bill with theirhelpers left the level, and he was yet at the farther end of the passagewhen the boys returned with supplies for Skip.

  Their desire to avoid attracting the attention of the workmen causedthem to move noiselessly, consequently he was ignorant of the fact thatthey were in the mine.

  It was hardly five minutes after they descended to the old drift when hecame back to the cutting, and the odor of gas brought him to a stop.

  "Them fools broke through after all," he said, examining the earth piledup at one end, "an' I reckon they found out it wasn't safe to work muchfarther on that course."

  One of the shovels was standing against the side of the excavation, andwith this he dug a portion of the dirt from the hole made by Bill'spick.

  The foul air rushed through with such force as to nearly suffocate him;but instead of being disappointed he appeared overjoyed.

  "I couldn't a' fixed things better in a week's solid work, an' I'll takethe chances of gettin' out."

  Enlarging the aperture by pushing the earth through between the braceswhile he covered his mouth and nose with his blouse, he crept back tothe drift, unfastened his cap-lamp, removed the safety screen, andplaced the light in the passage after raising the wick a trifle.

  Just as these preparations had been completed the faint sound of thewhistle could be heard from above.

  "It's astonishin' what luck I'm having," he muttered. "I can get outwhile the day shift are leavin', an' ten minutes will be enough to fillthis level so full of gas that no power can prevent an explosion."

  The air was heavy with the noxious vapor as he went rapidly toward theslope up which crowds of miners were passing, and as some of the menloitered behind the others it became necessary he should hide in thedrift to escape detection.

  "Why don't the fools move faster," he said, in a hoarse whisper. "Itcan't be many seconds before the thing comes, an' there'll be no chancefor me. There'd be a lynchin' sure if I should show up jest ahead of anexplosion."

  Big drops of perspiration stood on his brow as he realized that the traphe had set for others might close upon himself, and for an instant heresolved to run back and extinguish the lamp.

  "It won't do," he said, half turning and then moving nearer the slope."There's gas enough in the drift to choke me before I'd get ten yards.Why don't the idiots move faster!"

  Only the absolute conviction that he would be lynched if caught at sucha time prevented Billings from rushing out.

  Each second the vapor became denser, and he wondered why the miners didnot perceive it.

  The catastrophe must be very near at hand, and he was exposed to thegreatest danger.

  When it seemed as if an hour had passed, the last man went up the slope,and he started at full speed to gain a higher level.

  The incline was almost reached; half a dozen steps more and he would bepartially sheltered by the jutting point of slate.

  "Luck is still with me," he cried, so loud that those above must haveheard him, and at that instant the earth seemed to rock to and fro;there was a flash of blinding light, and the air was filled with flyingfragments.

  Where had been the lower level was now an apparently solid mass ofearth, coal, and slate, covering the body of him who had wreaked hisvengeance upon the company.

  Joe and Bill were returning from the store when the noise of theexplosion was heard, and they, as well as everyone in the vicinity, knewfrom sad experience what had occurred.

  "We're responsible for this!" Bill cried, his face paling. "The gas hasburst through from the old drift."

  "Thank God it came when most of the poor fellows were quittin' work,"and Joe started on a run, followed by every person in the village.

  At the mouth of the slope a vast crowd had gathered. Women were callingtheir husbands and children by name, and as each learned her loved oneswere safe, shouts of joy mingled with the wailings of those whose criesremained unanswered.

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bsp; Even after Mr. Wright arrived the utmost confusion prevailed. All knewit would be certain death to make a descent, while the deadly vapor wasso dense, and a second explosion might be expected at any moment.

  Bill and Joe stood near the mouth of the slope ready to respond to thefirst call for volunteers, when Mrs. Byram came up.

  "Where is Fred?" she asked, with a brave attempt controlling her fears.

  "He went to your house with Sam, so there's no need to worry aboutthem."

  "They were not there more than ten minutes."

  "Then both are in the crowd somewhere, for they wouldn't go down theslope till we got back."

  The almost distracted mother had no thought of keeping Skip's secret atsuch a time, and when the two miners heard her story all hope for thesafety of the boys fled.

  "They must have been in the old drift underneath the explodin' gas," Joeexclaimed, involuntarily.

  "It isn't sure the trouble began where we think," Bill said, quickly,with a warning glance at his companion. "I've known of men who were shutin a drift for a week, an' then brought out none the worse for wear, sodon't despair, Mrs. Byram."

  "But why isn't something done to aid them?"

  "We shall set to work the very minute it is safe to venture into thenext level. Go home, an' Joe or I will bring you the first news."

  "Do you think I could remain there knowing my boy is dying,or--or--dead?"

  The women near by endeavored to console the sorrowing mother with wordsof encouragement they themselves believed to be false, and Billwhispered to his mate:

  "There's a mighty slim show for the poor lads, an' it's through helpin'him as tried to murder 'em that they've been caught."

  Mr. Wright was doing his utmost to ascertain how many were yet in themine, and after a long while succeeded in learning that at least a dozenmen had been overpowered while some distance up the slope.

  Those who reached the surface told of a number whom they had seen fall,and some were certain one or two did not have time to gain the slope.

  "Who will go with me?" the superintendent asked, as a car was madeready. "I don't want the married men to volunteer, for they are neededat home, and none of us may come back alive."

  "Then why not stay here yourself?" a woman cried. "Your wife an'children need you as much as ours need their fathers."

  "Because it is my duty," was the calm reply. "Now who will come? I onlywant two."

  "Then the car is full," Bill said, as he and Joe took their places inthe box-like vehicle. "We're willin' to go alone, if you'll staybehind."

  "No man shall encounter dangers from which I shrink. Lower away slowly,boys," he added to those who were fastening a rope to the car, "and keepa sharp look-out for our signals."

  "An' it was his house my Jim helped try to burn!" the woman who hadspoken before said in a whisper.

  "Make haste," Mr. Wright cried, impatiently. "Remember that every secondis precious."

  The miners crowded around the car to shake its brave occupants by thehand as if they were never to return, and it was absolutely necessary topush them away in order that the terrible journey might be begun.

  With their safety lamps held so that the condition of the air might beascertained at each stage of the descent, the men slowly disappearedfrom view, and at the mouth of the slope the crowd surged to and fro inpainful suspense; but not a sound could be heard, save as some wife ormother gave vent to a sob of distress.