CHAPTER VII
THE STRUGGLE
Recognizing at once that the voice they had just heard did not belong tothe man for whom they were looking the rioters remained silent withsurprise, and during this short interval Sam brought the butt of his gunto the floor with unnecessary force in order that there might be noquestion about his being armed.
"Who is inside?" one of the party finally asked, and Sam replied:
"It does not make any difference so long as you don't attempt to comethrough."
"We shall do it just the same, an' it'll be so much the worse for you ifa finger is raised to stop us."
"There's no need of very much talk. We're here to keep you out. At thefirst movement both will shoot, and we've got ammunition to hold theplace 'till the others come."
This bold assertion caused the rioters no little uneasiness, as could betold from the fact that the entire party retreated down the drift, wherethey apparently began a consultation as to the best course to be pursuedunder the circumstances.
"Come on this side," Sam whispered. "If we stand opposite each other andare obliged to shoot we shall get the worst of it."
"Do you really mean to kill them?" Fred asked as he changed hisposition.
"I intend to hit whoever comes through if I can, an' they'll have to runthe risk of the killin' part."
"If we could only send word to Donovan."
"Well, we can't, an' it looks as if we might have to stay here a longwhile, unless they get the best of us. Nobody will think of coming tolook for us for a good many hours, an' that's why I said we were in afix."
Neither of the boys cared to prolong the conversation. Their situationwas desperate, and to state it in words seemed like making it worse,but, as Fred afterward said, "they kept up a terrible thinking," untilthe rioters began operations by approaching the aperture once more,keeping close to the wall on either side to prevent giving the defendersan opportunity of using their weapons.
"See here," the spokesman began, "we've come to give you a chance ofactin' square. You know who we are, an' that what we do will help allhands who work here. Let us through peaceably, an' we'll allers be yourfriends, but if we're obliged to fight for it there'll be nothin' leftof you."
"We'll take our chances rather than have such as you call us friends;but it strikes me that a fight, with all the weapons on our side, is toobig a contract for you to tackle."
"Put out your lamps, boys, an' we'll show these fools what can be done."
In an instant the tunnel was plunged in profound darkness, and thelights worn by the boys served to reveal their whereabouts clearly.
Both realized how great would be the disadvantages under suchcircumstances, and in the least possible time the tiny flames wereextinguished.
Even while this was being done the rioters attempted to effect anentrance; but, without exposing himself to a blow, Sam discharged hisweapon, paying little regard to accuracy of aim.
The noise of the report echoed and reechoed through the passages, andthe chamber was filled with smoke, during which time Fred fancied he sawa form leaning half through the aperture, and he also fired.
"That makes two cartridges, an' now we've only got ten left," Sam saidin a half whisper. "At this rate we can't keep the battle goin' a greatwhile, an' when the thing is ended we shall have to take whatever theychoose to give."
"Donovan may send some one before the ammunition is exhausted."
"He won't think of such a thing for a good many hours yet. Could youfind your way back to where the men are at work on the pumps?"
"And leave you alone?"
"One of us must go, or else these fellows will soon be where a greatamount of mischief can be done."
"I am willing to do whatever you think best."
"Then go, and tell whoever you meet, of the pickle I am in. I'll staybecause I'll most likely make a better fist at fighting than you."
"Do you want the cartridges?"
"Yes, and the gun."
Fred placed the weapon against the wall near his companion, and turnedto go.
"Don't light your lamp until you are so far away that the flame can't beseen, for it won't do to let them know we have divided forces."
A silent handshake and Sam was alone.
"It's goin' to be a tough job, an' most likely I'll get the worst ofit," he said to himself, as he leaned toward the aperture in a listeningattitude.
Five minutes passed, and then came a shower of missiles, causing achoking dust to arise; but doing no further injury. Immediatelyafterward the boy fancied another attempt was being made to crawlthrough, and he discharged both weapons in rapid succession.
"Now we've got him!" a voice shouted, and before Sam could reload theguns two or three men were in the chamber.
He crouched in the further corner hoping to slip the cartridges in thebarrel, while they should be hunting for him; but one of the partyignited a match, and an instant later he was held as if by bands ofiron.
"Light your lamps, an' be lively about it, for there's another onehere!"
Sam made one violent effort to release himself; but in vain. When thechamber was illuminated he saw a crowd of men peering in every directionfor Fred.
