The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-11-22

side of the mountain, ard widening from
the entrance to the back wall. 1t was a
comparatively dry and very desirable shell
ter from the approaching storm. A large
pile of brush was easily passed into the
cavity, where / speedily removed my sup
per,
When the feeble light of the fire ilumi-
mated the dingy place, was not so partic-
ularly at my ease as my first impression led
me to hope | would be. The indications
were quite too evident for me to be mista-
ken had usurped the abode of a grizzly
bear. l was not then so fearful of meeting
! this terrible monster as | am now, and |
was not at all Inclined to give it up to bru.
! in; it was so much more comfortable,
compared to the open air, protected from
| the storm which was now beating against
the mountain side with increasing fury.
| "Ah," was my inwa I'D ejaculation, ''this
| storm will certainly drive bruin back to his
| home and precipitate meeting with me-"
| l felt confident at meeting the brute with
an advantage to myself. With my rifle
was a sure shot added to this were two
strong shooting navy revolveTs and relia-
| BILE bunting knife. There was no idea of
sleep for we while things were in this cons
! dCion for | made brisk fire near the
| entrance and with large rock at my back
l awaited patiently, in a sitting posture,
with my rifle freshly primed and cooked
auce of my enemy.
| The rain was now pour ing in torrents
upon the snow, already softened by the
approaching spring, and, with the melting
/ snow poured down the mountain at fear
| full rate. My attention was shortly diIect-
| ed TO the top of the entrance, which | had
first noticed with only casual glance, but
upon examining it closer found it to be a
| large fat stone.
OF course there was nothing alarming in
| this, and when the water began TO trickle
4 through the rocks, making it necessary for
me to remove the fire further wi hin the
shelter of the cavern, my alarm was no: ex-
cited 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 waite: pouring about the entrance. -
Hark what is that grating sound In
! stinctively | raised my rifle 20 my shoulder
and waited. Moment succeeded moment,
but still no appearance from the vague
darkness beyond.
Again it sounded, sharper and more
clearly defined than before What could
it be? 4 half formed fear flied me. Was
everyth hing right? In a moment more the
suspense was broken an enemy more
deadly than the bear had already faced me.
The water had worn away the sandy sol
between the rocks, causing the large stone
at the entrance to fall, completely choking
up the way. l was prisoner
A full sense of my position filled me
with the widest alarm. Nainly put my
shoulder to the huge rock and essayed tC
, push it from its lodgment; for it ouly
seemed the firmer, aud worked the harder.
Turn my thoughts whichever way |
might, the awful, sickening idea of starv-
ing slowly continually haunted me. The
, fire was blazing brightly, and the diu
shadows danced fantastic figures on the
wall the rain beat down with unabateC
fury, and the distant flashes of lightning
revealed few small crevices about the
, entrance the low growing Of the bear
Q that had now returned, and the scratching
of its sharp claws against the rock that
= shut him out as completely as | was shu
in, all combined to make my reveries o
D the most unpleasant nature.
} ''It will be two days" thought /, ~heI
| calmness ruled my mind, ''before my com
y rades take any steps to look for me. The,
= will not be alarmed at my being out TO
one night, and the second nights absence
D will ouly excite their anx ETY., not greatly
D indeed, for they trust to my skill anC
e strength to carry me through an Ordinar.
j | conflict. Two days to excite their alarm
S and one TO reach me, if they take direc
a route for me, which is not at all likely, ant
b ;be terrible storm had washed away th
s faiutest trace of my trail. Three days o
y living death at least--and they may b
n heightened until-tOo late u
}, My luncheon had barely satisfied til
hunger caused by the hard days struggl
a over the mountains there was an mex
| haustable supply of water within thre
d feet of me, but alas not drop that
II could get.
& Casting my eye upon the floor, l resoly
\ ed to gain what Tefresnment | might in
Il Co..
sible intrusion from any source, aud tb
d sweet oblivion of sleep soon robbed me G
IS all consciousness of the horror in store fo
IT me. Would that the same oblivion ha
): covered my former experience
IS With the same dim rays of sunligh
d family struggling through the narro'
a crevces, | was astir, with mind and bo d
% refreshed for the labor before me. ha
X a keen appetite, but it did not assum
e alarming proportions. The storm ba
n passed entirely a way and the sun rode th
] heavens majestically, undimmed by th
y slightest cloud. Yet, Notwithstanding TN
IS br:lliancy without, the cavern was oui
T. dimly lighted. fresh fire dispelled til
p mornings gloon. How oget out was til
y next thing.
The first step | took was to estimai
le the weight of the rock from its dimension
al My philosophy, / confess, was rusty frol
IN loI.g disuse, but this was the result ii
n feet long, four feet wide and three fet
n thick-seventy-t two cubic feet of solid rucl
g. Specific gravity Of water to rock, one
es two an6 eighty -three buudredths. Multi
Ds plying this result by the weight of one Ct
of bic foo. of water gave the weight, II, Z;
ne pounds | smiled grimly al my despera
ep attempt TO lift it aud set my teeth togeth
es with the frmDess of despair.
a My next calculation was to get Il
w weight might lift by using one of I'll
he poles which had thrown in for wood,
no a lever. / could lift little more thi
of one-fifth. My thoughts flew from one d
ly termination 70 another. One project W
or no sooner determined than another WI
ar conceived equally as infoasible as its pr
!. decessor. A happy tbonght flashed up'
d. me after a couple of hours wore slow
rst away. If oould drill a hole in The rock
of might blast it enough to get out.
he think was to act. Drawing my knife fro
ug its sheath, began To examine the stone
dis a soft spot. 1t was as hard as flint.
,sh Finding no choice, began TO drill cal
Joy fully. Half an hours labor resulted III
I small hole, about an inch in depth. I
.he knife was q small one, like poinard