shape
just over the shaft. That's the particular reason we are afraid to blast
the rock here until we know whether any of the men were caught at the
bottom of the pit."

Wilson arose and began removing his collar. "How about water, Mr.
Bartlett, since the pump is not working?" he inquired.

"Unless the explosion tapped new water, there'll be no danger for
twenty-four hours at least. But if the drain channel of the lower gallery
has been filled the floor will be very slippery," the mine boss added.
"It's slate, and we left it smooth, as a runway for the ore boxes."

As the young operator removed his spotless collar--one similar to that
which had so aroused the cowmen's derision on his first day at
Bonepile--without a smile one of the very men who had formed the
"welcoming committee" that day rubbed his hands on his shirt, took it
carefully, and placed it on a clean plank.

"You'll want a lamp. Somebody give the boy a cap and lamp," the boss
directed. A dozen of the miners whipped off caps with attached lamps, and
trying several, Wilson found one to fit. Then, buttoning his coat and
turning up the collar, he made his way to the rock-sealed entrance, and
climbed up to the narrow opening.

"I'll tap as soon as I reach the pipe," he said. "So long!" and without
more ado crawled head first within and disappeared.

The lamp on his cap lighting up the narrow trough-like tunnel, Wilson
easily wormed his way forward ten or twelve feet. Then the passage
contracted and became broken and twisted. However, given confidence by
the knowledge that others had passed through, Wilson squeezed on, there
presently came a widening of the hole, then a black opening, and with a
final effort he found himself projecting into the black depths of the
empty gallery.

Below him the debris sloped to the floor. Pulling himself free, he slid
and scrambled down, and quickly was on his feet, breathing with relief.
Only pausing to brush some of the dust from his clothes, Wilson hastened
forward.

Two hundred feet distant a windlass took shape in the obscurity. He
reached it, and the black opening of the shaft to the lower level was at
his feet. Looking, he found the rope the mine boss had spoken of. It was
secured to one of the windlass supports, and disappeared into the depths
on the opposite side of the pit. Directly below was the shattered wreck
of the ladder.

Leaning over, Wilson shouted, "Hello! Hello!" The words crashed and
echoed in the