The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-11-24

rlIlc, L was a sure shot, added to this
were two strengthening navy revolvers
and reliable hunting knife. There wa.
no idea Of sleep for me while things were
in this condition.; so | made brisk fire
near the entrance, and with a large rock
at my back, | awaited patiently, in a sit.
ting posture, with my rifle freshly
primed and cooked for instant use al
my side, for the appearance of my en-.
envy.
The rain was now pouring in torrents
upon the snow, already softened by the
approaching spring, and, with the melt
ing snow, poured down the mountain at
fearful rate. My attention was shortly
directed to the top of the entrance, which
had first noticed with only casual
glance, but, on examining it more closely,
found it to be large, fiat stone. Of
course there was nothing alarming in
this, and when the water began to trickle
through the rocks, making it necessary
for me to remove the fire farther within
the shelter of the cavern, my alarm was
not excited in the least.
One-two long, long hours passed by.
still remained watching for the coming
of the dreadful creature-still was the
torrent of water pouring about the en-
trance. Harkl What is that grating
sound? Instinctively | raised the rife
to my shoulder and waited. Moment
succeeded moment, but still no appear
ance from the vague darkness beyond.
Againit sounded, sharper and more clear
ly defined than before! What could it be ?
A half-formed fear filled me- Was
everything right? In moment more
the suspense was broken; an enemy
more dangerous than the bear had
already faced me. The water had worn
away the sandy soil between the rocks,
causing the large stone at the entrance to
tall, completely choking up the way. j
lCas q pr5sOaert
A tull sense of my condition filled me
with widest alarm. Vainly | put my
shoulder to the huge rock and essayed tc
push 1T from its Judgement; for it only
seemed the firmer as worked the harder.
Turn my thoughts whichever way |
might the awful, sickening idea OF
starving slowly continually haunted me.
The fire was blazing brightly, and the
DIM shadows danced fantastic figures on
the walls; the rain beat down with una
bated fury, and distant flash of light
nlng revealed few small crevices about
the entrance; the low growing of the
bear, that had now returned, and the
scratching of its sharp claws against the
rock, that shut him out as completely as
| was shut in, all combined to make my
reveries of the most unpleasant nature.
" twill be two days" thought I, when
calmness ruled my mind, before my
comrades take any steps to look for me.
They will not be alarmed at my being
out for one night, and the second night 5
absence Will only excite their anxiety,
not greatly, indeed, for they trust to my
skill and strength to carry me through
any ordinary conflict. Two days to ex-
cite their alarm, and one to reach me, if
they take direct route for me, which is
not at all likely, and the terrible storm
has washed away the faintest trace OF
my trail. Three days of living death at
least; and that may be heightened until
foo tate
My luncheon had barely satisfied the
hunger caused by the hard days's strug-
gle over the mountains, there was an III
exhaustible supply of water within three
feet OF me, but, alasi not a drop that
could get
Casting myself upon the floor, | re
solved to gain what refreshment | might
in sound sleep. There was no fear of
a possible intrusion from any source, and
the sweet oblivion Of sleep soon robbed
me of all consciousness Of the horror in
store for me. Would that the same
oblivion had covered my following ex-
periencei
With the first dim rays of sunlight,
family struggling through the narrow
crevices, | was astir, with mind and
body refreshed for the labor before me.
l had keen Appetite, but it did not
assume any painful proportions. The
storm had passed entirely away, and the
sun rode the heavens maiestically, I'M
dimmed by the slightest cloud. Yet.
Notwithstanding the brilliancy without,
the cavern was only dimly lighted. A
fresh fire dispelled the mornings gloom.
How to get out was the next thing.
The first step | tooS was to estimate
the weight of the rock from its dimen-
sions. My philosophy, confess, was
rusty from long disuse; but this was the
result: Six feet long, four feet wide,
and three feet thick seventy-two cubic
feet of solid rock Specific gravity of
water to rock one to two and eighty-three
hundredths. Multiplying this result by
the weight of one cubic foot of water
gave the weight, twelve thousand seven
hundred and thirty-fve pounds. /
smiled grimly at my desperate attempt
to liftit, and set my teeth together with
the firmness of despair My next calcu-
lation was to get the weight / might lift
by using one of the poles when ] had
thrown III for wood, as lever. |
could move little more than one-fifthl !
My thoughts flew from one determine
ton to another. One project was no
sooner determined than another was con-
celved, equally infeasible as its prede-
cessor: a happy thought flashed upon
me, after couple of hours wore slowly
away. If | could drill a hole in the
rock, | might blast it enough to get out
To think was to execute. Drawing my
knife from its sheath, ! began to examine
the stone for soft spot 1t was as hard
as flint. Finding no choice / began to
drill carefully. Half an hours labor re-
suited in small hole about an inch in
depth. The knife was a small one, like
a poinard in shape, and was wearing
rapidly away. Ny hope here was of
short duration. An unlucky turn snap
ped the slender blade at its hilt, and it
fell ringing into a crevice as completely
beyond my reach as was the sweet lib
erty | was struggling so hard to obtain.
The only hope left me was that my COM
panions should find me before the last
spark of life was eXtinguished. How
can they findm when | am eight or ten
miles from the track they would nat
uraliv axe 10 look for me-