James Otis

“ Billings used the tone of a master, and Skip understood that his crime had brought him to slavery of the most degrading kind.
The groggery was filled with men when he arrived, and in the number he found safety. All were excitedly discussing the accident, some intimating that Billings had a hand in it, and no one paid any particular attention to the frightened boy who crept cautiously in, as if to avoid being seen.
"Wants grub, eh?" Taylor asked, when Skip made known his errand. "What's he up to? Afraid they'll nab him for what was done to-day?" ”

“ Men were passing and re-passing on every hand, and in the darkness no one saw a small figure, in whose cap the lamp was not lighted, run swiftly from the foot of the slope up the drift where the sentinels should have been. ”

“ The foul air rushing out nearly overcame the laborers, but the eager rescuers heeded not their own peril, and the moment finally came when the unconscious ones were fully exposed to view.
"Pass out the men, and then dig beneath the boy; he must be released in that manner, otherwise we may all share their fate," and Mr. Wright shoveled the earth carefully away from Fred, while the others carried Joe and Bill into the drift.
From his place of concealment on the hillside Skip Miller saw a party of men come out of the slope bearing an ominous looking burden. ”

“ We must be considerably below the deepest shaft."
"Have you given up all hope?" Fred asked in a whisper, for while surrounded by the dense blackness the full tones of his voice sounded fearsome.
"Ay, lad, all hope."
"Try once more. There surely is a way out if we could only strike it!"
"We may as well meet the water here. I've been in the mines long enough to know that this runnin' at random is worse than standin' quiet. When a man's time has come there's no use to fight." ”

“ Wright would have run into the street as the only way by which the widow's property could be saved; but Fred and Sam prevented him by force, and Brace, who came down stairs at the first alarm, said decidedly:
"You mustn't think of such a thing. Your life would be taken."
"It is cowardly to remain here."
"It is foolhardy to face, single handed, two or three hundred brutes like those who are yelling." ”

“ Byram tried to plead with the mob; but they pushed her aside without ceremony as they shouted:
"We'll show them at the store how we deal with spies and traitors."
"We've got the rope and the sneak, now we only need two or three of the bosses to fix the thing up brown."
"Do you suppose they really mean to hang him?" Fred asked in a tone of awe, and Sam replied sadly:
"I'm afraid they will. Billings always was down on him, and the men are so excited as to hardly know what they are about, so anything is possible." ”

“ Nearly every house was open and lighted as if for a general illumination, while the sidewalks were crowded with throngs of excited women and children.
"This would be a good time for Skip to pay you off," Sam said, as they walked swiftly along. "While so much is goin' on they could do pretty near as they pleased without fear of being stopped."
"What he might do seems to be of little consequence compared with the danger which threatens the poor fellows at the mine. If the lower level should be flooded while they were guarding the drift there's every chance all would be drowned." ”

“ Walking around so much has tired me more than a full day's work in the breaker."
"Don't keep awake on my account. The sooner your eyes are closed the sooner you'll forget that there's a chance of bein' sent to jail."
With his head pillowed on some dry leaves Fred had no difficulty in summoning slumber; but Bill tossed to and fro on the hard bed without the slightest desire for sleep.
The boy was dreaming of the frightful hours spent in the short slope after the explosion, when he was awakened by the pressure of a hand on his mouth. ”

“ Byram said, as she drew Brace from the window:
"They have learned you are here, and in their mad excitement murder may be committed."
Then came from the street as if to give emphasis to her words:
"Hang him! Hang him! He's worse than the bosses!"
"You must go to the store now," Sam cried.
"What's the good? They will get in there as easily as here."
"Mr. Wright and his men are well armed and can protect you."
"There has been no shootin' done yet, an' I'll not be the cause of the first bullet. It is better to give myself up at once." ”

“ Brace hesitated a moment as if unwilling to display anything which might be mistaken for cowardice, and then Fred and Sam literally forced him toward the door.
"While you run I will attract the attention of the men," Mrs. Byram said, as she showed herself at the window, and the miner sprang out at the very instant when half a dozen of the rioters entered the gate. ”

“ To come here it was only necessary to move our furniture three miles, and the promise of needle-work from the superintendent's family assured us sufficient income to meet the absolute cost of living. But you need not go to the breaker again; it may be possible to find employment elsewhere."
"There's little chance of that in this town, mother," Fred replied with a brave attempt at cheerfulness. "I should be worse than a loafer to remain idle while you were working, and by keeping my eyes open that crowd can't do very much mischief." ”

“ Byram replied cheerily. "It is sufficient for me that your life has been spared, and I am certain we shall be able to provide for the future, but you are not to go into the mine again. The four terrible days spent at the slope, fearing each instant that the rescuing party would reach the drift too late, caused me to resolve that you should not be exposed to any more such dangers."
"But it don't stand to reason he'll have another experience like the last," Joe said, promptly. "He's already gone through more'n the majority of us fellers, an' lightning don't often strike twice in the same place." ”

