THE PURSUIT
When Fred left Sam to defend the breach in the wall he fully realized
the necessity of giving the alarm quickly, and did not stop to light his
lamp until after scrambling over the barrier of coal.
Once this had been done he ran at his best pace, guided by the wooden
tracks on which the cars were hauled, until he was obliged to halt from
sheer lack of breath. A dull sound in the rear caused him to push on
again very quickly, for he believed Sam had found it necessary to
discharge his weapons.
On making the second halt a few moments later, he detected a certain
scurrying noise which at first he fancied might have been caused by the
rats; but immediately came the voice of a man, and he knew the rioters
were pursuing him.
"I'll get a pretty heavy dose if they catch me," he muttered, hurrying
once more, and when the journey was half finished it became apparent
that the pursuers were gaining upon him.
The lives of others beside his own might be sacrificed, if he did not
win the race, and he bent all his energies to the undertaking. Once he
stumbled, almost fell; but luckily recovered his balance, and darted on,
forced to run upon the ties because the space either side was so narrow.
Nearer and nearer came the men until he could hear their heavy
breathing, and one of them shouted:
"Halt, or we'll shoot!"
Knowing that they might have gotten possession of his gun he had reason
to believe the threat would be carried into execution; but he said to
himself:
"It's better to be killed by a bullet than take what they choose to
give," and the command only served to quicken his pace.
Minute after minute passed; no shot was fired, his breath came in quick
gasps, and it seemed impossible to continue the flight many seconds
longer. The pursuers were now within a few yards, and nothing could be
seen ahead. Whether the lower level was close at hand or a mile away he
could not decide; but in his despair he shouted for help.
"Pick up some chunks of slate an' see if you can't hit him. At this rate
we shall soon have to turn back."
One of the men stopped long enough to gather an armful of fragments, and
as he continued the pursuit threw them with murderous intent at the
fugitive.
Two passed very near the almost exhausted boy's head; but none inflicted
any injury, and he shouted again and again for those who were working at
the pumps.
At the very moment when Fred lost all hope a tiny ray of light appeared
from out the gloom, and he cried for help once more; then fell headlong
to the ground.
When he next realized anything he was surrounded by miners, who had
evidently been running, and one asked, impatiently:
"Can you tell us what happened, lad, an' how them sneaks managed to get
in here?"
"Have they gone back?"
"Indeed they have; we chased them the matter of half a mile, an' then
concluded it was time we got the story from you, for it might not have
been safe to pass the first drift."
In a few words Fred told his story, adding as it was ended:
"There is a big crowd of them, and all hands are bent on flooding the
mine."
"We don't care to have them drown us out like rats, so I reckon there'll
have to be some fightin' done before that little game is played."
"But what about Sam?"
"They've got hold of him for sure; but he'll have to take his chances
with the crowd, for we can't help him now."
"They'll kill him!"
"I don't reckon there's much chance of that, lad; but if there was we
couldn't do a thing. I'd go farther than most anybody, for he was my
butty, an' a right good boy; but he's in the hole to stay 'till the
company get the upper hand of them as would kill their best friends to
injure the bosses."
Fred knew it was Bill Thomas who spoke in such a tone of utter
helplessness, and there could be no doubt as to the correctness of his
statements.
"I'd go back alone if I had the gun."
"Then it's lucky you left it behind. Best go up the slope an' tell
Donovan what has happened here, so's he can send men to the old shaft.
Say to him that we'll be through in a couple of hours more, an' want him
to start the pumps, for we're workin' in four feet of water."
After stationing one of their number as guard the miners resumed their
labor, and Fred started toward the slope, bent on inducing Donovan to
take some steps for the relief of Sam.
Wearied by the previous exertions he made but slow progress, and when he
reached the breaker at least half an hour had elapsed.
Those who had been left to guard the mine were on duty in positions
where their bodies would be sheltered in case of an attack with
fire-arms, and in a group outside were forty or fifty of the rioters.
"Bill Thomas wants to know if you will start the pumps? They are working
in four feet of water," Fred said, as he approached Donovan.
"It can't be done now if the whole level is flooded. These fellows have
made two rushes, and are gettin' ready for another."
"Don't you suppose this is to prevent you from discovering that a
portion of the rioters are getting in through the old shaft?" and Fred
told of what had occurred in the drift.
"That's jest the size of it; but what can be done? We can't spare a man
from here."
"There are surely more at the store who would help us."
"Very likely; but they won't come while this crowd is here."
"If Mr. Wright knew what was going on he could send a party to the
shaft."
"Yes, if he knew it."
"Why not send him word?"
"How?"
This was a question. Fred did not answer, and Donovan continued:
"There's no chance by which any one could get from here to the store,
while that gang of murderers keep watch over all our movements."
