of his age were allowed in the
mines at all, and it was no wonder they went to sleep, after sitting all
alone for hours without anything to occupy their thoughts, in that awful
darkness and silence.

The loaded car proved so heavy that it had to be unloaded before it
could be moved. Then the empty car was pushed back from Harry Mule, and
he made a frantic struggle to regain his feet. After several
unsuccessful attempts he finally succeeded, and stood trembling in the
roadway. It was now seen that he had the use of only three legs, and an
examination showed his right fore-leg to be broken.

"He'll never do no more work in this mine," said one of the men. "The
poor beast will have to be killed."

"He sha'n't be killed! He sha'n't, I say. We won't have him killed; will
we, mother?" cried Nellie Halford, her voice trembling with emotion.

"No, dear, not if anything we can do will prevent it," answered the
mother, gently.

"Don't you think," continued the girl, turning to Derrick, "that he
might be mended if anybody would take the time and trouble?"

"Yes, I think he might, because there is a mule at work in the mine now
that had a broken leg, and they cured him. He was a young mule, though.
I'm afraid they won't bother with one so old as Harry."

"He's listening to every word we say," interrupted the girl, "and I do
believe he understands too. Just look at him!"

The wounded mule was standing in a dejected attitude on the very spot
where he had been so badly hurt; but his patient face, with its big
eyes, was turned inquiringly towards them, and it did seem as though he
were listening anxiously to the conversation about himself.

He managed to limp a few steps away from the door, so that it could be
opened, and was then left in charge of the little door-tender, who was
instructed to keep him as still as possible.

After the miners had given the empty car a start, Derrick found that he
could keep it in motion, and undertook to push it as far as the
junction, Mrs. Halford and Miss Nellie following on foot. The two miners
remained upon the scene of the accident to refill the car they had been
compelled to unload.

The ladies and Derrick had gone but a short distance when they heard,
faintly, through the closed door behind them, a plaintive "Haw, he-haw,
he-haw, he-haw."

As Nellie Halford said, it sounded exactly as though poor dear old Harry
Mule were begging them not to leave him.

They had nearly reached the