skillful blows. The break was chiefly composed of
pudding-stone, interspersed with sandstone and schist, such as is most
often met with between the coal veins. James Starr picked up some of the
pieces, and examined them carefully, hoping to discover some trace of
coal.

Starr having chosen the place where the holes were to be drilled, they
were rapidly bored by Harry. Some cartridges of dynamite were put into
them. As soon as the long, tarred safety match was laid, it was lighted
on a level with the ground. James Starr and his companions then went off
to some distance.

"Oh! Mr. Starr," said Simon Ford, a prey to agitation, which he did not
attempt to conceal, "never, no, never has my old heart beaten so quick
before! I am longing to get at the vein!"

"Patience, Simon!" responded the engineer. "You don't mean to say that
you think you are going to find a passage all ready open behind that
dyke?"

"Excuse me, sir," answered the old overman; "but of course I think so!
If there was good luck in the way Harry and I discovered this place, why
shouldn't the good luck go on?"

As he spoke, came the explosion. A sound as of thunder rolled through
the labyrinth of subterranean galleries. Starr, Madge, Harry, and Simon
Ford hastened towards the spot.

"Mr. Starr! Mr. Starr!" shouted the overman. "Look! the door is broken
open!"

Ford's comparison was justified by the appearance of an excavation,
the depth of which could not be calculated. Harry was about to spring
through the opening; but the engineer, though excessively surprised to
find this cavity, held him back. "Allow time for the air in there to get
pure," said he.

"Yes! beware of the foul air!" said Simon.

A quarter of an hour was passed in anxious waiting. The lantern was then
fastened to the end of a stick, and introduced into the cave, where it
continued to burn with unaltered brilliancy. "Now then, Harry, go," said
Starr, "and we will follow you."

The opening made by the dynamite was sufficiently large to allow a
man to pass through. Harry, lamp in hand, entered unhesitatingly, and
disappeared in the darkness. His father, mother, and James Starr waited
in silence. A minute--which seemed to them much longer--passed. Harry
did not reappear, did not call. Gazing into the opening, James
Starr could not even see the light of his lamp, which ought to have
illuminated the dark cavern.

Had the ground suddenly given way under Harry's feet? Had the young
min