When, toward evening, we quit work, after narrowly escaping being
killed by a large stone that fell from the roof in consequence of
our neglect to brace it up properly, our united efforts had resulted
in barely filling two of the little carts, and we had earned, if
I recollect aright, something like sixty cents each. The fall of
the roof robbed us of all desire to try mining again. It knocked
the lamps from our hats, and, in darkness that could almost be felt,
we groped our way back to the light along the track, getting more
badly frightened as we went. The last stretch of way we ran, holding
each other's hands as though we were not men and miners, but two
frightened children in the dark.
As we emerged from the damp gap in the mountain side, the sunset
was upon the hills. Peaceful sounds came up from the valley where
the shadows lay deep. Gangs of men were going home from the day's
toil to their evening rest It seemed to me that I had been dead
and had come back to life. The world was never so wondrous fair.
My companion stood looking out over the landscape with hungry eyes.
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