Sam's
words both the sufferers were revived by the excitement sufficiently to
stagger to an upright position, but as only at intervals was the
cheering sound heard, fatigue soon overpowered them again, and once
more Sam alone remained conscious.

He made every effort to preserve all his faculties, and after another
long, painful time of suspense he was rewarded by hearing a faint hail.

"Hello! lads, are you near?"

"Yes! yes! In the end of a short slope."

"How many are there?"

"Three."

"All well?"

"Two are pretty near gone. Hurry as fast as possible."

"Don't fret, lad, we're workin' the best we know how, an' have been
these four days, though not allers on the right track."

Then from time to time the laborers shouted in order that they might not
deviate from the right course, and Sam answered each call at the full
strength of his lungs, which at the best was faint.

Nearer and nearer came the sound of shovels and picks until the
trembling of the wall told that life, liberty, and food were near at
hand.

Sam remained leaning close against the barrier that he might hear every
hail, until he saw the face of a man appear from amid a shower of
falling earth, and then, knowing the rescue was accomplished he lost
consciousness.

Around the mouth of the shaft stood a great crowd when the inanimate
boys were brought out. During the nights as well as days this throng
remained waiting to see those known to be in the half-ruined mine. These
anxious watchers, sympathizing with the three grief-stricken mothers,
had left their posts only so long as was absolutely necessary, and had
seen each lifeless body as it was sent to the surface, the last coming
from the slope being the mangled remains of Cale Billings.

Each morning the newspapers had printed long articles regarding the
disaster at Farley's, and in the list of those known to be dead were
four names, the number of victims sacrificed that Billings might avenge
a fancied wrong.

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