not seem exactly ill, but he prayed
and begged so hard that he might not go back to the pit, that when the
doctor came and said also it might do him harm, his father consented not
to take him. Still Joseph did not like losing his boy's wages. David
had promised, on the next Saturday, as soon as he came back from the
pit, to come and read to Dick. When the evening arrived, however, David
did not appear. Dick was beginning to complain very much of David, when
Mrs Adams came to ask if he was there, as he had never come home. When
Joseph came in, he said that he had not seen him all day. He thought
that he had not gone down into the pit. Mrs Adams began to get into a
great fright. David had left home in the morning to go to his work in
the pit, and she was sure that he would not have gone elsewhere. When
Joseph came in, he undertook to go to the pit's mouth and learn if David
had gone down. He came back, saying that there was no doubt about his
having gone down, but no one remembered for certain that he had come up
again.

"Oh father, let's you and I go down and look for him!" exclaimed Dick;
"I feel quite strong and able for it."

"Why I thought you'd be afraid of going down the pit again, boy,"
remarked Joseph.

"No, father," answered Dick, "I remember what that missionary gentleman
said the other day, if we are doing our duty we shouldn't fear, for God
will take care of us; and I am sure that I should be doing my duty
looking after David, who has been so kind to me."

Joseph could say nothing against it; so as soon as he had had some
supper, he, with Dick and Mrs Adams, set out to find the "doggy" of the
pit, to learn if he knew for certain that David had come up, and if not,
to get his and the "butty's" leave to go down and search for him. [Note
1.] On their way three or four other men offered to go with them.

The doggy could not say that David had come up, and the whole party,
therefore, were lowered down the pit, except Mrs Adams; she sat down
near the mouth, waiting anxiously for their return.

While she sat there, a lad dressed as a sailor drew near. He stood
still near the mouth of the pit, looking about him. The ground was
high; and he could have seen a long way had it not been for the smoke
from hundreds of tall chimneys which every now and then sent out thick
wreaths, which hung like a black cloud over the scene.

In the far distance was the large town of Newcastle, also full of tall
chimn