“In the devil’s name! what trick is this?” cried the superintendent. “Don’t you know that the man is an ex-count and a big French banker—a man of note?”
“Can’t help that. The foreman told us to show him the hottest place in the mine, and we’re a-showin’ it to him—and makin’ it as hot for him as we know how.”
In an instant the superintendent had torn away the planks and logging, and was making his way back, lantern in hand, to where the poor devil of a Frenchman was roasting—literally roasting, for the whole drift was as hot as a furnace seven times heated, and the man was more dead than alive. Elevating his lantern, to get a view of the foreign gentleman, the superintendent found him standing with coat and vest across his arm, and collar and necktie in his hand. He was wilted till as limber as a dish-rag.
“Ze Cod on ’bove be praise,” he cried, “zat you have come! I am just on zee point to expire. Zee distemperament of zee place have increase immediatement after you retire in more as ten-fold progression.” Then, wiping the blinding perspiration from his eyes, he surveyed Mr. Jones for a moment in surprise. “Ah! pardon me monsieur,” he cried, “I have not first zee plaisir to behold you before. I mistake you for zee gentlemen who have depart wis the purpose to re-enlight zee candaile. Excuse me zat I trouble you wis zee narration, bote we meet here wis one leetle accident, sare; one leetle accident which have, how you call it? exterminate, estinguis’ zee entire of the candaile, sare.”
“I am sorry that anything so unpleasant should have occurred,” said the superintendent, “and I assure you, sir, I shall look into this matter.”
“You are too kind, monsieur—too kind! I assure you sare, zat I have remain here until zis moment in parfaite tranquilety; bote now, sare, I vill depart, if you please. Vill you have zee complaisance to put me on zee machine, and elevate me to zee surfaice immediatement? My God, sare, I expire wis zee heat! Elevate me, monsieur, wis dispatch—wis all dispatch. I vill not remain for zee gentleman who have go wis zee purpose to re-enlight zee candaile. Some ozzaire time I vill make zem my apology.”
In all haste the superintendent led the way to the main shaft, the polite little Frenchmen hurrying after, saying: “Yes[“Yes], some ozzaire time I moos make to zem my apology.” They were soon aboard the cage, and, a minute after, at the 1100-foot level. Here the superintendent was obliged to stop a few minutes, but told the Frenchman that if he would get off and wait, they would go up together on the next cage. But to this the half-dead man would not listen. He stuck to the cage like grim death, and said:
“Let zee machine continue to ascend up, if you please, sare, I vill be elevate on zee surfaice promptment—wis all despatch, sare.”
The superintendent then sent a trusty miner up with the roasted ex-count. When daylight was reached the little fellow was himself again.
“Ah!” cried he, “how[“how] ver’ beautiful is zee cool air, zee light of zee glorious sun, and all of God’s work, how grand! I have make one terrible experience; bote I would not have miss him, sare, no, not for many dollaires!”