The mine was opened so near the stream that water broke through into it, as Matheson had predicted, and though a strong wall was built, the water still got in, and it was difficult to keep it pumped out sufficiently to work.

Some of the men struck.

It was known that Wickersham had nearly come to a rupture with the hard-headed Scotchman over it; but Wickersham won.
Still, the coal did not come.

It was asserted that the shafts had failed to reach coal.

Wickersham laughed and kept on--kept on till coal did come.