Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 85: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. 79 Seer eee eee aS... Neither spoke a word in the earnest eagerness of their hatred. It was life and death. They swayed and rolled off together from the spot. Now Rose had an idea. If she possessed herself of the lantern she might be enabled to escape whilst the fatal combat pro- ceeded. In an instant she had pounced uponit, and secreted it beneath her dress. She then ran some ten or twelve yards from the spot. The scuffling sound alone now told of the deadly struggle which was taking place. Occasionally a dull thud told her that one of the brutal combatants had received a fearful blow. Then, with a shudder, she would increase the dis- tance between herself and the struggling miners. Turning her back upon the two ruffians, she began to survey the place by the aid of the lantern. As she raised it it struck against a cord. Eagerly she looked up. : It was the rope by whose aid Penryth the miner had descended. Was it not possible for her to escape by it ? She tugged at the rope, pulling as strongly as she could, but it was firm. She could not see to the top of the rope. It must be, then, a fearful length. ‘No matter, it was the only chance which offered itself from death, or a fate even worse, and the attempt should be made. The first thing she did was to fasten the lantern round her waist. Then she took the rope in her delicate palms, clutched at the nearest knot, and drew herself up. There were large knots at every foot or eighteen inches’ distance in the rope, which greatly facilitated her progress. Still the rope swayed about, and she felt uncom- fortable. It was rather fortunate that she could not pierce the gioom beneath, or she must have turned giddy. Still the sounds of the fatal strife could be plainly heard. Suddenly she was forced to pause, in spite of her- self, to listen—to listen in silent terror.’ A desperate blow had been struck by one of the com- batants, and the receiver uttered a hollow groan. Dismally it echoed through the sombre impene- trable labyrnths of the mine. Fearfully it struck upon the poor fugitive’s ear. Was it the termination of that hideous combat? Yes, surely. ; A wild shout of triumph burst from the lips of one of them—whose, Rose Mortimer was unable to distinguish. ““Where are you, eh?’ demanded the victorin a hoarse voice. Rose was silent. Even now she could not tell which of the miners claimed the victory. The wonderful change in his voice told most elo- quently that, although chance had decided the fatal conflict in his favour, he had not escaped unscathed. ‘‘ Where’s the lantern?’’ demanded the man. “Oh! we’ve knocked it over, I suppose. Ha-ha! my friend! I don’t think that you’ll trouble any of us much more now.’’ Rose shuddered. “ Where’s the gal got to?’’ continued the victorious ruffan. ‘* Where are you? Answer, or I’ll precious soon find the means to make you, you Jezebel.” Rose began to recover her senses a little, and her flight was resumed. ; Alas! Rose Mortimer, why did your fears over- power you at that critical juncture? LS A little more exertion upon your part—a few strides upwards—and you would have been free—at liberty. But it was not to be. Now, unhappily, the rope she was ascending began to make a grating noise, similar to that which she had noticed at the descent of Penryth into the mine, This at once gave the survivor of the combat a clue. ‘Ha! ha!” he cried with an oath, ‘‘ you’re got there, have you? Down you come.” Rose, to her terror, felt the rope tugged from below. She still held firmly, though. Clung to it with the tenacity of a drowning man. Then it was swayed backwards and forwards. She could not hope to preserve her hold much longer now, She felt that she was giving way ! The rope was slipping through her hands. Suddenly her attention was attracted by a strange sound, The whole earth, too, appeared to vibrate. It was a low rumbling noise, as if from distant thunder ! The earth above began to fall upon her head. It crumbled, and now huge masses of soil fell about her. 5 In an instant the whole truth flashed upon her. The mine was giving way! She now comprehended the meaning of its too sig- nificant title—the ‘‘ Danger Mine !”’ Barely had the thought flitted through her mind— compressing the pent-up terrors of a lifetime into those few brief moments—when there was a terrific crash. Down came the earth —rolling into the fathomless depths of the fatal mine. THE DANGER MINE HAD EARNT ITS TITLE! CHAPTER XXXV. THE FIRE—GOSSIP—A GLIMPSE AT PREVAILING SENSATION — A NEW PERSONAGE — MERMET THE ARAB—A NECROMANCER’S SEANCES—TWO STRANGE VISITS—THE DRUG—THE CHARM— THE ARAB SERVANT. Tre fire which occurred in Park Lane, at the resi- dence of Count Lerno, completely gutted the house from the basement to the attics. A heap of charred timber and the blackened brick walls were all that remained to tell of the fatal fire. How it occurred remained a profound mystery to all. * The strictest investigation was instituted by the authorities. But with no result. Not the faintest trace could be obtained of its origin. Many people in the fashionable quarters were vastly interested in the matter, and their inquiries inspired the diligent officials to greater exertion. But it baffled all. The strangest thing of all in connection with the mysterious occurrence was the fatal end of the owner of the mansion, Count Lerno. | So fearfully must he have been burnt, every one remarked. Not even the remains of his body were ever dis- covered. Search the most minute was made over the ruins for the body, but not a trace of it was to be found. A coat which he had been seen to wear before the occurrence of the fatal fire was discovered near the back entrance to the house. a comiclbooks.€©