CHAPTER XLV.
When Bull-dog’s voice rang out above the storm, with its warning to Lyle, Houston, standing near the entrance of the shaft, alert, watchful for the first indication of danger, heard the words distinctly and acted instantly.
Having given the usual danger signal, he shouted, “To the tunnels, boys, for your lives! The mine has been fired, go to the tunnels!”
On returning from giving the agreed signal to Jack and Mike, he heard Bull-dog’s voice above him in the shaft, calling his name and shouting the warning.
“Come, my boy,” shouted Houston in return, “we’ll start for the tunnels.”
“Yes sir, I’m a comin’, I know the way, but don’t you wait fer me ’cause you may git catched.”
“I shall not leave you, Bull-dog, we’ll go together,” Houston answered, waiting for the little figure gliding swiftly toward him in the darkness.
Suddenly the rocks by which they were surrounded began to quiver and vibrate; there was a deafening roar followed by a terrific crash, and an instant later, a mass of loosened rock was tearing its way through the shaft.