THE HOME OF GLOOSCAP. 71 



We and our trunk were turned out upon the 

 dirty platform, and lanterns were held close to 

 us, while Springhill inspected its unwilling 

 guests. I pleaded with the railway men, the 

 conductor, the engineer, and the fireman. Might 

 we not ride on the engine, in a freight car, some- 

 where, anywhere, rather than stay here ? They 

 consented, and an engine came clanging out of 

 the blackness, with a freight car attached. Into 

 this freight car we and our trunk were put, and 

 left there in utter darkness, alone with the steam- 

 steed, and he ready to leap southward on his 

 wet rails the moment hand touched the lever. 

 The rain splashed on the roof, wind wailed 

 through sheds and cars near us, flames flickered 

 round the pit's mouth, and the throbbing pump 

 kept on with its wearisome pulsation, until our 

 hearts and lungs seemed forced to keep time 

 with its rhythm. Then a lonesome watchman 

 came and talked to us, and left a lantern, which 

 sputtered, smoked, and went out. After a long 

 interval a big miner came and sat with us. He 

 told gruesome tales of the explosion. " Them 

 doctors they had were to blame for many a good 

 man's death. They looked at the boys as they 

 hoisted them up from the pit, and said ' Dead,' 

 when they was n't no more dead than we be this 

 night. They did n't know what they was talk- 

 in' about. Some of us took a young fellow they 