"It is nearly night. In an hour it will be too dark for them to see what
is going on."
"Who will take the risk of trying to slip past them?"
"I will."
"You'll be in a worse box than Sam is, if they catch you."
"Something must be done, and since you can't spare anybody to go to the
poor fellow's assistance I'm ready to take my chances while trying to
help him."
Donovan did not reply until after looking carefully around as if
calculating the probabilities of success, and then he said:
"I've a mind to let you attempt it. If the soldiers don't arrive before
morning, and Billings' crowd are coming through the old shaft as you
say, we must have help soon, or give up the fight. There is a chance you
will get past all right, and I'm certain we can expect no one to come
unless we say it is impossible to hold out longer."
"I am ready to go."
"Very well; wait until it is dark, an' then you may make a try for it."
It would have pleased Fred better, if he could have been actively
employed at once, for the knowledge that Sam was in the power of the
rioters troubled him more than personal danger would have done; but
nothing remained save to wait as Donovan said, and he tried to be
patient.
From the men on guard he learned that Mr. Wright's house had been
attacked; but the mob contented themselves with destroying the windows
and setting fire to the stable. The building itself yet remained intact,
and there was reason to believe no more outrages, except such as might
be committed near the mine, would be committed.
"Them as are standin' in with Billings don't really know what they want,
except as he tells them," Fred's informant said, "an' that's what makes
things of this kind dangerous. If the men understood exactly the cause
of such rows, there'd be little trouble."
"But since they don't, what will be the result of this one?" Fred asked.
"That's more'n I can tell. The mob may quiet down, an' then again they
may grow worse, so there's no sayin' what'll happen. Anyhow, you don't
want to take many chances on your way to the store."
"I've got to help Sam."
"Right you are; but at the same time you ain't called on to take too big
risks. Don't start unless things look favorable for gettin' through all
right, 'cause Cale Billings ain't a nice sort of a man to meet when he's
on the top of the heap."
"Sam is in his power."
"How do you know?"
"It is only reasonable to suppose so."
"Then all the more cause for you to keep away from him. I'd like to have
some one to see the boss; but I haven't got the nerve to send a boy
instead of goin' myself."
Since this was a direct reflection upon Donovan, Fred refrained from
making any reply, and the conversation ceased.
Twice before dark the rioters made a demonstration in front of the
slope, as if bent on effecting an entrance, and each time Fred fancied
more men were sent in the direction of the old shaft.
It was not for him to make any suggestions, however, and with a heavy
heart he watched the maneuvers, believing that each moment saw Sam in
more peril.
A messenger was sent to the miners in the lower level telling them that
the pumps could not be started, and urging all hands to hold the drift
against the rioters; but that was everything which could be done under
the circumstances, and the most vulnerable point was virtually left
unguarded.
When night came the lawless party built several fires between the slope
and the shaft, very much as if they wished to show that they were on
guard, and Donovan motioned to Fred as he walked a few paces down the
drift.
"I didn't want the others to hear what I said, for it's just as well
they shouldn't know what a scrape we're in. If you can get to the store,
tell Mr. Wright that he mustn't wait for the soldiers; there's no
question but Bill Thomas' party have got their hands full keepin' back
them as come in by the shaft, and it can't be long before we'll be
snowed under. It's about twenty to one now, an' in case of a rush the
matter would be settled mighty quick."
"If I can leave the mouth of the slope without being seen there'll be no
trouble."
"Half a dozen of us will go out a short bit, an' you shall follow on
behind. There ought to be a chance of slippin' off, an' if there isn't
we'll have to give it up, for I'm not willin' you should take too big
risks."
Fred threw off his coat and vest that he might be in good condition for
running, and then as the men marched out of the slope he crouched in the
rear.
The rioters made no demonstration; but stood ready to repel an attack,
watching closely all the maneuvers, and Donovan whispered to the boy:
"It won't do to try it, lad. They are scattered around in such a way
that you couldn't get a dozen yards before bein' seen."
"I'm going to try it."
"Don't, lad, don't," several said quickly, and, fearing he might be
forcibly detained, Fred started.
He went straight back from the slope, bending low in the vain hope of
escaping observation, and having gained a distance of an hundred feet
set off at full speed, forced to run in a half circle to reach the road.
To those who were watching it seemed as if hardly a second elapsed
before a great shout went up from the rioters.
"The sneaks are sendin' for help!"
"Stop that boy!"
"Don't let him get away!"
These and a dozen other orders were given at the same time, and those
rioters who were nearest Fred began the pursuit.
"He'll never reach the store," Donovan said sadly, as he led the way
back to the slope when Fred was swallowed up by the darkness. "Even if
these fellows don't overtake him there are plenty between here and there
who'll hear the alarm."