on strike, and only the engineers and others necessary to
attend to the machinery for keeping the shafts and workings ventilated and
free from water were on duty, so that the desolate stillness of the place
impressed us more profoundly, perhaps, than if we had been surrounded by
busy toilers.

After going all over the mine, each with Davy lamp in hand--during which
we had several times to chase our head-gear, which was blown off by the
strong draught from the ventilating fans--we once more entered the cage
and were quickly whirled upwards to the light of day.

Next day we embarked rather later than was our usual custom, and paddled
on towards Preston, having to traverse a portion of the river Ribble before
we reached this town. Nothing very interesting or exciting occurred upon
this day, except for a rather narrow shave we had of getting smashed up
by a barge.

It happened that one of us was towing, while the other remained in the
canoe to steer. Just as we got to a very narrow strip of the canal near
the entrance to a lock, we met some barges coming down in tow of a tug,
and, as luck would have it, our tow-line fouled a tree stump just at the
moment when the tail barge began to swing ominously over towards our bank.

For a moment or two it looked as if the canoe must be crushed like an
egg-shell between the bank and the barge, but fortunately at the critical
moment an extra strong jerk on the tow-line got it clear, and with a run
Jacky whisked the canoe through the narrow streak of open water, and we
were safe.

We stayed with friends at Preston for the next three days, and managed
to put in a highly enjoyable round of sight-seeing, during which we paid
a flying visit to Southport.

Our stay at an end, we embarked once more, taking three of our friends
with us in the canoe as far as Garstang.

Five people (in addition to luggage) in a small craft of this description
was an exceedingly tight pack, and we had to strictly taboo any skylarking,
else we should very quickly have got a ducking. At Garstang we left our
friends, after a high tea; and after passing several towns and villages,
at eventide reached Lancaster, which we made our headquarters for the
night.

I may mention that we met with great kindness and consideration from the
officials during the whole of our journey along the Lancaster canal, one of
the employees being told off to clear all barges out of our way, and see us
safely, and with the least