The Breaker Boys — J.R. Freeman

A trip to Plains, Pennsylvania in 1909 finds Kyle deep in a coal mine with Nick Parduski, the 12-year-old son of Hungarian immigrants. After two days of grueling work an explosion buries Kyle and Nick in a small area of the shaft. Two boys are dead; Nick is unconscious, bleeding from a severe head wound. When water begins to flood the cavern, in order to save Nick, Kyle first has to abandon him.