His father propped himself up against the rock.

Harry got upon his shoulders, so that with his pick he could reach the line of the fissure.

Then with quick sharp blows he attacked it.

Almost directly afterwards a slight sound was heard, like champagne escaping from a bottle--a sound commonly expressed by the word "puff." Harry again seized his lamp, and held it to the opening.

There was a slight report; and a little red flame, rather blue at its outline, flickered over the rock like a Will-o'-the-Wisp.
Harry leaped to the ground, and the old overman, unable to contain his joy, grasped the engineer's hands, exclaiming, "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! Mr.Starr.The fire-damp burns! the vein is there!".