Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE, 80 SL aaa a a ee i a a a es Se ee eS The earth upon either side of ‘the cavity to which she had so nearly arrived was giving way bodily. It was an agonising period for poor Rose Mortimer now. She expected every instant would be her last. . aha instant might hurl her to the fearful depths elow. The varied terrors which passed through the un- happy girl’s mind are utterly impossible to enu- merate. 3 It was a thought so full of terror and anguish that she was about to be hurled to so awful and abrupt a death. The earth vibrated ! Trembled violently ! Then heaved up, as if some huge monster were sighing heavily beneath the surface. The whole gave way with a crash! Down, down she fell. Senseless she lay and now fell all the earth away. What can be the fate of Rose Mortimer now? Can she escape? * * Ea * * * The fall of the Danger Mine had created an enor- mous excitement all over the mining districts. For miles around the people had hastened to the scene of the catastrophe. Everybody said that if had certainly been predicted that it would fall any time these three years. And the crash had come at last. But most of the fresh arrivals had plenty of sport at first. The mine had not given way everywhere at once. Many, in consequence, had the satisfaction of seeing some portion of the earth fall in. The last part which gave way was the portion sur- rounding the shaft. seta Everybody rejoiced that the mine had been empty at the time of the fall. Presently, however, it was suggested that it was not empty. The cap of a man had been discovered by one of the earliest arrivals close to the entrance. Another had discovered the piece of muslin which had been torn from the dress of Rose Mortimer as she was borne through the doorway by the miner. As soon as this was made known one of the by- standers made a statement still more startling than anything which had been said. He averred that he had heard a shriek just before the last portion of the mine fell in. He could, moreover, swear that it was a woman’s voice that uttered it. The excitement was now intense. Nobody could understand the meaning of the dread- ful suspicions, but still it was readily taken for granted. A staff of men were wanted to work upon the ruins. Fifty voluntered for this arduous service at once. The most hasty preparations were made. Rude machinery was speedily constructed by the people, enthusiastically in the hope that their efforts might save a human life. This was scarcely to be hoped. How was it possible to avert the doom of any un- fortunate wretch who might have been down the Danger Mine for any cause ? Hours were spent by these rough people in digging violently—working twice as hard as their own daily avocations demanded of themin the ordinary way. But no result. Still they perservered. Presently many of the people began to murmur. Some said that the shriek which neighbour so-and- so had heard was all a fable. But the neighbour now protested more stoutly than ever, He was certain of what he said. He had distinctly heard a female shriek. Moreover, it proceeded as nearly as possible from the shaft or entrance to the mine. Now they had not much hope, but still they kept to the work. From the bulk of earth about most were of opinion that there was yet a cavity below. That there was probably a space sufficiently large to allow one to breathe and move about. At length there was a startler for the expectant beholders. One of the diggers gave a cry of astonishment. Then there was arush. All wished to see what was the cause of the excite- ment. The digger struck his pick into a hard substance. Upon examining this he found it to be the boot of a man buried in the débris. Moreover, the boot enclosed a foot, and before -Imany minutes had elapsed a body was dug out of the mine, yet warm. Some one said that it breathed. This was found, however, to be an error. It was a corpse only recently, it is true, but life was quite extinct. A litter was very soon constructed, and the body was placed upon it, In crowds the miners and the startled women and children gathered around the deathly spectacle. Jostling each other for a front position, the better to observe what would have been to more refined people arepulsive sight. ‘¢T know ’un,”’ cried one.”’ ‘Who is it?” ‘© Penryth.” And Penryth it was—Penryth the ruffian miner— Penryth the murderer of his brother miner Trunnion, At length he had met his doom, So fearful a doom. Death the most horrible, and that, too, to happen when he imagined himself in the moment of victory. He had succeeded in worsting his adversary in fatal combat—in the fight for the possession of Rose Mortimer. And justice—retributive and speedy—was done upon him. The miners continued the digging with a vengeance after this discovery. Presently one cried out that he had come to an opening. It was there, as had been supposed. A large open space was still below. The earth in falling had lodged upon somelarge projections, leaving a kind of tunnel beneath. And now the digging was prosecuted with con~ siderable personal risk. Still they kept to if, Presently an opening was formed in the earth large enough to admit the entrance of a man. One individual volunteered to venture into this dangerous tunnel to search for any one else." There was no explanation of Penryth’s being at the mine, which was so notoriously dangerous, and they therefore judged that he had not been there alone. Presently the man cried out that he had come across a second body. , In rushed half a dozen of the miners all excitement —heedless of all danger. Then, in the space of a minute or two, three of them reappeared, carrying a second body. This was already cold and stiff. Death had happened some considerable time before. A cry oi horror ran through the assembled multi- tnde as this second body was brought forth. Then, after a considerable lapse of time, there was a third movement in the mob. SOMMGIOOKSECO NN