or
the dump. A flight of rude steps led up along the side of the slope from
the mouth of the mine to the top of the breaker.

Derrick and Paul thought that perhaps they might make their way down
this flight of steps and thus escape from the blazing building; but when
they reached the end of the slope, and looked down, they saw that this
would be impossible. Already the steps were on fire, and the whole
slope, as far as they could see, was enveloped in a dense cloud of
smoke. Through it shot flaming tongues that were greedily licking the
timbers of the tall trestle-work.

If Derrick had been alone he would have made the attempt to rush down
the steps, and force his way through the barrier of smoke and flame; but
he knew that for his companion this would be impossible, and that even
to try it meant certain death.

As he hesitated, and turned this way and that, uncertain of what to
attempt, an ominous crash from behind, followed by another and another,
warned them that the floors of the building were giving way and letting
the heavy machinery fall into the roaring furnace beneath. They knew
that the walls must quickly follow, and that with them they too must be
dragged down into the raging flames.

Paul, sitting on the floor, buried his face in his hands, shutting his
eyes upon the surrounding horrors, and prayed.

Derrick stood up, gazing steadily at the rushing flames, and thought
with the rapidity of lightning. Suddenly his eye fell upon an empty
coal-car standing on the track at the very edge of the slope, and he
cried,

"Here's a chance, Paul! and it's our only one. Get into this car, quick
as you can. Hurry! I feel the walls shaking."

As Paul clambered into the car in obedience to his friend's
instructions, though without an idea of what was about to happen,
Derrick sprang to one side, where a brass handle hung from the wall, and
pulled it twice with all his might; then back to the car, where he cast
off the hooks by which the great wire cable was attached to it. Again he
pulled furiously, twice, at the brass handle.

He had done all that lay in his power, and was now about to make one
last, terrible effort to escape. The red flames had crept closer and
closer, and were now eagerly reaching out their cruel arms towards the
boys from all sides. Beneath them the supports of the building tottered,
and in another moment it must fall. Down the slope the shining rails of
the track disappeared in an impenetrable