The Union and journal., 1860-01-20

W0ulu last, 1 ruDDeu lt very Coioiu.y "6s".'
the sole of my boot, then harder, then furi,
ously-but It would not ignite! Then 1
tried another with no better success. They
were too ,damp-evyything was damp; the
matches were useless. With faint hope OF
drying them in time, put the box into my
breast, and buttoned my vest over 1t. What
with my failure in procuring light, and the
pain of my bruises, added to my terror and
bewildcrmcnt Of mind, suffered intensely.
Through all, IL became clear to me that in-
stead of falling oper, had fallen through the
clilf-strange us it was that hollow ground
should occur 80 near tho edge without the
external wall of the cliff caviLg towards it.
The space through which had fallen must
have been narrow, for my body was bruised
and the skin torn from my sides, with strip
of my clothing; that could feel. Oh for
q light to examine better into my miserable
position; but, after oil, l did not feel with
out hope. / could not loso tho idea that j
was to hit upon some means or way OF escape,
If / only could get the matches to ignite,
and show me the size and form of the cave.
Worn out with pain and thought, must
have slept. / awoke with raging thirst,
and, almost at tho same time, became sure
that heard the dropping of water. drag.
ced myself towards the sound, stretched out
my hand, and drops from above fell upon it;
eagerly swallowed few which burned my
throat; hey were distilled brine-salt as any
impregnat0n of water could possibly be!
This disappointment crushed me terribly.
I should die of thirst ere had found mode
ofexit. thought of the matches, and tried
them again, in vain; this time, however,
they gave forth light smoke. In time the
heat of my breast would dry them-that was
hope. | had no idea of the timo, save that
my watch had run down while slept. ]
wound it up again, knowing that when 1t
again stopped eight.and-twenty hours would
have gone by. Again, on my hands and
knees, crcpt around, feeling by the damp
walls, and as continually approached and
receded from the spot where the salt water
dropped from projecting rock, discovered
that the cave must be nearly round, and not
many yards square. Having discovered this,
I became more collected and resolute, and
forced myself toa calm review ofmy position.
| had to acknowledge to myself, that my on
ly chance of escape seemed the hole or crack
through which had fallen; but no ray of
llHHt DCtTuytu tllht cIOt"Ntiti otph'o
must have fallen inand choked itup. Parch-
ing with thirst, and faint from bodily injuries,
/ was almost at the point of despair, when
distant sound lcll on my ear. listened with
intense attention. Soon, moro and more dis
tnctly, I recognized the noise of machinery,
the rnmbling of carts, and the voices OF men
then bell rung, and, with throb of joy,
| recognized it rs tho morning summons to
the laborers in the works. A night only
could have passed since my leaving the outer
world. Had they missed me? Alas there
was nothing to lead them to suspect the spot
of my captivity. thought of the strange
disappearance ofmy younger brothcr-Athis
double bereavement would kill my poor
mother but still was comforted by the
knowledge that only q partition of rock sop
anted me from my fellow men. Now !
could almost distinguish their voices. felt
that it was in vain to hope that my calls and
shouts could be heard by them, yet could
not forbear shouting till l was quite exhaust
cd.
Then reflected on the means could find of
digging away the barrier of rock. 1t could
not be thick-I know that by my facility in
hearing sound, and concludEd that, as had
fallen close TO the edge of tho cliff, had
sunk straight down to the level of the valley
at its foot, and possibly the walls of my pris-
on were not more than two or three feet in
thickness. But had no implement, save
my knife, and that was slender one, quite
inadequate to cutting passage through even
the soft and damp salt-rock which formed the
partition. Suddenly remembered having
picked up heavy iron OK shoe, on the wagon
road, during my Sunday walk. 1t was still
in my pocket. With what joy pulled il
out, and commenced eagerly mywOrk.
Twill not detail the agonies OF those days
and nights, when worked on in the dark
ness, sometimes encouraged, sometimes near
ly hopeless. could not find that made
any visible progress the sounds were nearer
than at first, and was growing hourly more
exhausted from fatigue and burning thirst.
The salt air Of the cave inhamed my eyes,
parched my skin, and excoriated my throat,
and often had horrible idea that l should
20 mad; but worked on l had wound up
my watch five times, therefore it must have
been the sixth day-delivcrancc as far of us
ever. had been trying toloosen fragment
of rock which seemed somewhat detached
from the strata, (this could only judge of
by fecling.) If / succeeded, should much
reduce tho thickness of the barrier mt that
point, but had to stop and rest before the
final trial. again tried my matches. l
had constantly done 80 hitherto, but without
success, and few remained; but now the
third ono that tried gave forth light
smoke, then blue flame, and finally O
clearly rcd light. held it carefully, and
beheld tho cavern in which was immurcd.
was small one, and sparkling from the sa-
line crystals, us If studded with gems. OPP
positc to me was dark object, on projec-
ton of the shelving rock, and bearing sim
ilarity to the outline Of human figure. l
lifted high the expiring match, and by its
last ray, saw a human face.
In frenzy of impaticncc tried tho few
remaining matchcs, in vain; the last onewas
in my hand; more carefully drew it over
the sand-papcr 1t burned only for an in
slant; but in that instant, holding 1t direct
ly even with the body, recognized the dead,
pale, but unchanged face of my poor, lost
brother Henry.
was again in darkness, with tho dead
body and my frcnzied thoughts. After n
time I resumed fcrccly my labor Mt tho rock.
A blow looscned It., few moro and the
large mass rolled inwards, and from fissurc
in the rock which lay behind 1t, came in
narrow streak Of daylight. I was all but
mad, or I would not havo had sufficient
strength to effect my purpose.
BY the aid of my OK shoe, soon increased
the hole, till il was largo enough to admit
my head. My shouts soon brought assistance