hands and
began to make his way cautiously along by the shaley wall.

It was terribly bad walking, the floor being uneven from the many falls
of coal from the roof. Here and there, too, were wooden supports which
had to be avoided; but after stumbling along cautiously for about fifty
yards, and avoiding the obstacles as if by a miracle, the distant glow
of light was sufficient, dim as it was, to show him the supports that
intervened, and fifty yards further he could walk quite fast, for there
were the Davy-lamps hanging here and there, each forming a faint star,
with a dull halo around.

They seemed very near the ground till the young deputy remembered that
they were in the four-foot seam, and the next moment he was spared a
violent blow by one of his hands coming in contact with the roof.

Philip Hexton's heart beat fast at the sight he saw; and for a moment he
felt as if he must turn and run for his life.

But he did not. Bending down half-double, he ran towards the group of
men, gaining impetus each moment, till, stumbling over some of the newly
hewn-out coal, he was thrown, as it were, full against Ebenezer Parks,
his right fist catching the burly miner in the ear, just as he was, pipe
in mouth, about to open the lamp, and they fell heavily together, the
lamp fortunately being extinguished by the shock.

CHAPTER FOUR.

AN UNPLEASANT THREAT.

"You villain!" cried Philip excitedly, as he rose, and then seated
himself panting upon a lump of coal; "another moment, and you would all
have been lying scorched and dying where you now stand."

"Villain, eh?" roared the great pitman, staggering up with his head
bleeding from a cut caused by his fall, "villain, am I, lad? Then I'll
be villain for some'at."

As he spoke, beside himself with passion, he caught up his miner's pick,
and, but for the quick movement of the young man, would have dealt him
what might have been a deadly blow.

"Nay, nay, Eben, lad," cried one of the men, closing with him, "howd
thee hand: we don't want murder here." But it was not until a couple
more of the miners had seized him by the arms and wrested away the short
sharp pick, that he ceased to struggle.

Philip stood as well as the low roof would allow of the erect posture,
and looked on.

"There lad, thou'st better goo," said one of the men; "and don't thee
coom interferin' agen."

"Interfering!" cried Philip, with spirit, "recollect who I am, and that
I will not have such