n called all the men near to go to the
assistance of David and Bill, while one ran to summon a deputy viewer to
direct what was to be done to release Bill. As soon as they reached
David, Samuel lifted him up in his arms, and hurried with him to the
foot of the shaft, accompanied by Dick. When he got there, he begged
that he might be drawn up at once, that he might take the boy to his
mother. They got into the corve, and were drawn up, up, up the deep
shaft. When they reached the mouth of the pit, the fresh air brought
back the colour to David's cheeks, and he opened his eyes for a moment,
but quickly shut them, dazzled by the rays of the sun which was trying
to pierce the murky atmosphere. This, however, showed that there was
some life in the boy; and in better spirits than at first, Samuel
hurried along to the widow, that he might restore her son to her. She
had been over and over again to the pit's mouth to inquire for her boy,
and had to go back to look after her other children.

One of them playing in front of the door, saw the Kempsons coming along:
"Here comes Dick Kempson and his father with a little dead boy in his
arms," cried the child.

The poor widow, her heart sinking with dread, ran out of the cottage,
expecting to see David's lifeless body.

"Here he is, Mrs Adams, all right," exclaimed Samuel, as he drew near.
The change from grief to joy, as she saw her boy stretching out his arms
towards her, was almost too much for her strength, and she burst into
tears as she took him from Kempson and pressed him to her bosom. When
she recovered a little, she began to pour out her thanks to Samuel--

"Oh don't thank me, Mrs Adams, it was Dick found your boy, and if it
had not been for him, he would have died--no doubt about that," answered
Samuel.

"And I should have been very, very sorry, if I hadn't found him, that I
should Mrs Adams," said Dick quietly. "You know what friends we are.
Now I dare say he would like to have a wash and go to bed."

"Thank ye, Dick--I would, mother," murmured David, who by this time had
been brought into the house and placed in a chair.

"I would give him a little broth or tea, Mrs Adams, and he'll come all
right soon," said Samuel, as he and his son left the cottage to return
to the mine.

"Bless you, bless you, my boy," said the widow, as she watched Dick from
the window for a moment: and she didn't say those words with her mouth
only, but with her whole heart.

Sam