Into the Deep Dark Mine UFLI Foundations Lesson 86

Fig Pig held his pickaxe up. 'Today is the day!' he said. 'I will dig deep. I will find the best coal in this mine!' He held up his lamp. The lamp gave a low glow. But he marched into the dark. Not one bit scared. Not even a little.

On and on Fig Pig crept. The tunnel opened wide. Old lanterns glowed on the walls. Rusty rails went off into the shadows. Stone arches rose up. Fig Pig had to lean back to see the top. 'A man made all this,' he whispered. 'Then he went away.' He felt small. He stretched up tall.

At the next bend sat a big chest, the lid open wide. Fig Pig peeked inside. Gold! A ruby! And one very sharp blade! 'I am not a robber,' he said. He picked up the blade. 'I am borrowing it. To be safe.' He went on fast before the chest could fuss.

Then Fig Pig stopped. A web! The web went up and up, thick as rope, sticky as jam. In the middle sat a spider as big as a wheelbarrow. The spider slept. Its legs twitched. Fig Pig was silent. He went slow. One step. Two. Three. The spider snored. Four, five, six. Go!

The tunnel ended at a cliff. Below was lava, glowing and hot. The way across was old mine rails, thin as rope. 'I am not afraid,' said Fig Pig. But his toes said other things. They shivered with each step. Look up. Look up. He had a peek below. He hated it.

At last, Fig Pig burst into the sunshine. Sweet, safe sunshine! There by the mine was a sign. Big red letters: BEWARE. 'Beware?!' Fig Pig squealed. He grabbed his blade and ran. He ran so fast his legs were a blur. Fig Pig did not find coal that day. But he did get one lesson: read the sign first. Then go in!