"It's Bill Thomas' butty," one of the party said in surprise. "I didn'tknow he was a bosses' pet."
"Neither will he be very long. Where's the other fellow?" and Sam'scaptor tried to choke the answer from him.
"If he don't speak quick strangle him. We can't spend much time on akid," some one suggested, and the question was repeated.
Sam knew that the men were in no humor to be trifled with, and there waslittle doubt but the strangling would follow unless he obeyed. It waspossible to delay the explanations for a few seconds, and thus give Fredso much more time to reach the lower level.
With this view he coughed and struggled after the vice-like pressureupon his throat was removed, to make it appear as if it was only withthe greatest difficulty he could breathe, and fully a moment was thusgained when his captor kicked him two or three times as he said:
"None of that shamming. Speak quick, or I'll give you something to coughfor."
"The fellow who was with me went back to the slope."
"How long ago?"
"When we first knew you were here."
"That's a lie, for we heard you talking."
"What makes you ask any questions if you know better than I?"
"When did he leave?"
"I told you before. Of course he waited long enough to find out how manythere were of you."
At least five minutes had passed from the time Sam was first questioned,and this must have given Fred a safe start.
"Go after him, Zack, and take Jake with you," the spokesman said,sharply. "Travel the best you know how, for everything depends onovertakin' him."
The two men started at full speed, and the leader asked Sam:
"Where is Joe Brace?"
"Brace?" Sam repeated, as if in bewilderment, "Why he didn't come withus."
"Wasn't he in this place when you got here?"
"Of course not. I'm most certain I saw him in the village just after theworks were shut down."
There was a ring of truth in the boy's tones which could not bemistaken, and the rioters appeared satisfied.
"Abe, go an' tell Billings that Brace got out of here in time to warnWright, an' let him know what we've struck. Don't waste any time now."
When the messenger had departed the leader beckoned to another member ofthe party, and said as he pointed to Sam:
"Take care of him. The whole thing would soon be up if he should getaway."
"What'll I do with the cub?" the man asked in a surly tone.
"Anything so that you keep him safe. A thump on the head will helpstraighten matters, if he tries to kick up a row."
"Where are you going?"
"We'll foller up Zack an' Jake, an' if they catch the boy there'll benothin' to prevent our finishin' the business we came for."
After a
brief consultation, which was carried on in such low tones thatSam could not distinguish a word, the men started down the drift,leaving the prisoner and his captor alone.
Sam knew the man was named Bart Skinner, and that he was an intimatefriend of Billings'. He had the reputation of being quarrelsome andintemperate, and was exactly the sort of person one would expect to seeamong such a party as were now committing lawless deeds.
"I don't count on wastin' much time with you," Bart said when thefootsteps of his companions had died away in the distance. "I'll leaveyou in a safe place pervidin' you behave; but let me hear one yip, an'I'll try the weight of my fist. Come along."
No attempt had been made to fetter Sam. The rioters understood that itwas impossible for him to escape, and probably looked upon it as a clearwaste of labor.
When Bart spoke he seized the boy by each arm, forcing him through theaperture, and then retaining his hold as he followed. Once in the tunnelthe two pressed on at a rapid gait toward the shaft, Sam being obligedto walk a few paces in advance, until they arrived at a point where atunnel had been run at right angles with the drift; but which was shutoff by stout wooden doors.
"We'll stop here a bit," Bart said, as he tried to unfasten the rustybolts which had not been used for many years.
Believing that he might as well accept his capture with a good graceinstead of sulking over it, Sam did what he could to assist in openingthe doors.
When the task was finally accomplished Bart motioned for the boy toenter first, and after assuring himself by the flame of his lamp thatthe air was pure, he obeyed.
"Go on a bit, an' see if it is a drift, or only a stable."
"They've exhausted the vein after following it about thirty feet," Samreplied, as he walked the full length, and when on the point of turningto retrace his steps the doors were closed with a clang, while from theoutside could be heard the mocking voice of Bart as he shoved the boltsinto their sockets:
"It's deep enough for what I want to use it. You'll do no mischief whilehere, an' I reckon the bosses will hunt a long time before findin' you."
Then Sam heard the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps, and thought tohimself as he vainly shook the timbers:
"If those fellows overtook Fred I'm likely to stay here till the mine isflooded."