"That is all right," Jack said, "whether the lower cage is on or not. Stop now, and wind it back, and get the cage up again. Does the bell act, I wonder?"
Jack pulled the wire which, when in order, struck a bell at the bottom of the shaft, and then looked at a bell hanging over his head for the answer. None came.
"I expect the wire's broke," Jack said, and went out to the pit's mouth again.
The surface-men were all gathered round now, the tip-men, and the yard-men, and those from the coke-ovens, all looking wild and pale.
"I am going down," Jack said; "we may find some poor fellows near the bottom, and can't wait till some headman comes on the ground. Who will go with me? I don't want any married men, for you know, lads, there may be another blow at any moment."
"I will go with you," one of the yard-men said, stepping forward; "there's no one dependent on me."
"I, too," said another; "it's no odds to any one but myself whether I come up again or not. Here's with you, whatever comes of it."
AFTER THE FIRST EXPLOSION—THE SEARCH PARTY.