The daily gazette., 1878-06-03

face seemed to rise up out of the dark
ness, and quietly he took his stand in
front of the PROSTATE form.
"We will kill him" shouted the men
"Perhaps then we can appease the wrath
of the spirits of the mine, and they will
show us some way out, or keep life in our
bodies till they dig for us. All, here he
is," starting forward as one stumbled
over him for whom they sought.
"Back, men Would you do murder 2"
shouted voice. "Has not the old wall
threatened danger for many a day, that
you should suppose mans whistle
could cause it to come tumbling about
our ears.
"He put the spirits to work" said one.
them as one of them!'
Not unless you give me, toe" said
Jack, his face growing very white, and
| the words rushing from his lips AZ though
he could not repress them. "He can't
| defend himself. It's only coward who
| would strike a helpless man!''
The men paused, with flush of shame,
while their hands sank quietly 10 their
sides, and Jack Howard knew his defense
had proved good. So the long, weary
| hours dragged themselves along, each
man busy with his own Thoughts; some
thinking of the wife and BARNS who
waited their return, some the mother
and sweetheart. Occasionally would
sound dull, rumbling noise, drawing
nearer and nearer, and unless rescue soon
| reached them, all knew the wall sur
rounding them would soon give away
They knew not whether it were day or
night,or save by the pangs of hunger and
thirst already assailing them, how long
| they had been entombed, when hope
rose once more in their breasts, as, fain,
and distant, came human voice. With
one accord they answered it, and grasp
ing their tools with new earnestness, fei
to work to meet those digging their slow
way toward them. All. the ecstasy OF
the moment when the first ray of light
penetrated their darkness!
"We dare dig no morep shouted 6
voice. "One by enc you must enter
crawling through this hole. There i
room for but five on the shaft. How
many of you are thereY"
Silently they counted; they were SIX.
"No need for lots, asserted one. w,
will leave the whistler. He has almos
, gone, ANY way. They can come back TO
him If there's time"
So they decided, and one bv one craw
ed Through the narrow space. JAG
Howard came last. He cast one loo
: upon the silent, death-like form. Will
t Bay Bernard's words stood written i
. letters of fire in the blackness:
w hd1c ci YOU w W ulIu yOu uO
Q me-"
Then he turned back, and raising tt
t the PROSTATE form, and whispering
n his ear: "Tell her 1 kept sacred tn
S shrine which held her heart, and did
b for her sake" he dragged him as be
r he could to the aperture.
vi "Lend a hand, boysW he shoute
Is "Well send Tom up first. He has
y sweetheart waiting. IL have no one
e There was no time to parley, aad answe
k ing, "Courage, Jack, we'll soon be baC
1t for you p they obeyed him. So Jat
n went back to his doom.
s 1t was glimpse of Eden to the men
1t who thought themselves shat out frol
it forever-as once more they saw &
green fields and the sunlight, whi
weeping women and children clung, SC
st bing, to their knees. But they sudden
grew weak and tender as they, as q gre
v, crash smote on their ears, and they knt
re Jack Howard had expiated his sacrifi
with life!
s. Like faint dream the words whisp,
IS. ed in his ear came to Tom Wolcox
of Ray nursed him back to health a
as strength, and wonderingly he repeat
to them to her. Then, as though unveili
lg some sacred thing, with sobbing brea
she told him why Jack Howard had do
?" this thing. How great, how true an |
N Of heroism was his,e'en though no mari
shaft nor sculptured urn record it.