boy
thought it was only part of the explosion, and was thankful that matters
were no worse.

As Derrick cleared himself from the mass of rubbish that had fallen on
him, and staggered to his feet, he was nearly suffocated by the dense
clouds of powder-smoke from the blast. He was also in utter darkness,
both his lamp and that of Harry Mule having been blown out. In his
inexperience he had not thought to provide matches before entering the
mine, and now he found himself in a darkness more dense than any he had
ever dreamed of, without any means of procuring a light. His heart grew
heavy within him as he realized his situation, for he had no idea
whether the miner who had played so cruel and dangerous a trick upon him
would return or not.

An impatient movement on the part of Harry Mule suggested a plan to him.
Casting off the chain by which the mule was attached to the car, and
holding the end in his hand, he said, "Go on, Harry, and take me out of
this place." At this command the intelligent animal started off towards
the junction as unhesitatingly as though surrounded by brightest
daylight, and Derrick followed.

They had not gone far before they met Monk Tooley, leisurely returning
to the scene of his labors.

"Hello! Mr. Mule-driver," he shouted, "what are you a-doing here in de
dark, an' how do yer like mining far as ye've got? Been studying de
effect of blarsts, and a-testing of 'em by pussunal experience?"

Derrick felt a great lump rising in his throat, and bitter thoughts and
words crowded each other closely in his mind. He knew, however, that the
man before him was as greatly his superior in wordy strife as in bodily
strength, so he simply said,

"The next time you try to kill me you'd better take some surer means of
doing it."

"Kill you! Who says I wanted to kill you?" demanded the miner, fiercely,
as he stopped and glared at the boy. "Didn't I holler to ye to run?
Didn't I give yer fair warnin' that I was shootin' a blarst? Didn't I?
Course I did and yer didn't pay no 'tention to it. Oh no, sonny! 'twon't
do. Ye mustn't talk 'bout killin' down in dese workin's, cause 'twon't
be 'lowed. Come back now, an' git my wagon. Here's a light for yer, but
don't let me hear no more talk 'bout killin', or ye may have a chance to
wish yer was dead long before yer really is."

Derrick made no reply to this, but turning Harry Mule about, they went
back after the car. He was convinced that this man was his bitter a