d across
which part of the mine they were passing to reach a distant portion
where the men were at work on the "new four-foot."

"Indeed!" said Philip, smiling, "I think you'll find me twice as
strict."

"Not yo'," chuckled the man; "I used to think the same when I was young;
but, bless thee, lad, a man's life would be a burden to him if he was
fancying the pit o' fire at every bit of gas. There'd be no coal-mining
at all, for the lads'd be too scarred to come down."

"If I live and have my way," said Philip sternly, "the pit here shall be
so safe that work can go on in peace for every one, and every man shall
act as guardian of his fellow's safety."

"Sounds very pratty, lad," said the overman, "but it weant wuck. Look
here, there's a bit o' gas in this corner."

He held the lamp up close to the roof, and tiny explosions again began
inside the gauze.

Then he lowered the lamp, and they ceased, showing how light the
explosive gas was, and how it floated about the roof.

"Sithee," continued the overman, holding up the lamp again, so that
Philip could make out that there was a rift above their heads, where at
some time or other the roof had fallen; "that place has got part gas in
it, for the ventilation don't touch here; but that don't mean as the
whole mine's dangerous."

"But the whole mine _is_ dangerous," said Philip hastily. "It's made
dangerous by the recklessness of the men. Stop, man, what are you going
to do?"

He was too late, for, unperceived by him, the overman had unlocked the
lamp, and held it up open above their heads, when there was a blinding
flash, and an echoing report, and then a rumbling, distant, rushing
noise.

"What do you think o' that, lad?" said the overman coolly, relocking his
lamp.

"I think it was madness," said Philip excitedly. "You might have fired
the mine."

"Nay, lad, there was no fear o' that I knowed well enew what I was
doing, and that bit o' gas was just as well away."

The young deputy's heart beat fast, and he was about to speak angrily,
but he felt that it would be better to consult with his father to see if
a stop could not be put to such reckless ways. For he argued if an
overman would run such a risk as this, knowing that the detached portion
of gas might possibly communicate with a larger body, was it not likely
that the ordinary winners of the coal would, without the overman's
knowledge and experience, run even greater risks?

"Yo'll get used to it