Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-01-25

ness of the floor would permit. We had so
arranged the charge that it would act princi-
pally upon the stone above, but still there was
a chance that some of it would take effect on
ourselves. When all was ready, we ignited
the match at the end of the train and sheltered
ourselves as well as we could. But the train
had already got damp, and the match burned
down without firing it. Long John proceeded
to freshen it from our remaining flask of dry
powder. Now it happened that the match
had left spark behind it in Its ashes, which
was no sooner felt by the dry powder than it
ignited, flew up into the flask and exploded in
our faces as we stood in group round John.
Some were knocked over, others stumbled,
and we all scrambled over each other to the
rear of the grotto. At this instant, the charge
at the mouth went off, covering us with moss
and dirt Whether l or any OF the others re-
ceived then any of the many and complicated
bruises that we presently became conscious of
carrying about on our persons, is more than
can say, for we were all at the moment too
much excited by seeing the huge stone above
US begin to move to take note of even seri-
Gus wound. 1t gathered headway rapidly,
and Immediately the broad face of the blue sky
smiled benignly in upon us. We stretched
our mouths open to give vent to tremendous
shout of joy, just in time to have them filled
by goodly portion of the torrent, which with
the mass of dead leaves, etc., now came down
upon our shoulders like an avalanche. In re-
moving the roof, we had opened more direct
channel for its waters but not having calcu-
lated upon this, we were, of course, some
what astonished. Gozzlin, in company with
our tin pail, fioated off like cork. The last
saw of him he was turning over the preci-
pice with both legs in the air. Admonished
in season by his fate, Igrappled with the near
est object, which luckily happened 10 be Johns
leg, and Skinned up to where the latter per-
son was holding on with his head in the breath
ing place between the falling water and the
ledge, coughing up the dead leaves he had
partially swallowed. He told me there were
two more of our party coming up his left leg
which was proved correct by the immediate
appearance of Halket and Fennithorn. We
were, for moment, doubtful if we had i'm
proved our situation, but by crawling along
under the ledge we got safely out.
Where's Gozzlinl' cried one. This ques-
ton startled us back from our first self gratu-
lations into new agony.
Poor fellow = his brains are doubtless
dashed out that cursed rock that went down
ahead of him. answered another.
We hurried down into the swamp by the
The fiat stone so often mentioned had fallen
edgewise into deep pool, and upon its upper
edge now fell the waters of the cascade, radi-
ating in all directions as they struck. That
Gozzlin was somewhere in this pool we had
not a doubt, and without a word, we all
plunged simultaneously into it. We found
his hat with one of our own waterlogged on
the surface; and we dreaded yet expected ev-
cry moment TO fish up his mangled remains.
We had bobbed in and bobbed out, with the
water below and the wafer from above acting
upon US until we were pretty much exhausted,
when from clump of elders on the right, the
veritabe voice of Gozzln himself burst upon
us, with
Say! If you are after that tin pail, I'd
recommend you to quit stirring up that mud
and making such horrid f s about it. Here
it is, but if you only wanted shower bath,
keep it agoing-don't mind me, only when
you get through, just lend us hand
We crawled out of that pool with rather
more despatch than dignty-too happy, how
ever, in finding the rascal safe to swear at
him for playing spectator of our agonizing
search after his 'remainders.
Now that we had a breathing time, the full
measure Of our disagreeable position was
forced upon US. We were stiff with bruises
and exposure, and half famished with two
days journey before us, and not morsel OF
food or charge of powder. We fshed our
rifles and whatever else of value we could find
out of the dismantled grotto, and leaving ouI
curse upon it, moved away on bee line tol
the lake, with the agreeable prospect of liv-
ing on roots and berries till we arrived there
or till dined upon by the polite community o.
wild beasts thereabouts.