t, the brave little hump-backed lad, who,
like most of those in his condition, was unusually strong in his arms,
swung himself into the dark hole. Down he slid into the blackness,
slowly and cautiously, until he came to the object of his search. It was
Bill Tooley's limp body hanging across a stout timber brace, which,
extending from side to side of the shaft and firmly bedded in its walls
at each end, had been left there by the miners who cut this air-channel.

As Paul's withered leg was of no assistance to him in clinging to the
timber, he lashed himself securely to it before attempting to do
anything for the boy who had so recently been his enemy and tormentor,
and was now dependent upon his efforts for even a chance for life. Bill
was not unconscious, though so weak from pain and fright as to be nearly
helpless. Under the influence of Paul's cheering words, and after the
line had been securely fastened about his body, he was induced to let go
his desperate hold of the timber and grasp the rope. Then Paul called
out to the boys above to pull up very slowly and carefully, as the least
carelessness might result in dashing both Bill and him to the bottom of
the shaft.

Bill Tooley was a heavy weight for the frightened boys at the top to
manage, and several times, even in the short distance of ten feet, his
upward progress was arrested, and Paul feared that they were about to
let him slip back. Obeying his instructions, two of the boys walked away
with the rope, instead of trying to pull up hand-over-hand, while the
other two held the log at the edge in place, and made ready to catch
hold of Bill's arm as soon as he should come within reach.

Finally his head appeared above the surface, and he was dragged,
screaming with pain, over the edge, and laid groaning on the floor of
the gangway. Then the rope was again lowered to the brave little fellow
who was clinging in perfect darkness--for his light had at length blown
out--to the timber brace in the shaft. He was drawn to the surface much
more quickly and easily than Bill Tooley had been; but when he found
himself once more in safety, a reaction from the nervous strain of the
past half-hour set in. Throwing himself down beside Bill, he began to
sob so violently as to greatly astonish the boys, who beheld but could
not comprehend this weakness in one whose strong will had but a minute
before so completely mastered theirs.

In a few moments Paul recovered his composure su