“ Joe whistled as he passed on, to show how little concern he felt at meeting the two whom he considered enemies, but he whispered to Fred when they were farther down the mountain:
"I want to know what them fellers are doin' out here. It looks as if some crooked work was goin' on."
"They can't run away with the vein," Fred replied laughingly, "and I don't see how their being in this vicinity can hurt us."
"Nor I; but it won't do any harm to watch 'em. They're none too honest to play any kind of a mean trick." ”

“ A low hum as of conversation could be heard from the other side of the wall, and Sam sprang to the aperture made by Fred and Joe Brace.
"I'll never yip again about you're being scared," he whispered after one glance. "Here come the whole crowd, an' we're in a fix."
"They won't dare to crawl through, if we threaten to shoot."
"Let's first find out exactly what they are here for. It may be they are only looking for Joe."
Standing either side the aperture the boys watched the approach of the men whose movements were revealed by the miner's lamp each carried. ”

“ Joe asked, and his voice sounded strangely indistinct.
"Not till the joist is pulled away."
"When that is done it's safe to say tons of the roof will follow," Bill muttered, and Joe asked:
"Does it hurt you much, lad?"
"The edges are cutting into my back terribly."
"Grin an' bear it as long as you can. Our only chance for life is to break through the wall into the old tunnel; but if that timber is taken away it's good-bye for all hands."
"Then don't bother about me. It's better one died than three." ”

“ Speak quickly, for time mustn't be lost if we're to do anything toward helping ourselves."
"How large a cut is there through the wall where you are standing?"
"It's only a small one—perhaps four or five inches across."
"Couldn't you make it large enough to crawl through?"
"It wouldn't take long if I had a shovel; but without one it will be hard." [Pg 32]
"Set about it, lad; work is better than idleness when a fellow is in this kind of a scrape."
Fred obeyed instantly, tearing away the earth regardless of the injury done his hands; but making very slow progress. ”

“ The wall was composed of slate and gravel, and a pick would have been necessary to effect a speedy entrance.
Meanwhile Brace strove to cheer the boy by talking of the possibility that they might yet escape, and hour after hour Fred continued at the task until the moment arrived when it was possible, by dint of much squeezing, to make his way through the aperture.
"Do you think it is near the time when the men are to flood the mine?" he asked, groping around until his outstretched hands touched Brace's prostrate body, when he began feverishly to untie the ropes. ”

“ Fred started at a rapid pace, and by the time the miners had finished telling their story to Mr. Wright, Mrs. Byram knew of the interview with Skip.
"Of course I will give you some food," she said, readily. "It may prove to be the best possible thing for him that he should be so thoroughly frightened. Can you carry oil enough in a bottle?"
"As much as will be needed until to-morrow. It won't do any harm if he scrapes along on short rations for a while," Sam replied, with a laugh. "The only thing is to get him something before Joe an' Bill go back." ”

“ Two of the lamps were extinguished, and since Fred was the only one retaining the means of dispelling the darkness, Sam and Skip forced him on ahead as they went still further into the tunnel where the air would be more pure.
"This is the only point from which we may expect aid," Sam said, "an' seein' that we can do nothin' it's better to stay here."
"Won't Joe and Bill try to help us?" Fred asked.
"They'll try, but whether it'll be possible to do anything is another matter."
"Can't we begin to dig? We've got one shovel." ”

“ My life don't count for anything when there are so many to be saved. Run if you can, and tell what Billings intends to do. The superintendent is the one who should hear it first, but if the time is short speak to any of the bosses."
Up to this moment Fred had thought only that he and Brace might insure their own safety; but now personal welfare seemed insignificant as compared with what might be done for others. ”

“ The new mine has only been in operation about a year; but that is time enough to show that the vein is much richer than the one at Farley's. Instead of being forced to spend money making a shaft or slope, coal of good quality has been taken out from the first, and already do the original owners consider themselves wealthy. It is true the united amount in bank would not be thought large by many; but their income is considerably in excess of all necessary expenses and, what is better yet, perfect content dwells with them. ”

“ With the rescue of the boys the work was finished, and in the rear of the bearers all the watchers and laborers followed to the village, remaining in the streets until word was sent that no injuries had been sustained.
Then, perhaps for the first time, came the question of what was to be done now that Farley's was in such a condition as to preclude any possibility that the works could be opened for several months.
"It's a hard look-out for all of us," one old miner said to a mate, "but thank God that villain of a Billings has no more than four lives to answer for." ”

“ Wright.
Instantly the alarm was given Sam started in pursuit, accompanied by a dozen others, and only by outstripping the rioters could he hope to make his escape.
Fred ran as he had never done before, with the howling mob at his heels, and foremost among them was Sam. Two men were in advance of the escaping prisoner; but by an apparent misstep while he ran alongside the second, the rioter was overturned, and but one remained; the others being so far in the rear as not to count in the chase. ”

“ The air was heavy with the noxious vapor as he went rapidly toward the slope up which crowds of miners were passing, and as some of the men loitered behind the others it became necessary he should hide in the drift to escape detection.
"Why don't the fools move faster," he said, in a hoarse whisper. ”