worked, he also added, what it is but right you should know, that he was satisfied, alike from the past history and the present capabilities of the mine, that such outlay might be wisely made; and that a large annual profit would result after every deduction for interest on capital, and unforeseen contingencies.

'We wish we could share this view. We had really desired to carry out the matter for you, in spite of the embarrassments accompanying Mr. Griffith Williams's partownership, and hostility to you and to all your efforts for re-organising. But with every confidence in our young engineer, we think he overlooks the danger that, it seems to us, exists now; and which may on any day, or hour, perhaps result in some overwhelming calamity, before the work of reparation can be so far advanced, as to make the undertaking ordinarily safe.

'We must, then, though with extreme regret, decline to proceed any farther in the matter.

'Mr. Knight's report to us is quite at your service, if you think well to use it, in trying elsewhere.

'We are, Dear Sir,

'Yours respectfully,

EDWARDS AND MORGAN.'

CHAPTER XXXVII.

EVIL OMENS.

ISRAEL sent for the report offered, had copies made of it, began again with renewed energy to seek for capitalists and capital by its aid, but all the while the iron had entered into his soul; he was, in fact, at last hopeless.

If he reasoned to himself-men who were so strongly inclined to help him as this Mr. Knight and his employers evidently were—if they could not help him, was it likely any others would?

The answer was simply, decisively, fatally, No!

He was sitting one night after despatching important letters in various directions, when his aged housekeeper came in, and began to tell him of things the superstitious colliers had been telling her, and which had made her uncomfortable. One was that a pigeon had lighted on the sheaves of the pulleys over the shaft of the mine the other morning, and excited so much alarm among the colliers, that they refused to go down, and said they were sure something was going to happen.

6

Anything else?' demanded Israel in quiet scorn, which put the old woman-herself half a believer-on her mettle.

Well, Mr. Mort, you may laugh, as you always do, at such tales, but the cocks have been crowing just before and after midnight last night, and the night before, and the night before that, and everybody knows that's a sign of warning that somebody's going to die.'

'How can you be such an old fool?' was Israel's ungallant and only comment.

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Why, didn't the wife of the foreman of the smiths die lately; and didn't the cocks, that couldn't possibly be quieted while she lived, stop directly the breath was out of her body? The husband killed one in his anger and fright, but the rest went on all the same till she died, and then were mute. Ah, Mr. Mort, if you would only read your Bible you'd see things differently. Think of St. Peter and his cock crowing.

Israel got up and walked about, partly to silence the drivel of the old woman, partly to dissipate the gloomy feelings that affected him, before she should be silly enough to fancy he was influenced by what she had said. A knock at the door came like a relief.

"Come in!' shouted Israel, who made it his pride to be as homely and accessible as ever to his workpeople and neighbours.

It was Rees Thomas, the rebellious Deputy of twelve years ago, who came in; looking wonderfully strong and well, and showing the same resolute front, that seemed to

fear nothing but God, and to find that fear ever swallowed up in the perfect love that casteth out fear.

'Mr. Mort, I have a word or two to say, that you will own must be prompted by honest conviction of their necessity. After the young man from London had left the mine, I felt a strange inclination to go all over it, following in his track. What I expected to discover, I cannot possibly explain, but I did find marks of danger, placed by him at different points, in districts where we seldom go. This made me anxious and careful. The upshot is, the mine is just now dangerous-decidedly dangerous. The gas is bad in places where none ought to be, and

'Pooh, pooh! nonsense.'

'No, it is true. I know my duty, and now venture once—and once only-to say this to you; but I have spoken, and shall speak to no one else, because I know you do all you can, and yours is the responsibility. I beg to wish you good evening.'

Israel, who had turned away, did not answer this salutation, or perhaps know he had actually gone, for when he again turned he looked surprised, and moved as if to go after him, but stopped.

What could be the meaning of those boding cries from so many different quarters? He was a fool to ask. What did they mean? Why, nothing! He would go to bed, and spend his time more usefully in sleep than in thinking of them.

He did go to his bedroom, undressed, and lay down, but vainly strove to sleep.

A climbing plant, the Virginia creeper, whose red leaves shed a kind of glory over the front of the house, at this period, was outside his window. It had got loose with the high wind that had been recently growing up, and every now and then lashed with such sudden and inexplicable violence against the window, as if it were directed by some voiceless monster who wished to give an alarm, but could find no other way of doing so than this.

Israel's heart burned within him, to find himself for the first time in his life moved by influences which he had ever held, and still held, in the most boundless contempt.

But for all that he could not sleep, nor put aside the sense of misgiving of danger.

'Why not get up and go and see that all is right?' he suddenly reflected, and recovered at once his equanimity and strength at the thought of action.

The Overman, Lusty, who was, of course, in bed, lived not far off; so Israel went there, and called outside the cottage for him to come down.

Anything the matter, master?' asked a voice that seemed muffled with the nightcap that almost covered the head that was thrust out of a chamber window, in answer to the summons.

'No, but I have thought of something that must be seen to. Come quickly!'

They were soon at the mine. The engines were hard at work, not in bringing up coal, but in pumping up water. The coal in the fire grate close by was burning brightly; the night-deputy busy in the office.

Israel and the Overman went down in the cage, and at the bottom found the stableman looking after the horses. The man reported all well.

Farther on-in the principal level-they found repairers at work, replacing such portions of the rotten props as could not be got at in the daytime without disturbing the colliers. In fact, the night shift had been put off by the Overman on the present occasion to allow of these repairs, as he explained more than once to Israel, who seemed, he thought, displeased to find the night shift of colliers not at work as usual. The repairers also reported all well.

Presently they turned out of the central level into one much narrower and lower roofed, where they were soon stopped by a door, placed there to prevent the artificial air current passing along the level except when the work of the mine might require its ventilation.

They passed through that door, and closed it after them and advanced towards another door, and were about to open it, when, to the surprise of Israel and the horror of Lusty, it opened, as if with volition of its own, away

from them; while the air thus admitted came in a strong current towards them.

Lusty, who was as superstitious as he was irreligious, stood as one paralysed, and for some time could scarcely understand, much less answer Israel's question

"Who can be there? Some one is!

Seeing the Overman's credulity and utter helplessness, Israel thought it prudent to offer a brief explanation. "It is a cross current of air of some kind-a pure accident. Let us go on.'

'Not for all you could give me, Mr. Mort. Not if you'd say the mine should be ahl my own to-morrow.' Stay here, then-coward that you are!-till I come back.'

Israel went forward, holding his lamp so that he might keep a good look out for any skulking figure, but returned after some minutes, looking angry, puzzled, but also deeper than ever in gloom.

Something ran past their feet into a stall, separated from the level by a canvas screen. The Overman understood that incident: it was a rat; he sprang after it, lifted the curtain, and disappeared.

Israel had little time for further reflection on the sense or absurdity of his Overman's pursuit of the rat. Whether Lusty had opened his lamp to see better where the animal had gone to, or whether he had fallen and broken the glass of the lamp, was never to be known; but scarcely had he been gone more than half a minute, when Israel heard a fearful explosion-and simultaneously a very river of fire burst from the stall across his eyes, and then death and darkness seemed to enter on the unchallenged possession of the mine.