The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-02-23


clearly visible that I had fallen double the
height supposed. But for the turf which
had fallen under me, l must have BEEN
killed on the spot The hole was too large
for me to creep up, by pressing against it
with my back and knees; and there were
no knots or protuberances visible up its
smooth sides The chasm increased in
diameter as it descended, like an inverted
funnel l mightpossibly climb up wall;
but could creep along a ceiling?
. I shouted as lay; no one answered. /
shouted again and again. Then l tho't
that too much shouting would exhaust my
strength, and unfit me for the task OF
mounting. 1 measured with my eye the
distance from stratum to stratum OF each
we'll marked layer of chalk. And then,
the successive beds of fint-they gave
me the greatest hopes. / If footholes could
only be cut? Though the feat was diff
cult, it might be practicable. The attempt
must be made arose, stiff and bruised.
70 matter. The first layer of aints was
not more than seven or eight feet over
head. Those once reached, l could Sc
cure footing, and obtain first starting
place for escape. l triedto climb to them
with my feet and hands. Impossible! the
crumbling wall would not support half my
weight. AS fast as I attempted to get
handhod or footing, it fell in fragments to
the ground. Il ',S- -''' 'i'2'H %
But, better thought-to dig it away
and make mound SO high that, by stand
ING on it, I could manage to reach the
flint with my hands. l had my knife to
help me; and, after much hard work, my
object was accomplished, and | got within
reach Of the shelf.
Nv hands had firm hold Of the horizon
tai flint. They were cut with cllnglng;
but found that, by raising myself, and
then thrusting my feet into the chalk and
mari, could support myself with one
hand only, leaving the other free to work.
I did work; clearing away the chalk above
the flint, so as to give me greater room
/ At last, I tho't might venture upon the
ledge itself By a supreme effort, l reach
ed the shell; but moisture had made the
chalk unctuous and slippery to the bafed
grasp. 1t was in vain to think of mount
ing higher, with no point of support, nc
firm footing. A desperate leap across the
!. chasm afforded not the slightest hope; be-
cause, even if successful, l could not fol
one moment maintain the advantage gain
L ed. I was determined to remain on the
ledge of flint. Another moment, and {
rafting on the floor soon taught me my
s powerlessness. Down sunk the chalk be
I meath my weight; only just failing to crusi
me under it. Stunned, and cut, ant
: bruised, spent some time Frustrated b.
6 half conscious but acute sensation of mis-
: cry. Sleep, which as yet | had not felt
e began to steal over me, but could gain n
e mastery With each moment of incipien
g unconaciousness, Charlotte was presente
n to me, first, in her wedding g-dress;-nex
d in our terrace, beckoning me gaily fror
e the garden below; then we were walkin
: arm-in arm in smiling conversation; c
g seated happily together in my fathers l
g brary But the full consciousness ths
y rapidly succeeded presented each momer
r; with hideous truth. It was now broa
as day; and I realized Charlotte's suffering
le I beheld her awaiting me in her brid
N dress; now Fastening to the window, an
Ill straining her sight over the valley, in tt
re hope of my approach; now stricken dow
M by despair at my absence. My father, te
nj whose life had been always bound mp
re mine! These fancies destroyed my pow
re of thought. felt wild and frienzied
OF rayed and shouted, and listened, knowir
n no answer could come.
Dut al answer Ulu COuo, q uduucull
~ answer. The sound of bells, dull, dea
e. and in my well-hole, just Distinguished
'f- They rang out my marriage peal. WI
De was not buried alive when [ first fell.
e. could have drank blood, in my thir!
had it been offered to me. Die Unjust
Nv felt full well, but let ME not die with n
nd mouth in flame? Then came the struge
Is ofsleep; and then ftful, tantalizing dream
mt Charlotte appeared to me plucking grape
'of and dropping them playfully into I
sl' mouth; or catching water in the hollow
is' her hand, from the little cascade in O
~ grotto, and Idrank. But hark! drip, DIR
var again drip! Is this madness still? \
o 20 There must be water oozing somewhe
- out of the sides of this detested hole.
:. Where the treacherous wall is SLIME
where the green patches are brightest a
nd widest spread on the clammy sides of l
nd living sepulchre, there will be the spot
o1a dig and to search.
40 Again the knife. Every blow give
= more dead and hollow sound. The ch
dislodged is certainly not moister, but
o,e blade sticks fast into wood-the wood