The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-03-02

much more comfortable, compared 10
the open air, protected from the storm
which was now beating against the
mountain side with increasing fury.
"Ah!" was my inward ejaculation,
"this storm will certainly drive Bruin
back to his home and precipitate meet
ing with me-"
! felt confident of meeting the brute
with an advantage to myself. With my
rife / was a sure shot; added to this
were two strong shooting navy revolvers
and reliable hunting-knife. There was
no idea of sleep for me while things were
in this condition; so ! made brisk fire
near the entrance, and, with large
rock at my back, j waited patiently, in
sitting posture, with my rifle freshly
primed and cooked for instant use at my
side, for the appearance of my enemy.
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
a fearful rate. My attention was shortly
directed to the top of the entrance,
which / had first noticed with only a
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
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
torrent of water pouring about the en-
trance. Harkl What is that grating
sound? Instinctively l raised my rife
to my shoulder and waited. Moment
succeeded moment, but still no appear
ance 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 every thing right? In mo-
ment 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
bottom to fall, completely choking up
the way. | was prisoner!
A full sense of my position filled me
my shoulder to the huge rock and es-
sayed to push it from its Judgment; but
it only seemed the firmer, and worked
the harder.
Turn my thoughts whichever way l
may, the awful sickening idea of starv-
ing slowly, continually haunted me.
The fire YVES blazing brightly, and the
dim shadows danced in fantastic figures
on the wall; the rain beat down with I'M
abated fury, and distant flash of light
ming revealed few small crevices about
the entrance; the low growing of the
bear, that had now returned, and the
scratching of his 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.
" 1t will 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
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 excite 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-too late p'
My luncheon had barely satisfied the |
hunger caused by the hard days strug-
gle over the mountains; there was an |
supply of water within
three feet of me, but, alas! not drop |
that / could getl
Casting my eyes 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 OBJ
livion had covered my following expert
encel
With the first dim rays Of sunlight,
family struggling through the narrow
crevices, / was astir, with my mind and
body refreshed for the labor before me-
| had keen appetite, but it did not as
sumo alarming proportions. The storm
had passed entirely away, and the sun
rode the heavens majestically, un-
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 was to estimate the
weight of the rock from its dimensions.
My philosophy, I confess, was rusty
from long disuse, but this was the re-
suit: 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, 1872 pounds. I
smiled grimly at my desperate attempt
to lift, and set my teeth together with
the irmness of despair.
My next calculation was to get the
weight | might lift by using one of the
poles which had thrown in for wood.
as lever. l could lift a little more
than one-ffth! My thoughts flew from
one determination to another. One pro-
ject was no sooner determined than
another was conceived equally unfeasi-
BILE as its predecessor. A happy thought
flashed upon me, after couple of hours
wore slowly away. If / could drill
hole in the rock, l might blast it enough
to get out. To think was to act. Draw
ing my knife from it's sheath, 1 began to
examine the stone for a soft spot. 1t
was hard as fintl
Finding no choice, / began to drill
carefully. Half an hours labor resulted
in small hole about an inch in depth.
The knife was q sma II ono lilo q r,nnforJ