Part 32 (1/2)

It happened on Wednesday, just a week after the day when the farm was saved, that the men had dug down about thirty feet. Toward the close of the afternoon Roger and Adrian, who were constantly at the mine, had strolled away, and were up in the woods, looking for signs of foxes, which were plentiful that year. They were sitting on a log, idly tossing stones at an old stump, when Adrian suddenly called: ”Hark!”

They both listened intently. A faint cry came to them.

”Sounds like some one hollering,” said Roger.

”It is!” exclaimed Adrian. ”And it's down by the salt mine. Maybe they've struck the white crystals. Let's hurry up and see.”

Together they started off. As they came nearer the sounds were louder, and then, they seemed to be, not shouts of delight at the discovery of something long wished for, but, rather, cries of distress.

”Some one's hurt!” said Roger, increasing his pace.

The boys had reached the edge of the spring-glade now, and could see the mouth of the shaft. But there was no one near it, not even the usual crowd of curious people, Mr. Vanter and Mr. Kimball had, for the time being, gone away, so the scene was deserted. Neither of the two workmen, one of whom should have been at the windla.s.s, was to be noticed.

”There's been an accident!” exclaimed Adrian.

”I guess the man's fallen down the shaft,” said Roger, referring to the missing laborer. ”That's it,” he added excitedly. ”They're both down there! Hear 'em calling?”

And, sure enough, that was where the cries for help came from. The boys ran and peered down into the depths of the hole. For a moment, because of the darkness, they could make out nothing. Then, as their eyes became used to the blackness, they observed, dimly, two figures, at the bottom of the deep excavation. And the figures were those of the two workmen, who seemed to be struggling in desperation. Every now and then would come a terrified cry from one of them:

”Help! Help! Help!”

”What shall we do?” shouted Adrian, almost trembling in the excitement.

”We must get them out!” exclaimed Roger. ”Let's call to them, to let 'em know we're on hand.”

”h.e.l.lo! h.e.l.lo!” yelled Adrian down the shaft. ”h.e.l.lo! What's the matter?

What shall we do to help you?”

”Wind up--the--rope! Turn the--windla.s.s!” came faintly from below.

”That's it!” cried Roger, as he seized the crank. ”Turn, Ade! Turn!”

The two boys worked the windla.s.s, straining in desperation. It taxed their strength to the utmost, for the weight at the other end of the rope was very heavy. Roger was the first to realize that, in their fear, both men were clinging to the cable, and trying to be brought to the surface at the same time.

”Stop turning,” said Roger to Adrian. Then the boys fastened the windla.s.s by the catch at the side of the cog wheel, put there for the purpose. Next, Roger leaned over and shouted down:

”One on the rope at a time! We can't haul you both up together!”

”All right!” came the answer from the black depths. ”Jim'll try it first.”

There was a perceptible slacking of the rope, and then Roger and Adrian began winding up the windla.s.s again. This time it was much easier to turn the handle. As the strands of the cable coiled over the drum, foot by foot, they brought up, into the light of day, first the head, then the body of one of the laborers. His face showed the terror he felt, and the boys noticed, with great surprise, that he was dripping wet.

”Hurry!” called Jim. ”Tom's down there yet. Lower the rope.”

He unfastened it, from where he had looped it beneath his arms, and tossed it dangling into the hole. It ran out quickly over the drum.

There came a cry from below to indicate that Tom had the end. Then, giving him time to adjust it, Jim began to turn quickly, replacing the boys, and soon the other workman was brought up. He too was soaking wet.

”I tell you, that was a narrow squeak!” exclaimed Tom, removing the rope.