s as they saw four powerful streams
of water added to the torrent that the regular mine pump had kept
flowing all night.

"Now, men," said the mine boss, when he saw that all was working to his
satisfaction, "I want you to go home and get all the solid rest you can
in the next two days, for after that I shall probably call upon you to
work night and day."

"We'll be ready boss, whenever you give the word," was the prompt answer
from a score of stalwart fellows. Then all turned towards their homes,
knowing they could do nothing more until the pumps had prepared a way
for them.

During the next day the news of the disaster spread far and wide, and
from all sides visitors poured into the little village. Among these were
a number of reporters from the metropolitan papers, some of whom, filled
with a sense of their own importance, buzzed around like so many
bumblebees. They blundered into all sorts of places where they had no
business, bored everybody whom they could approach with absurd
questions, and made of themselves public nuisances generally.

While some among them acted thus foolishly, there were others who
behaved like gentlemen and the sensible fellows they were. Of these the
most noticeable was a well-built, pleasant-faced young man, named Allan
McClain. He asked few questions, but each one had evidently been well
considered and was directly to the point. He was quiet and unobtrusive,
never displayed a note-book or pencil, kept his eyes and ears wide open,
and, as a result, sent to his paper the best accounts of the situation
that were published. How he did it was a mystery to the others, few of
whom had even thought of giving to their business the careful study and
attention that McClain bestowed upon it.

The mine boss had been particularly annoyed by the conduct of several of
these members of the press, and when they applied to him for permission
to accompany the first gang of workmen down into the mine, he firmly but
courteously said "No."

He explained to them the dangers attending the proposed undertaking, and
that there would be no room in the mine for any but those actively
engaged in the work of rescue.

Some of the reporters made such an outcry at this, and talked so loudly
of their rights and of what they would do in case the mine boss
persisted in his refusal, that he finally said if they could not behave
better than they had he should be compelled to order them from the
colliery altogether.