Son Philip | Page 7

wayer," said the overman, turning sharply down a
passage, light in hand, of course thinking that his companion would
follow him, for he knew well enough what the stoppage meant, and he
did not want the young man to see the miners smoke.
But Philip Hexton was made of different metal to what he expected, and,
careless of being left in the gloom of one of those weird passages, the
young man stood for a moment peering forward into the black darkness,
and, making out a faint glimmer of light, stretched out his hands and
began to make his way cautiously along by the shaley wall.
It was terribly bad walking, the floor being uneven from the many falls
of coal from the roof. Here and there, too, were wooden supports which
had to be avoided; but after stumbling along cautiously for about fifty
yards, and avoiding the obstacles as if by a miracle, the distant glow of
light was sufficient, dim as it was, to show him the supports that
intervened, and fifty yards further he could walk quite fast, for there
were the Davy-lamps hanging here and there, each forming a faint star,
with a dull halo around.
They seemed very near the ground till the young deputy remembered
that they were in the four-foot seam, and the next moment he was
spared a violent blow by one of his hands coming in contact with the
roof.
Philip Hexton's heart beat fast at the sight he saw; and for a moment he
felt as if he must turn and run for his life.
But he did not. Bending down half-double, he ran towards the group of
men, gaining impetus each moment, till, stumbling over some of the
newly hewn-out coal, he was thrown, as it were, full against Ebenezer
Parks, his right fist catching the burly miner in the ear, just as he was,
pipe in mouth, about to open the lamp, and they fell heavily together,
the lamp fortunately being extinguished by the shock.

CHAPTER FOUR.
AN UNPLEASANT THREAT.
"You villain!" cried Philip excitedly, as he rose, and then seated
himself panting upon a lump of coal; "another moment, and you would
all have been lying scorched and dying where you now stand."
"Villain, eh?" roared the great pitman, staggering up with his head
bleeding from a cut caused by his fall, "villain, am I, lad? Then I'll be
villain for some'at."
As he spoke, beside himself with passion, he caught up his miner's pick,
and, but for the quick movement of the young man, would have dealt
him what might have been a deadly blow.
"Nay, nay, Eben, lad," cried one of the men, closing with him, "howd
thee hand: we don't want murder here." But it was not until a couple
more of the miners had seized him by the arms and wrested away the
short sharp pick, that he ceased to struggle.
Philip stood as well as the low roof would allow of the erect posture,
and looked on.
"There lad, thou'st better goo," said one of the men; "and don't thee
coom interferin' agen."
"Interfering!" cried Philip, with spirit, "recollect who I am, and that I
will not have such reckless acts in the mine."
"Oh, it's thy mine, is it?" said the man in a provoking tone. "I didn't
know that. Say, Eben Parks, thee mustn't niver smoke a pipe in Master
Philip Hexton's mine."
"Let me goo!" cried the big miner; "let me goo, I tell 'ee! I'll mak' such
a mark on him as he weant forget again."
"Let him go!" cried Philip angrily, "and let him touch me if he dare;

and let him recollect that there is law in the land for men who commit
assaults, as well as for those who break the rules of the pit."
"I'll put such a mark on him as he weant forget," cried the big miner,
after another ineffectual struggle to be free.
"Why don't 'ee goo!" cried one of the men again. "Thee keeps makin'
him savage wi' staying."
"Loose him, I tell you!" said Philip firmly; and they released the big
miner, who came at him like a bull; but as the young man did not flinch,
but gazed full in his eyes, the great fellow made what we call "an offer"
at him, and then let his arms fall to his side.
"Sithee!" he exclaimed, pointing to his bleeding head, and speaking in a
low, hoarse voice, "thou'st made thy mark on me, and I don't rest till
I've made mine on thee. Now goo, while thee shoes are good; thou'st
not wanted here."
Philip turned from him with an angry look of contempt, and addressed
the men:
"You seem to forget, my lads, that under my father I'm inspector