w t' best place for putting in
a prop, or of timbering in loose ground, as well as us as is old enough
to be his fathers; but he knows as much about t' book learning of a mine
as one of the government inspector chaps. You mightn't think it pleasant
for me, as has stood in t' place o' his father, to see him put over my
head, but I know how t' boy has worked, and I know what he is, and I
tell 'ee I'll work under him willing. Jack Simpson will go far; you as
live will see it."

Bill Haden was an authority in the Vaughan pit, and his dictum
reconciled many who might otherwise have resented the appointment of
such a lad. The enthusiastic approval of Harry Shepherd and of the rest
of the other young hands in the mine who had grown up with Jack Simpson,
and knew something of how hard he had worked, and who had acknowledged
his leadership in all things, also had its effect; and the new deputy
entered upon his duties without anything like the discontent which might
have been looked for, being excited.

The most important part of Jack's duties consisted in going round the
pit before the men went down in the morning, to see that there was no
accumulation of gas in the night, and that the ventilation was going on
properly. The deputy usually takes a helper with him, and Jack had
chosen his friend Harry for the post--as in the event of finding gas, it
has to be dispersed by beating it with an empty sack, so as to cause a
disturbance of the air, or, if the accumulation be important, by
putting up a temporary bratticing, or partition, formed of cotton cloth
stretched on a framework, in such a way as to turn a strong current of
air across the spot where the gas is accumulating, or from which it is
issuing. The gas is visible to the eye as a sort of dull fog or smoke.
If the accumulation is serious, the main body of miners are not allowed
to descend into the mine until the viewer has, with assistance,
succeeded in completely dispersing it.

"It's a lonesome feeling," Harry said the first morning that he entered
upon his duties with Jack Simpson, "to think that we be the only two
down here."

"It's no more lonesome than sitting in the dark waiting for the tubs to
come along, Harry, and it's far safer. There is not the slightest risk
of an explosion now, for there are only our safety-lamps down here,
while in the day the men will open their lamps to light their pipes;
make what regulations the master may, the men will break them to ge