ns going on within, for in spite of the
great current of air that was kept up through the pit, a draught which
swept away the dangerous gas, there were places which its purifying
influence did not reach, places such as this new gallery in the
four-foot seam, where the vapour had been steadily increasing for hours
and collecting round the heads of the men.

Familiarity breeds contempt. Often enough we know that the men who work
in gunpowder mills have to be searched to keep them from taking matches
with them when they enter the mill.

Philip Hexton and his companion went on, the latter ready to grumble as
he grew weary of what he looked upon as unnecessary labour. "T'pit was
reet enew," he said to himself; and what need was there of "peeking and
poking about this how?"

For the young inspector seemed never satisfied. He was always on the
look-out for danger; and as they went on and on through the black
galleries, where the iridescent tints of the shaley coal flecked with
iron pyrites glittered and flashed in the dim light, he kept pausing and
listening.

"He won't stop at it long," said the overman to himself; "he's 'bout
scarred of it now. I niver see a lad so freckened at every sound."

It was quite true. Philip Hexton was startled at every sound; but it
was from fear for others--not for self. So far from feeling the
ordinary coward's dread, he would have gone at once into the most
dangerous places to save another's life; but he was at times appalled at
the reckless ways of the men.

In one gallery the roof, as the light glimmered upon it, was one
beautiful fret-work of ancient vegetation, being carved, as it were,
into knotted stems full of beautiful flutings. Huge ferny leaves could
be seen bending in graceful curves, and here and there, shining like
cuttings in jet, traces of the cone-like fruit borne by some of the
trees of that far-back age when the coal was deposited in bituminous
beds.

These geological remains had a great interest for Philip Hexton, and he
promised himself plenty of amusement when his time of leisure came. At
present it was all work--extremely hard work, for, until he could
thoroughly master every technicality in the pit, he felt himself to be
at a great disadvantage with the men.

"Yo' weant be so partic'lar when yo've been here a few year, Master
Hexton," said the overman, as they were making their way down a wide
gallery whose coal had been worked out long enough before, an