ank giving way； and Mr。 Starr ascertained beyond a doubt that these supports had first of all been partially sawn through。 Harry； who had been overseeing the works near the place at the time； was buried in the falling rubbish； and narrowly escaped death。
A few days afterwards； on the steam tramway； a train of trucks； which Harry was passing along； met with an obstacle on the rails； and was overturned。 It was then discovered that a beam had been laid across the line。 In short； events of this description became so numerous that the miners were seized with a kind of panic； and it required all the influence of their chiefs to keep them on the works。
〃You would think that there was a whole band of these ruffians；〃 Simon kept saying； 〃and we can't lay hands on a single one of them。〃
Search was made in all directions。 The county police were on the alert night and day； yet discovered nothing。 The evil intentions seeming specially designed to injure Harry。 Starr forbade him to venture alone beyond the ordinary limits of the works。
They were equally careful of Nell； although； at Harry's entreaty； these malicious attempts to do harm were concealed from her； because they might remind her painfully
of former times。 Simon and Madge watched over her by day and by night with a sort of stern solicitude。 The poor child yielded to their wishes； without a remark or a plaint。 Did she perceive that they acted with a view to her interest？ Probably she did。