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Show ROMAN iJrunk and senseless in his. place, Prone and sprawling on his faco. Moro like bruto thnh liuy mnn Alive or dead, Ky his f,Tcat pump out of gear; " Iay tho peon engineer, "Waking- only .iust to hear, Overhead, Angry tones I hat called his name, Oaths and erics of bitter, blame, Woke to hear all this, and waking, turned and fled! " To the man who'll bring fo mo," Cried Intondanl; Harry Leo, Harry Leo, tho English foreman of tho mine, f Bring the sot alive or dond, T will give to him," he said, ! Fifteen hundred pesos down, .Just to sol the rascal's crown Undorucath this heel of mino: Since but death , Deserves tho man whoso deed, lie it vice-or want of heed, , Stops tho pumps that give us breath, Stops tho pumps that sucks tho death , ; ' From tho poisoned lower levels of tho mine!" No ono answered, for a cry From the shaft rose up oh high; And shuffling, scrambling, tumbling from below, Came .tho miners each, tho bolder Mounting on the weaker 's shoulder, shoul-der, Grappling, clinging to their hold or Letting go, As the weaker gasped' and fell'-From fell'-From the ladder to the well, To the poisoned pit of boll Down below I -1 'f To the man .wlio sets them free," . Cried-the foreman. Harry '.Lee, -Harry Lee,, the': English foreman of . tho mine; r. "Brings tlfeni- out' and sets them tree, T will give that man," said he, " Twice that sum, who with , a rope Face to face with death shall cope: Let him como who dares to hope!" "Hold your peace!" some one replied, re-plied, Standing b' the foreman's side; " There has one already gone, who'er ho be!" Then they held their breath with awe, Pujling on the rope,' and? saw Fainting .figures reappear, . On the black rope swinging clear, Fastened by some skillful hand from below; Till a score the level gained, And- but. ono alone remained, Ho the horo and tho-last, He whose skillful hand made fast The long lino that brought them back to hopo and ch'eerl Haggard, gasping, down dropped lie At the feet of Harry Lee, Harry Lee, tho English foreman of tho mino. " I havq come," he gasped, "to claim . ,. ' Both rewards, Senor, my namo Is Ramon! :.' ' I'm the drunken engineer, I'm tho coward, Senor" Here He fell over, by that sig'n Dead as stone! Francis Bret Harte. |