thers, or intended husbands.
They kept running about without bonnets or shawls, their hair streaming
in the wind, and frantically crying as they stretched out their hands to
the banksman and viewers and other officers, "Where are they? where are
they? Why don't they come up?" It would have softened the hardest
heart to have seen the grief, the agony of the poor women. No one could
answer them. It was not the first time such a thing had happened, even
in that pit. They all knew too well the effect of the fire-damp, and
still more destructive choke-damp.

"Is no one going down to bring them up?" was the question next asked.

"Yes, some one will go, I dare say, as soon as it's safe; but it would
not do to go yet," answered the banksman. "Besides, the gear is knocked
to pieces."

This reply only increased the alarm of the poor women, but they were
obliged to be content with it.

Dick pressed forward, and asked if any one had come up. No; no one had
come up since the morning.

"Then, may I go down?" he asked of one of the viewers.

"You are the lad who went by yourself to look for the boy Adams some
years ago, when he was lost, I remember," answered the viewer. "Yes,
you shall go with me presently, if you wish it."

A fresh corve was fitted, and the gear put in order. The viewer stepped
in, there were two other volunteers. Dick followed. Each person had a
safety lamp in his hand. They went down very slowly, for it was
probable that the shaft itself might be injured. They had not got far
when a stream of water, which had burst out of the side, came pouring
down on them, and almost filled the corve. The rushing sound, and the
force with which the water fell, deafened and confused them. Still they
persevered. Hot air, and noxious vapours, and steam, and smoke came
rushing up. They went down through it all. Some of their
fellow-creatures might be below. They would save them if they could.
At last they reached the bottom of the shaft. The furnace was still
blazing away. Beyond all was darkness and gloom, though the pale light
of their lamps showed them the ruin caused by the explosion.

The viewer shouted out, "Is any one alive?"

They stopped and listened anxiously. There was a faint cry, which came
from not far off.

"I heard a groan also," said the viewer. "There may be several alive, I
hope."

The brave little band moved on, knowing well that each step they
advanced the danger was increase