Jack David declared furthermore that he knew a carpenter who was working in the fan-house, and who said that no haste whatever was being made. All the men at the fan-house shared that opinion; the mine was sealed, and would stay sealed until the company was sure the fire was out.
“But,” argued Hal, “if they were to open it, the fire would spread; and wouldn't that prevent rescue work?”
“Not at all,” declared “Big Jack.” He explained that by reversing the fan they could draw the smoke up through the air-course, which would clear the main passages for a time. “But, you see, some coal might catch fire, and some timbers; there might be falls of rock so they couldn't work some of the rooms again.”
“How long will they keep the mine sealed?” cried Hal, in consternation4.
“Nobody can say. In a big mine like that, a fire might smoulder for a week.”
Hal turned to Olson. “Would they possibly do such a thing?”
“It's been done—more than once,” was the organiser's reply.
“Did you never hear about Cherry, Illinois?” asked David. “They did it there, and more than three hundred people lost their lives.” He went on to tell that dreadful story, known to every coal-miner. They had sealed the mine, while women fainted and men tore their clothes in frenzy—some going insane. They had kept it sealed for two weeks, and when they opened it, there were twenty-one men still alive!
“They did the same thing in Diamondville, Wyoming,” added Olson. “They built up a barrier, and when they took it away they found a heap of dead men, who had crawled to it and torn their fingers to the bone trying to break through.”
“My God!” cried Hal, springing to his feet. “And this man Carmichael—would he stand for that?”
“He'd tell you they were doing their best,” said “Big Jack.” “And maybe he thinks they are. But you'll see—something'll keep happening; they'll drag on from day to day, and they'll not start the fan till they're ready.”
“Why, it's murder!” cried Hal.
“It's business,” said Tom Olson, quietly.
Hal looked from one to another of the faces of these working people. Not one but had friends in that trap; not one but might be in the same trap to-morrow!
“You have to stand it!” he exclaimed, half to himself.
“Don't you see the guards at the pit-mouth?” answered David. “Don't you see the guns sticking out of their pockets?”
“They bring in more guards this morning,” put in Jerry Minetti. “Rosa, she see them get off.”
“They know what they doin'!” said Rosa. “They only fraid we find it out! They told Mrs. Zamboni she keep away or they send her out of camp. And old Mrs. Jonotch—her husband and three sons inside!”
“They're getting rougher and rougher,” declared Mrs. David. “That big fellow they call Pete, that came up from Pedro—the way he's handling the women is a shame!”
“I know him,” put in Olson; “Pete Hanun. They had him in Sheridan when the union first opened headquarters. He smashed one of our organisers in the mouth and broke four of his teeth. They say he has a jail-record.”
All through the previous year at college Hal had listened to lectures upon political economy, filled with the praises of a thing called “Private Ownership.” This Private Ownership developed initiative and economy; it kept the wheels of industry a-roll, it kept fat the pay-rolls of college faculties6; it accorded itself with the sacred laws of supply and demand, it was the basis of the progress and prosperity wherewith America had been blessed. And here suddenly Hal found himself face to face with the reality of it; he saw its wolfish eyes glaring into his own, he felt its smoking hot breath in his face, he saw its gleaming fangs7 and claw-like fingers, dripping with the blood of men and women and children. Private Ownership of coal-mines! Private Ownership of sealed-up entrances and non-existent escape-ways! Private Ownership of fans which did not start, of sprinklers which did not sprinkle. Private Ownership of clubs and revolvers, and of thugs and ex-convicts to use them, driving away rescuers and shutting up agonised widows and orphans8 in their homes! Oh, the serene9 and well-fed priests of Private Ownership, chanting in academic halls the praises of the bloody10 Demon11!
Suddenly Hal stopped still. Something had risen in him, the existence of which he had never suspected. There was a new look upon his face, his voice was deep as a strong man's when he spoke12: “I am going to make them open that mine!”
They looked at him. They were all of them close to the border of hysteria, but they caught the strange note in his utterance13. “I am going to make them open that mine!”
“How?” asked Olson.
“The public doesn't know about this thing. If the story got out, there'd be such a clamour, it couldn't go on!”
“But how will you get it out?”
“I'll give it to the newspapers! They can't suppress such a thing—I don't care how prejudiced they are!”
“I'll find a way to make them believe me,” said Hal. “I'm going to make them open that mine!”
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1
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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2
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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3
stockade
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| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
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4
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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5
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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6
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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7
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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8
orphans
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| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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9
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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10
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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11
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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12
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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13
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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14
buddy
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| n.（美口）密友，伙伴 | |
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