n abandoned gangway, and that nobody who was in the new workings was
hurt, gave the first intimation of his presence among them. His words
carried comfort to the hearts of many who heard them, but filled with
dismay the minds of those who had seen him but a short time before at
the underground meeting. They had thought he must surely be still in the
mine, and could in no way account for his presence, for they knew
positively that he had not come up by the slope or the travelling-road.

While the mine boss was speaking, Derrick felt a hand on his shoulder,
and turning, he saw Paul Evert, who exclaimed, joyfully, "Oh, Derrick,
I'm so glad! I was afraid you were down in the mine, and I was going to
help hunt for you."

"No, Polly, I'm all right, as you can see; but I wish you'd run home and
tell mother I am--will you?"

Paul went willingly to do this, and Derrick prepared to follow the mine
boss once more into the underground depths, to render what assistance he
could.

They were about to step into an empty car and start down the slope, when
the signal was given from below to pull up a loaded car, and they waited
to see what it might contain. As it came slowly to the surface, and
within the light of their lamps, they saw in it Monk Tooley and four
other miners, who, battered and bruised, had evidently suffered from the
explosion.

When the first of these was helped carefully from the car, and his
glance fell upon the mine boss, with Derrick Sterling standing beside
him, a look of fear came into his face, he uttered a loud cry, staggered
back, and would have fallen had not Monk Tooley caught him.

CHAPTER XII

THE MINE BOSS IN A DILEMMA

The companions of the Mollie who exhibited such consternation at the
sight of the mine boss were almost as frightened as he to see those for
whom they had been so recently searching through the old workings, and
who they thought must surely have been killed by the explosion, standing
before them. They shrunk back as the young man stepped towards them; but
reassured by his cheery words, they allowed him to help them from the
car, and were almost ready to believe that it was not he, but some other
who had confronted them so boldly at the meeting. He could not have been
kinder to them if they had been his dear friends; and from that hour
they ranked among his firmest supporters and adherents in the colliery.

Derrick caught hold of Monk Tooley, and insisted upon taking him, a