Derrick Sterling: A Story of the Mines

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Munroe Kirk. Derrick Sterling: A Story of the Mines

CHAPTER I. IN THE BURNING BREAKER

CHAPTER II. A FEARFUL RIDE

CHAPTER III. THE MINE BOSS TAKES DERRICK INTO HIS CONFIDENCE

CHAPTER IV. INTRODUCING HARRY, THE BUMPING-MULE

CHAPTER V. ATTACKED BY ENEMIES, AND LOST IN THE MINE

CHAPTER VI. THE SECRET MEETING—A PLUNGE DOWN AN AIR-SHAFT

CHAPTER VII. A CRIPPLE'S BRAVE DEED

CHAPTER VIII. DERRICK STERLING'S SPLENDID REVENGE

CHAPTER IX. SOCRATES, THE WISE MINE RAT

CHAPTER X. IN THE OLD WORKINGS—MISLED BY AN ALTERED LINE

CHAPTER XI. A FATAL EXPLOSION OF FIRE-DAMP

CHAPTER XII. THE MINE BOSS IN A DILEMMA

CHAPTER XIII. LADIES IN THE MINE—HARRY MULE'S SAD MISHAP

CHAPTER XIV. A LIFE IS SAVED AND DERRICK IS PROMOTED

CHAPTER XV. A "SQUEEZE" AND A FALL OF ROCK

CHAPTER XVI. BURSTING OF AN UNDERGROUND RESERVOIR

CHAPTER XVII. IMPRISONED IN THE FLOODED MINE

CHAPTER XVIII. TO THE RESCUE!—A MESSAGE FROM THE PRISONERS

CHAPTER XIX. RESTORED TO DAYLIGHT

CHAPTER XX. GOOD-BY TO THE COLLIERY

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As Derrick and Paul realized that they were left alone in the burning breaker, in which the heat was now intense, and that they were cut off from the stairway by the closed and bolted door, they remained for a moment speechless with despair. Then Derrick flung himself furiously against the heavy door again and again, with a vague hope that he might thus force it to give way. His efforts were of no avail, and he only exhausted his strength; for the massive framework did not even tremble beneath the weight of his body.

Still he could not believe but that somebody would open it for them, and he would not leave the door until tiny flames creeping beneath it warned him that the stairway was on fire and that all chances of escape in that direction were gone. He tried to make himself seen and heard at one of the open windows, but was driven back by the swirling smoke. Then he turned to Paul, who still sat quietly where he had been left. The crippled lad had not uttered a single cry of fear, though the eager flames had approached him so closely that he could feel their hot breath, and knew that in another minute the place where he sat would be surrounded by them.

.....

It seemed hours since the machinery had stopped in the breaker and the rush of boys had been made for the door-way; but it was barely ten minutes since the first alarm had been given. From the time he stood face to face with death at the top of the slope, and started that car on its downward rush through the flame and smoke, less than two minutes had passed, but they spanned the space between life and death.

As yet Derrick could not realize that they had escaped nor did he until he felt a pair of arms thrown about his neck and heard Paul's voice saying,

.....