Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-01-27
What a Rabbit Did.

While my friend Clyde and myself were
out in the hills back Of Golden Gate, last
week, jack rabbit came along and stopped
10 look at us.
"lf had Thought to bring my revolver
along, we would have jack on toast for break
fast tomorrow" ! remarked.
" Not with my consent" he replied.
What reason can you give for not con
seutng ?"
"a rabbit saved my life, and have not
killed one since, and never will kill one
again"
" How did he manage 20 save your life 2"
Three years ago | was living in Mon
tana. A smelter had just been built and il
created demand for silver rock. owned
an interest in a lead that had been sunk on
thirty feet. Thinking the time had come to
make 1t available, concluded TO 60 there
and get some ore, and have it tested. did
so and reached the place Just in time to
take shelter in the mine from terrible hail
storm. | lighted my candle, went to the
bottom, and went 10 work. had not been
there more than five minutes when heard a
noise that sounded like a cannon. The rocks
over my head shook, and in moment the
shaft behind me caved. You can imagine my
feelings better than | can describe them.
when found myself buried alive. trem-
ble even at this distant day when think of
that moment. The roof Of the shaft was
rocks, and when they came down they did
not pack so tight but what the air came
through.
There was nothing that could do 10 re-
lease myself. knew that if relief did not
come from the outside must perish No
one knew had gone there. A road ran past
the mouth Of the shaft but it was not tray
elled much and | was not likely to attract
attention by calling nevertheless, shouted
at intervals all day. The following morn
ing commenced calling again and all day.
whenever | thought | heard sound. |
shouted.
"When night came again all hopes of be-
ing released had abandoned me. One thing
added great bitterness TO my sufferings
owed quite lar5e amount and should my
fate remain unknown, my creditors would
think / had tried to defraud them. and my
name would be stigmatized.
81 will not dwell on the agones endured;
am sorry cannot forget them.
"The morning of the fourth day Of my
Imprisonment, heard something crawl into
my grave. lighted my candle and saw
rabbit There was only one aperture large
enough to admit him ! closed it to prevent
his escape. | saw in him food to appease
my hunger, and my hand was raised to kill
him, when a thought occurred to me that
prevented the blow from descending. had
two fish lines their united length would
reach TO the road. | took off my shirt, tore
it into strings, tied them together and on
them the fsh-line. wore a long gold
watch chain; | tied it on the part Of the
line that would cross the road. | then cut
several leaves from my diary, wrote on them
my condition, and tied them on that part Of
the line that would be outside. | then tied
the other end made of my shirt around
jacks neck. and let him out. He soon
reached the end Of the line, and knew by
the way he was pulling he was making des-
perate attempts TO escape. Soon the tug
gng stopped, and knowing gnawing to be
Jacks chief accomplishment thought he
had cut himself loose. About three hours
afterward | felt the line pulled then some
one called. | tried to answer, but the hoarse
noise ! made died in the cavern. | then
pulled the line to show was not dead
IAN grew still again, and knew the man
had gone for assistance Then came the
sound of voices | pulled in the line aud it
brought me food It took all the men who
could work in the shaft nine hours to
reach me.
" a very large pine tree that stood near
the shaft had been the cause Of my msfor-
tune. 1t had been dead number of years
and the storm had blown it over. The ter
rible blow it struck the ground had caused
the cave.
"Jack had wound the line around bush
and tied himself so short that he was i'm
prisoned outside as securely as | had been
inside. lie was taken to town, put in a
large cage, and supplied with all the rabbit
delicaoies the market afforded. lIe how
ever, did not thrive, and the boys believing
that he 'pined in thought voted to set him
free. lie was taken back to his old girdling
grounds and liberated.
"lle not only saved my life, but became
the benefactor of all the rabbits in the
neighborhood- miners refraining from
shooting any, fearing it might be him. ."-.San
Francisco Golden Erie,