f us if we'd a let you lay as you was."

"Your intention was equally kind," Mr. Brook said. "But is there nothing
that we can do?"

"Nowt," Bill Haden said. "We have got our dinners wi' us, and might make
'em last, a mouthful at a time, to keep life in us for a week or more.
But what 'ud be th' use of it? It may be weeks--ay, or months--before
they can stifle the fire and make their way here."

"Can you suggest nothing, Jack?" Mr. Brook asked. "You are the only
officer of the pit left now," he added with a faint smile.

Jack had not spoken since he reached the stall, but had sat down on a
block of coal, with his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands--a
favourite attitude of his when thinking deeply.

The other colliers had thrown themselves down on the ground; some sobbed
occasionally as they thought of their loved ones above, some lay in
silence.

Jack answered the appeal by rising to his feet.

"Yes, sir, I think we may do something."

The men raised themselves in surprise.

"In the first place, sir, I should send men in each direction to see how
near the choke-damp has got. There are four roads by which it could come
up. I would shut the doors on this side of the place it has got to, roll
blocks of coal and rubbish to keep 'em tight, and stop up the chinks
with wet mud. That will keep the gas from coming up, and there is air
enough in the stalls and headings to last us a long time."

"But that would only prolong our lives for a few hours, Jack, and I
don't know that that would be any advantage. Better to be choked by the
gas than to die of starvation," Mr. Brook said, and a murmur from the
men showed that they agreed with him.

"I vote for lighting our pipes," one of the miners said. "If there is
fiery gas here, it would be better to finish with it at once."

There was a general expression of approval.

"Wait!" Jack said authoritatively; "wait till I have done. You know, Mr.
Brook, we are close to our north boundary here, in some places within a
very few yards. Now the 'Logan,' which lies next to us, has been worked
out years ago. Of course it is full of water, and it was from fear of
tapping that water that the works were stopped here. A good deal comes
in through the crevices in No. 15 stall, which I expect is nearest to
it. Now if we could work into the 'Logan,' the water would rush down
into our workings, and as our pit is a good deal bigger than the 'Logan'
ever was it will fill the lower