"Thank God it came when most of the poor fellows were quittin' work," and Joe started on a run, followed by every person in the village.
At the mouth of the slope a vast crowd had gathered. Women were calling their husbands and children by name, and as each learned her loved ones were safe, shouts of joy mingled with the wailings of those whose cries remained unanswered.
Even after Mr. Wright arrived the utmost confusion prevailed. All knew it would be certain death to make a descent, while the deadly vapor was so dense, and a second explosion might be expected at any moment.
Bill and Joe stood near the mouth of the slope ready to respond to the first call for volunteers, when Mrs. Byram came up.
"Where is Fred?" she asked, with a brave attempt controlling her fears.
"He went to your house with Sam, so there's no need to worry about them."
"They were not there more than ten minutes."
"Then both are in the crowd somewhere, for they wouldn't go down the slope till we got back."
The almost distracted mother had no thought of keeping Skip's secret at such a time, and when the two miners heard her story all hope for the safety of the boys fled.
"They must have been in the old drift underneath the explodin' gas," Joe exclaimed, involuntarily.