gong was heard. The wire cable was
strained taut, and then began to move slowly over its rollers. "They are
coming!" shouts the mine boss. "Stand back and give them room."

But the crowd could not stand back. Who were coming? Were all there, or
were some left? It was not in human nature to stand back. They must see,
and learn the worst at once.

Oh, how slowly the cable moved! How terrible was the suspense! A great
silence fell upon the waiting people. It was unbroken save by the
creaking of the rollers on the slope, the pattering of raindrops, and an
occasional hysterical sob.

At last the twinkling lights are seen down in the blackness. Then the
first car comes in sight; then another, and another, until at last the
entire train, with its human freight, has reached the surface.

"Stay where you are, men!" commands the mine boss, "Answer to your names
as I call them off."

The young man's voice rings out sharp and clear as he calls the long
roll, beginning, "Adams, Andrews, Apgar," and so on down the alphabet to
"Zegler"; and clear and prompt come back the answers, "Here, here,
here," of those who have come up from the pit.

At last it is finished, and the awful truth is known. Nine men and boys
are unaccounted for, and they were not at the foot of the slope when the
cruel waters sprang into the great chamber and the last car was drawn
up. Nine are down there, alive or dead; and among them are Derrick
Sterling, Paul Evert, and Monk Tooley.

With the cries and tears of joy over those who had come up and were
restored to loving hearts, a shudder passed over the assembly, and a
groan of anguish rose from it that was pierced by a single sharp cry. It
was that of a widowed mother for her only son.

Springing on an empty car, and standing where all could see him, the
mine boss spoke to them.

"It will all come out right yet," he said. "Keep up your courage. Those
brave fellows down there are not going to let themselves be drowned like
rats in a hole. They'll make a strong fight for life first, and it's
going to be a fight that we can help them in. They're safe enough for
the present, in some high place beyond the reach of the water, and there
they'll stay till we go for them and fetch them out. We'll have two more
pumps here and at work before morning. They will soon make room for us
to work down there. Then if we don't find the lads we're after, we are
no miners, that's all. There's a promise for you now! See it, m