Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-11-30

W tuASs duu WuCu IuC WotCi DC6"aA "
trickle through the rock. making 1t nee
essary for me to remove the fire further
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 tor
rent of water pouring about the entrance.
Hank! What is that grating sound? In
stinctively raised my rifle to my should
err and waited. Moment succeeded mo
ment, but still no appearance from the
vague darkness beyond.
Again it sounded, sharper and more
clearly defined than before! What could
it be? A half-fOrmed fear filled me.
Was everything right? In a moment
more the suspense was broken; an enemy
more dangerous than the bear had al
ready faced me. The water had worn
away the sandy soil between the rocks,
to fall, completely choaking up the way.
was prisoner.
A full sense of my position filled me
with the widest alarm. Vainly put
my shoulder to the huge rock and essay
seemed the firmer, and worked the
harder. 81
Turn my thoughts whichever way i
might, the awful, sickening idea of starry
ing slowly continually haunted me. The
fire was blazing brightly, and the dim
shadow danced fantastic figures on the
wall; the rain beat down with undated
fury, and distant flash of lightning re-
Yealed few small crevices about the
entrance; the low growing of the bear
hof A., IL No t..,f, r,afl ov1 h
ing of its sharp claws against the rock
shut in, all combined to make my rever-
les of the most unpleasant nature.
1T will be two days." thought L, when
calmness ruled my mimi. "befOre my
comrades take any steps to look for me.
They will not be alarmed at my being
out Tor one night, and the second nights
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 enc to reach me, If
they take direct route for me, which is
not ut all likely. and the terrible storm
has washed away the faintest trace OF
my trail. Three days of living death at
least-and they may be heightened until
loo late ~
My luncheon had barely satisfied the
hunger caused by the hard days strug-
gle over the mountains; there was an
inexhaustible supply of water within
three feet OF me, but, alas not a drop
that could get.
Casting my eyes upon the floor | re-
solved to gain what refreshinent 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 i'm
store for me. Would that the same OBJ
livion had covered my following expert
enCe.
With the first dim rays of sunlight
family struggling through the narrow
creyices, was astir, With mind and body
refreslened for the labor before me.
had IA keen appetite, but it did not as
sumo alarming proportions. The storm
had passed entirely away, and the sun
rode the heavens majesiically. undimmed
by the slightest cloud. Yet, hotwith-
standing the brilliancy without, the
cavern was only tlimIy lighted. A fresh
ii re dispelled the mornings gloom. How
to get out was the next thing.
The first step took was to estimate
the wei gilt OF the rcck from its dimen-
sions My philosophy, l confess, WIS
rusty from long di>use. but this was the
result: Six feet long, four feet wide,
and three feet thick-seventy-twO cubic
feet of sold rock. Specific gravity OF
water to rock. l 10 2.S3. Multiplying
this result by the weight of one cubic
foot of water gave the weight, 1915
pounds. ! smiled grimly ut my desper-
ale attempt to lift it, and set my teeth to-
gether With the firIniicss of despair.
My next calculation was to get the
weight | might lift by using one of the
poles which had thrown in for wool
lis a lever. | could lit Il little more than
One-tifth! My thoughts flew from one
determination to another. Ore project
was no sooner determined than another
was conceived equally infeasible as its
predecessor. A happy thought flashed
upon me after couple of hours wore
away. If could drill hole in the rock,
might blast it enough 10 get out. 10
think was 10 act. Drawing my knife
from its sheath, began to examine the
stone tor soft spot, 1t was hard as
Hint.
Finding no choice, / began to drill
carefully. Halt an hours labor resulted
in small hole, about an inch in depth.
The knife was Il small one, like poniard
in shape. and was wearing rapidly away.
My hope here was of short duration. All
unlucky turn snapped the slender blade
at its hilt, and it tell, lodging into crew
ice as completely beyond my reach as
was the sweet liberty was struggling
so hard to obtain. The only hope lett
me was that my companions should find
me before the last spark of life was eX-
tinguished. How can they find me when
am eight or ten miles from the track
they would naturally take TO look tor
me?
The first day wore away in vain at
tenpts; the second night passed with but
little distress. The second day brought
me face to face with the grim horrible
pain OF hamilton. Each hour increased
my misery TO 81 eater degree; thirst be-
gan TO add its own horrors to those OF
starvation. That. day and the following
night wore their Slow length away; the
third morning dawned and crept slowly
through its long, slow hours. Seventy
two hours without fool and water. My
stalwart frame was weakening under the
terrible abstinence. Hope was waning
as my body weakened. Great heavens
would they come too late!
1t was horrible for me, in the vigOr of
manhood, to tamely starve there What
more could do? Did Providence will
that should die thus? They must GER
tainly be looking for me- took off my
leather jacket, spread it flat OH the floor,
and poured the contents of my POWDER
flask upon it. Carefully dividing it, |
found that there We're eighty small
charges. These determined to fire at
regular intervals, hoping that l might
attract their attention by the reports. By
shooting every half hour during the day
and once an hour during the niyht. /