The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-04-05

cainHcSS ruled my mind, before my com
rHdrs take any steps TO look for me. They
VIII not be alarmed az my being ont for one
night and the second NIGHTS absence will
only excite their anxiety, not generally in
deed, FOR they trust % my skill and strength
&" carry me through any ordinary conflict
! ~" days 20 eNclje their alarm. and one To
reach me. If they take direct route for
me. which = not at all likely, aud the ter
IIUle storm has washed away the faiuteSt
trace OF my rraiL Three days of living
death at least and thaj may be heightened
uuiil-too late -
My luacheon had hardly satisfied the
hunger caused by the hard days struggle
over the mountains there was aa mex
hauStiHle supply of water within three feet
of me, but alas not drop could | ger
Cas- ing my el es upon the floor resolved
to gain What Tefeshmcut / might in a
sound sleep. There was no fear OF a posi-
ble Intrusion from any source. and thc
sweet Oblivion of sleep soon robbed me oC
ali consciousness Of the horror in store for
me. Nou!d that lhe same Oblivion had
covered my following eNperiencel With
the FIRST dim rays of sunlight, fIintly sfIur-
CLING through the Hdrr0. creviccS 7 was
H>rir. With EN mind and body refreshed for
the Labor before me. | had keen aIppti,e
bat u did not assume alarming prop0ftiuus
The storm had passed entirely away. and
the sun rode the heavens mai->ticaIlv. uu-
dimmrd 10y the sIightes' cloud Yet uut-
wI.hstanding the briIliaucy without. The
cavern was but Ginly lighted 4 flesh
fite dispel!ed the mornings gloom. How
10 get out was the next thing.
The first step was to esiIma g. The weight
Of the rock from lis dimensions NyIIIl-
USUphy, / confess, was rusty fIufn llur diS-
use, but this was tie result. SIX feet
long, four feet wide, and three feet thick
seveniy-tNo cubic fee: Of solid rock. Spe
Ific,Gravily Of water to rock. oue to two and
eighty huudrrdlhs. Multiplying this
result by the weight Of one cubic feet Of
wafer gave the weight, i. IS2 pounds.
smiled grlmly at my desperate attempt 20
lfl. and set my teeth together with tie
frmness Of despair.
My next calcul tion was to cot the
weight | might lift by using one Of the
poles Which had brown ia for wood. as a
lever. | could a little more than one fifth
My thoughts flew from one determination
to another.
One project was no sooner determined
than another was conceive d equally unfeas-
lille as its predecessor. 4 happy thought
flashed upun me, after couple OF hours
wore slowly away. If I could drill hole
IN The rock. ! might blast il enough to Get
II out. To think was 10 act. Drawing my
knife from its shoatb. | began To examine
the stone for sof spot. IL WAS as hard as
flint
Finding no choice began to drill care
fully. Half an hours labor resulted in a
small hole about AZ inch in depth The
kuiie waS small one, like a poniaTd iu
shape, aud was wearing rapidly away. Ny
hope WAS uf shoIt duration. an uulucky
turn snapped the slender blade at ITS hilt,
aud II fell IIugiug into a cfevice a. com
lletely be} and my reach as was The sweet
liberty | WAS struggling So hatd to obtain.
ne only hope lett my companions should
lind me before the last spark of life was
eXtinguished, How can they find me when
l am eight or ten miles from the track
they would naturally take To look for me
he inst day wore away in vain at