Produced by Dianna Adair, Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Illustration: Steve Gazed With Wonder Upon the Busy Scene. _Frontispiece._ The Iron Boys in the Mines OR Starting at the Bottom of the Shaft By JAMES R. MEARS Author of The Iron Boys As Foremen, The Iron Boys on the Ore Boats, etc. Illustrated PHILADELPHIA HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY HOWARD E. ALTEMUS CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. SECURING A JOB UNDER DIFFICULTIES 7 II. HANDLING THE RED ORE 18 III. TWO THOUSAND FEET UNDER GROUND 32 IV. STEVE SHOOTS THE CHUTES 42 V. THE "MISSED HOLE" 49 VI. IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT 61 VII. "IS ANYONE ALIVE IN THERE?" 70 VIII. BOB MAKES GOOD HIS WORD 79 IX. YOUNG GLADIATORS MEET 89 X. IN A NEW JOB 97 XI. RUSH MAKES A DISCOVERY 106 XII. THE BOYS EXPOSE A PLOT 115 XIII. STRAIGHTENING THE CROOKED ONES 126 XIV. LAYING THE TRAP 137 XV. BORNE SKYWARD ON A SKIP 147 XVI. WHAT WAS FOUND IN THE SHAFT 158 XVII. THEIR FIRST PROMOTION 171 XVIII. THE VISIT OF THE OFFICIALS 182 XIX. FACING A GREAT PERIL 193 XX. INTO A BLACK GULF 202 XXI. THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING BOY 209 XXII. WHEN THE WATERS CLOSED OVER HIM 215 XXIII. A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS 226 XXIV. CONCLUSION 242 The Iron Boys in the Mines CHAPTER I SECURING A JOB UNDER DIFFICULTIES "Is Mr. Carrhart in?" "Maybe he is, and maybe he isn't," answered the office boy, grinning sardonically. "Who are you?" "My name is Stephen Rush and I wish to see Mr. Carrhart, the president of the mining company," answered the first speaker, a lad of some sixteen years, dark-haired, dark-eyed and slight of build. "What do you want to see him about?" "That is what I have come to tell him," replied young Rush, directing a level gaze at the boy, who was half a head taller and much more stocky of build than was Steve. "May I speak with the president?" "No; you may not speak with Mr. Carrhart." "Why not, please? It is quite important." "Because I won't let you." "You won't let me?" "No." "Will you not take my name in--tell him I shall not detain him?" "_No!_" For a moment Steve Rush stood looking at the office boy, undecided and disappointed. He had not thought there would be any difficulty in getting a few words with the man he had come to see. "Go on--skip!"