the side of the gallery. They were replied to by
the same number.

"How is it that they can be there and not be drowned?" asked one of the
men.

"The water is prevented from rushing in by the pent-up air in the
working," he answered. "How long it will be kept back I cannot say, but
no time must be lost in hewing a way through to them. Come, lads, with
God's help, we will save them," said Mark. "Keep picking away until I
return," and he hastened to the shaft.

Having an exact plan of the mine, he was able to determine at once the
working in which old Simon and his companions were imprisoned. The
distance, however, to the spot where he was convinced they must be was
fearfully great, between eighty and ninety yards. It would take days to
bore through. Would those they desired to save be able to exist so
long? The attempt must be made.

Volunteers were quickly obtained, and descending with a dozen skilful
hewers, he commenced operations at the very spot where the sound of the
blows had reached his ears. In a short time a gang of putters with a
supply of rolleys came down to carry away the coal and earth and rock as
it was hewn out, but five men could only labour at a time. They worked,
therefore, in relays. Day and night they laboured on without cessation,
except occasionally stopping to ascertain that their friends within were
alive, when they were encouraged to proceed by invariably hearing the
knocking which had at first attracted Mark's attention. He directed the
course they were to pursue, never once ascending to the pit's mouth, but
taking his food near the working, and sleeping in a blanket on the hard
rock. Day after day and night after night they worked on. The knocking
from within sounded louder. On the seventh day their leader, an old
friend of Simon's, struck his pick into the rock before him, making a
deep hole, through which there suddenly rushed out a stream of noxious
gas, and he fell overcome. His comrades, seizing him by the arms,
dragged him out, narrowly escaping themselves. Reaching the fresher
air, he soon recovered, and undaunted exclaimed, "Let me go at it again,
lads!" and leading the way, once more the bold miners recommenced
operations. Still another day they worked on, and the partition which
divided them from their friends was growing thinner and thinner. A
second escape of gas once more compelled them to retreat, but as soon as
it had dispersed, with the courage of heroes