The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-06-08


snow get over my eyes, | could not see the
light in the cabin, and could only call out
by guess. As SO slight an eXertiOn as call
lug out in loud tone set my rotten plat
form to cracking did not wish TO call for
aid till | was certain il was near.
As the snow began rising about my
mouth, | discovered that / could keep it
away with my breath. | saw that | still
had a chance Of keeping my eyes free, and
kept constantly at work blowing away the
accommodating flakes. This gave me sume-
thing TO do, and was relief to my mind,
and so jealousy did | keep guard that L
would hardly allow two flakes to lie before
my lips.
Thoughts of home, my friends, of the lit
tie good had ever done in She world, ana of
the Jagged rocks lining the sides Of the shaft,
with the great pool in its bottom, passed
and repassed IN my mind. In This circle
my mind seemed swiftly revolving, dwell
ing but for a moment upon one thing. L
would strain my eyes TO see the light in the
window till they were ready to start from
their sockets. Sometimes | would see a
sudden red flash, and with a joyous thro5
of my heart | would say, 1T : there - but,
in moment after | would groan in spirit
at discovering the fash was only within my
strained aud weary eyeballs.
From suainiEg my eyes and ears for
some sign of the arrival of my partners, |
would fall into MY old circle of thought :;
and round and round in it, as i'll wEiri-
pool, my brain would whml till some moan
Of the winds or cIeakiug of the trees would
arouse me to thoughts of escape from my
fearful position.
After the first few efforts | made toward
eXtricating myself, my whole care was to
remain as motIonless as possible. and keep
my arms stretched out to their fullest ex-
tent. in order to grasp for my support every
twig within my reach, were 1t no larger or
stronger than rye stalk. Time seemed
to move on lcaden wings, aud it appeared
to me that | must have been suspended
over the shaft for many hours. | began 10
fear that, on account of the storm, my part
ncIS had concluded TO ''tuin in" at The ca Din
of our ueighbor. The moment | thought
of this. il seemed to me almost certain that
such was the case. My escape, | now be-
gan 10 think, rested on myself | thought
there might be before me a pole strong
enough to bear my weight. Slowly began
raising my right arm, i'll order 10 feel fol
support but a startling swapping of tw Igs,
when this extra weight was thrown upon
u.y left arm. caused me quickly to desist.
"Great Heavens - grOaned, as settled
back into my former position, how long IL
this to last ?'
just at this moment | heard the sound of
voices. This time there was no mistake
of my jovial partner Tom, and Leard card
loving Bob say something about game
they bad been playing at the 'Other cabin.
As they came nearer ! heard him say
Il wonder whether Dan has got back
from toWu?''
They spoke in their ordinary tone of
voice, and this gave me great joy, as i
knew | could make them heaI without
shouting too loudly. | heard them at The
Ia fhnii
feet and knew that now Has fhe time TO
call, for once bad they enteIed, they might
not hear me.
"Tom - | cried, s'Tom -
There was 30 answer and my heart felt
cold within me.
''ToIn - | again cried.
This time, to my great joy, both of the
boys in breath sang out, Hello -
Tom y | cried again, in as loud a tone
of voice as dare use ''Tum, come here"
''Why, that's Dan! What can be the
matter?"
And both came as fast as :heir legs
would carry them down to near where
was banging.
Done come too nearr' | cried. ''For
heaven 5 sake don't come too near! have
fallen through the brush over this shaft !;
and it's Just reaoy TO break and let me
down. Get a rope, quick-the windlass
rope, you know"
Tom ran to the cabin, and in less than a
miuUte-thOugh it seemed an hour to me
was back with the rope. Both were rush.
ing to the shaft with the rope, when | stop
ped them.
stop right where yOu are, boys ! Now
listen OF you will kill me, Don't come near
the brush about the shaft or you " Ill break k
it and let ne down. Take hold of the
rope about twenty feet apart and walk SO
as to bring it across the shaft, 50 that can
rcacI, it. -
They did as I directed. and the rope was
soon against my face. ] began slowly to
lit my right hand to clutch, but a crack
ing of the brush on which hung suspend
ed startled me so much that | bad not the
courage to tIy and grasp the rope. l
thought of making sudden plunge for it,
but feared | might fail to catch it. when
would most certainly break through, and
fall 20 the bottom of the shaft.
"What is the matter?' asked Bob.
Cant you get hold of the rope ?''
mo" replied. Il shall break through
if | even lift one finger"
Take hole of the rope with your teeth -
cried Tom.
This was the very idea.
Hold the rope little lower said !,
land | win try. Lower yet. There-hold
on
"Have you got it ?' asked Tom.
YES | answered, as well as | could.
'Now try it with your hanGs, cried Bob.
As quickly as | could use my stiffened
right arm, made clutch at the ope and
most luckily tor myself got hold of it.
Had | missed il, | should have been PIE
cipIiated to he bottom of the shaft or az
clutched the rope. the whole rotten pile of
bougns broke loose, aud dropped into the
dark pit below.
After being dragged some distance from
the black and yawning month of the shaft,
| still held the Iope with both teeth and
hands, and could hardly be persuaded that
] was out of danger. | was So completely
exhausted that | was unahle To walk to
the cabin without the assistance of both Of
nay partners and it was some weeks before
my strained shoulders were free from pain.
There may be more trying aud perilous
posit ions than that above described but If
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