aware that
his friend the missionary was present. He was standing with his back to
the wall, and some candles fixed to a tree, or support, near him. All
were silent. Having read a chapter in the Bible, the missionary
earnestly entreated them to seek the Lord while He might be found. It
was an impressive discourse, and the missionary himself had often cause
to think of it afterwards. The dinner-time was soon over, and the
labourers hastened back to their work, and the missionary returned to
the world above.

Kempson had been pecking away for some time, when Bill Hagger, who was
next to him, ceased working. "I want my blow of baccy," he said, coming
up to Samuel. "That missioner chap put me off it, and that's what I
won't stand, so I'm going to have it now."

"What can make you think of such a mad thing, Bill?" exclaimed Samuel.
"You know it's against orders to light a pipe, and good reason too, for
a spark might blow us all to pieces in a moment. I smell the fire-damp
at this moment, you haven't got matches, I hope?"

"No; but I've got a key to open my lamp," answered Bill, producing a
small key from a concealed pocket.

"Don't be mad, Bill," cried Kempson. "You know that you've no business
to have that key. As sure as you open your lamp you'll blow yourself
and me into bits, and may be everybody in the mine, for I never felt it
fuller of gas than it is to-day. Just think, Bill, where our souls are
to go; for the gas can't blow them to pieces, remember that."

"I'm not going to be put off by any of your talk," answered Bill, in a
surly tone, filling his pipe.

Having done so, before poor Kempson could stop him, he had opened his
safety lamp, and put in the bowl of his pipe to light it. In an instant
there was a fearful report, a sheet of fire flew along the galleries
here, there, and everywhere through the pit, bursting open the traps,
tearing off huge fragments of the coal, overthrowing pillars and
supports, and sweeping to destruction the helpless human beings it
overtook in its course. Those more distant from the first part of the
explosion heard it coming, and knew too well its dreadful import. They
tried to fly towards the foot of the shaft. There only could they hope
for safety; but what hope had they of reaching it with those fiery
blasts rushing through every roadway and passage, and the destructive
choke-damp rising rapidly on all sides?

David Adams was sitting at his trap ready to open i