Many men were engaged in cutting and pulling away the burned timbers, handling them while they were yet glowing with fire, so eager were they to forward the work of rescue. The superintendent of the mines was there, directing, encouraging, and giving a helping hand. He saw Mrs. Burnham and came up to her carriage. "It was a very disastrous lightning stroke," he said; "the property of the company is in ruins, but as yet no lives have been lost. There is but one person in the mine, the boy Ralph; you both know him. We are clearing away the wreckage from the mouth of the shaft as rapidly as possible, in the hope that we may get down there in time to save his life. Our people have directed me to spare no effort in this matter. One life, even though it is that of an unknown boy, is not too poor a thing for us to try, by every possible means, to save." "That boy," said Goodlaw, "is Mrs. Burnham's son." "Is it possible! Has he been identified, then, since the trial?" "Fully, fully! My dear sir, I beg that you will do all that lies in your power to save this life for your company's sake, then double your effort for this lady's sake. She has no such fortune as this boy is to her." Mrs. Burnham had sat there pale-faced and eager-eyed. Now she spoke:-- "What is the prospect? What are the chances? Can you surely save him? Tell me truly, Mr. Martin?" "We cannot say certainly," replied the superintendent; "there are too many factors in the problem of which we are yet ignorant. We do not know how badly the shaft is choked up; we do not know the condition of the air in the mine. To be frank with you, I think the chances are against rescuing the boy alive. The mine soon fills with poisonous gases when the air supply is cut off." "Are you doing all that can be done?" she asked. "Will more men, more money, more of anything, help you in your work?" "We are doing all that can be done," he answered her. "The men are working bravely. We need nothing." "How soon will you be able to go down and begin the search?" The man thought for a moment before replying. "To-morrow," he said, uncertainly. "I think surely by to-morrow." She sank back into the carriage-seat, appalled by the length of time named. She had hoped that an hour or two at the farthest would enable them to reach the bottom of the shaft. "We will push the work to the utmost," said Martin, as he hurried away. "Possibly we shall be able to get in sooner." Goodlaw and Mrs. Burnham sat for a long time in silence, watching the men at their labor. Word had been passed among the workers that the missing boy was Mrs. Burnham's son, and their energetic efforts were put forth now for her sake as well as for the lad's. For both mother and son held warm places in the hearts of these toiling men. The mouth of the shaft had been finally uncovered, a space cleared around it, and the frame of a rude windlass erected. They were preparing to remove the debris from the opening.