Page:The Overland Monthly Volume 5 Issue 3.djvu/13

1870.] nothing, and before long the "chimneys" and "branch," so accurately described, were in plain sight.

Throwing away our sticks, we descended the slight hill to the brook with cautious steps and open ranks, fearing that a timid sentinel might magnify the little band into an entire squadron of Rebel cavalry, and welcome us with a bullet.

When almost on the timbers of a partially dismantled bridge, the challenge came, ringing through the air like the blast of a bugle:

"Who comes there?"

"Friends! friends!' we screamed, rather than answered—wringing our hands, and almost dancing for joy—the thoughts of home and liberty dimming our eyes, and choking our hearts.

"Where from?" shouted the sentinel.

"Libby Prison, Richmond!" we cried.

"Come on." This last remark in a voice as excited as our own.

It was somewhat unmilitary to thus welcome strangers from the enemy's side in the middle of the night; and our worthy man of arms, remembering this, before we had time to act upon his invitation, ordered us peremptorily to "halt," and called for the "Corporal of the Guard."

From some distant guard-house a sleepy Corporal at length came, and, with the sentinel, marched slowly down to the narrow stream where, with "arms port," and ready for immediate use, he asked the questions which we constantly anticipated in our haste. When he had satisfied himself that it was all right, we were told to approach.

Disdaining the proffer of a few planks, we crossed on the bare timbers, and stood, grasping each other's hands, free at last.

Randolph had his triumph. "Didn't I tell you from the first that we should get through, when all you fellows were croaking if we get through, and when we get through?"

N a previous paper, we spoke of the external and general character of these mines. We now propose to describe more particularly their internal economy and mechanical structure. In working them, no process is more costly than that of tunneling. It is also not unfrequently the most discouraging. This is especially true of those mines that can only be prospected by means of a tunnel, as was the case with the Blue Gravel Mine.

It requires no little pluck, and business enterprise, to meet the obstacles constantly recurring; and he who gets honor by the completion of such enterprises, generally gets far less than he deserves. When the first tunnel is completed, however, it forms a demonstration of the real nature of the mine, and, consequently, of all mines belonging to the district that have similar indications. Thus it happens that, in the district we are considering, success in mining is no longer a question of chance, but simply the result of persistent effort, in the sagacious use of means. Thus it is, also, that four large tunnels are rapidly being built through the hills north of the mines. These tunnels are the property of four respective Companies, and the fact that they have been commenced, is