-THAT-S the boiler at The Bell, mates! Tumble out, Ned, neck and crop-
Never mind your hat and coat, man, we-ll be wanted on the job.
Barney-s driving, Harvey-s stoking-God help all the hands on top!
Bring along the brandy, some one. Don-t stand like an image, Bob;
Grab those shirts-they-ll all be needed. Rugs and candles, that-s all right.
Bet your lives, boys, we-ll have lots of doctor-s work to do to-night!

-Didn-t she thunder? Scot! I thought the universe had gone to smash.
Take the track through Peetree-s paddock, make the smartest time you know.
Barney swore her plates were rotten, but poor Bill was always rash.-
-And his missus, heaven help her!-they were spliced a month ago.-
Down the track we raced together, up the hill-then o-er the claim
Saw the steam-clouds hanging thickly, lustrous with the glow of flame.

Boiler-house in hopeless ruins, engines wrecked and smoke-stack gone;
Bricks and shingles widely scattered, and the shattered boiler bare.
-Five men missed!- -Buck in, you fellows; get your freest action on;
Keep the fire back from the timbers-God knows who is under there.
Sprag that knocker. How it rattles! Braceman-s nowhere-Coleman-s Joe.
Tell them what has happened, Ryan. They will have to wait below.-

As we fought the fires, the women, pale and tearful gathered round.
-That you, Peter? Thanks to Heaven!- -There-s my Harry! God is good!-
-Praise the Lord-they-ve got our lad safe! Joe the braceman has been found!
Down between the tips they found him, pinned there by a log of wood.
-Battery boys are safe. Mack saw them hiding under Peetree-s ricks.
They just up and cut from under when it started raining bricks.-

Only two now-Bill and Barney. Still we laboured might and main
-Mid the ruins round the boiler where the shattered walls were stacked.
Then his wife discovered Barney, dazed and black, but right as rain;
Said he didn-t know what hit him--thought the crack of doom had cracked;-
He had landed on the sand-heap, thirty yards or so away.
-God is mighty good to sinners,- murmured Geordie. -Let us pray.-

Fifty voices called on Harvey, and we worked like horses all,
Delving down amongst the timber, burnt and knocked about, but gay.
-Lend a hand, here, every man; he-s pinned beneath the outer wall!
All together. Now you-ve got him. Gently does it. That-s O.K.
Scalded! Yes, and right arm broken. Pass some brandy, one of you.
Cheer, ye devils! Give it lip, lads. He-s alive and kicking, too!-

-Give him air, now. Make a track there. Let him see his missus first.-
-Where-s his wife?- The women wondered. She had not been seen all night.
Someone whispered she was timid, that she dared not face the worst.
Harvey smiled despite his troubles. -Boys, she-s fainted-she-s all right.-
So we bore him gaily home, and as he saw the gateway near
Bill tried hard to lead the chorus when we gave a rousing cheer.

-Stop, for God-s sake!- In the garden, where her life blood tinged the vine,
Prone poor Harvey-s wife was lying, in the moon- light, cold and gray.
There the flying bolt had struck her as she ran towards the mine.
We could guess the truth too well-and near a broken firebar lay.
Carrol, kneeling down beside her, gently raised the wounded head,
And we bent to catch his whisper, and he answered sadly--Dead!-