e great oil company were being taken.

In two weeks after Mr. Halford's departure everything was in readiness
for that of the boys, and the time had arrived for them to start for the
great city.

Harry Mule, whose leg had been so well mended that it could be taken out
of splints, was to be left in charge of Bill Tooley. Bill was to be
allowed to hire him out to the mine boss as soon as he was able to work,
and that gentleman had promised them both a job at hauling waste cars
over the dump. Thus neither of them would be obliged to go down into the
mine again.

Bill Tooley was now able to walk without his crutch; but his leg would
always be stiff, and he would never be free from a limp in his gait. As
Harry Mule had the same peculiarity in his, they became known in the
colliery as the two "Stiffies." Under this title they acquired
considerable fame for their fondness for each other, and for the wisdom
of one of them.

The first of October was a glorious autumn day, and even the ragged
colliery village looked pretty, after a fashion, in the golden haze
through which the rising sun shone down upon it.

As Derrick, and Paul, accompanied by Mrs. Sterling, Helen, the mine
boss, and burly Tom Evert, walked down to the little railway-station,
the miners of the day shift were gathering about the mouth of the slope,
and preparing to descend into the recently pumped-out workings. From
them came many a rough but honest farewell shout to the boys who had
endeared themselves to all the village.

"Tak' care o' thysels, lads!" "We'll not forget ye, an' ye'll bear us in
mind!" "Whene'er thee's tired o' city, coom back, an' ye'll find a
welcome!" "Mind t' fire-damp i' t' city, lads, an' use naught but
safeties!" "Good-by!"

As long as they were within hearing the boys, shouted back such answers
as, "We'll try to!" "Thank you, Ike! We won't forget you; never fear!"
"Good-by all!"

Then the train came along. A few loving words were hastily spoken, and
they were off. The hard, grimy, perilous life of the breaker and the
mine was left behind, and a new one of study, ambitious dreams, and
successes was opening broadly before them.

[Illustration: GOOD-BY TO THE COLLIERY]

At first the boys were inclined to feel very homesick, and their
conversation was only of the dear ones whom they had just left.
Gradually the feeling wore off, as their attention was attracted by the
grand scenery through which they were travelling.

Paul reve