The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-10-02

me, on every side. Another moment,
and felt some living thing upon me
another and another.
81 was attacked by rats!
| LUCKILY for me my hands touched a
heavy stick lying near me. Armed
with this, rose again to my feet, and
laid about me with all my force; but
the vermin were fierce and hungry,
and were not to be repulsed. They at
tackled my legs, drawing blood with
their sharp teeth, and it was some time
before could rid myself of them, and
not till had killed many.
again l essayed to rest but now
another terror took possession of me.
Could l escape drowning, suffocation
and the rats? Still, unless l could
reach the exit from the vaults, starva-
ton stared me in the face.
81 fancied myself, weakened by want
of food and unable to defend myself,
again attacked by the nOxious rats, and
gnawed until 1 bled to death. Fancy
ing the strangest horrors, incredible as
you may think it, worn out and wearied
as was, l fell asleep.
"When l woke, it was to feel the
most dreadful pangs of hunger, so Sc
we're as to make me wish that that sleep
had been my last.
my hand, lying in the water, came
in contact with the body of one of the
rats l had slain. Eagerly, without re-
fleeing for moment, l carried it to
my mouth, and ravenously tore the raw
flesh from its bones with my teeth.
"Phew! Now, when think of what
that creature fattened on, it makes me
ill: but then no such thought crossed
my mind, for was starving.
Refreshed by my repast-yes, you
may well doubt it, for you have prob
ably never been so near starvation as
was then-refreshed by my repast,
again stumbled on in the direction
concluded must lead to the river.
Suddenly received a violent blow
upon the head, which stunned me for
4 moment.
Il set myself to work to find out the
cause, and was not long in doing SO.
Il had come to the end of the vault
Either it was the spot where the
sewer commenced, or more probably l
had, without knowing it, turned off
into one of the numerous branches
which intersect the main sewer.
"You cannot imagine the despair
which took possession of me when l
made this discovery. l felt the wall
carefully, in the hope that there might
be some small outlet; but there was
none. Nothing but the cold, Shiny
bricks met my touch; and, childish as
you may think it, sat down and burst
into a flood of tears.
mo one who has not struggled
against death knows how hard man
will fight for his life.
Exhausted rs l was, thought it
would be impossible for me to retrace
my steps, but unless did so knew
was walking in my grave. The gnaw-
ing pangs Of hunger had again taken
hold of me, and fastened back as fast
rs l could to the spot where l had
killed the rats. / searched carefully,
and found several of their bodies still
floating about in the water, and on
them made another meal, and putting
as many more as could find into my
pockets for future repast, proceed
ed on my way.
Presently I found myself walking
down steep incline. l was at length
in the right way to the river. A few
steps further saw light--a faint glim-
mering, it il. true, but still light. Oh,
how my heart throbbed! l cried out
with Joy. l was saved, 1 thought, and
l pushed forward with renewed
energy.
..SOon came to what was evidently
the main sewer, branching right and
left. OF course, the way for me to
take was that which led downward;
but here a fresh difficulty presented
itself
lin the passages along which l had
hitherto been walking. the water had
never been above my knees, but now
it reached my thighs; fortunately, how
ever, had retained the stick which
did me such good service with the rats,
and by the aid of that, and proceeding
slowly and cautiously, was able to get
along.
1.-THE light grew brighter and
brighter, and every moment 1 APP
preached nearer to it.
AT length l reached it, and looking
up through an iron grating, 1 once
more saw the brilliant sunlight. NV
heart sank when l saw how high the
grating was above me, but l did not
despair of making my cries heard.
II called as loudly as could, but 1
heard no response. Then listened. 1t
was evidently quiet street, for l
heard no noise of passing vehicles. 1
shouted again and again, but without
attracting the attention of any one. l
heard boy in the streets whistling
merrily, but he heard not my cries for
help.
s'Oh,' I thought, that one should
be so near life, and yet in tomb!'
81 waited with sickening feeling at
my heart, shouting at intervals. The
light became less and less bright as the
evening drew on, and l was still as far
from the busy world as ever.
"There was nothing for it but to push
on for the river, and again l started on
my weary way. The water became
deeper and deeper; but this hailed as
a good sign, showing the river was not
far distant.
"Some heavy body was borne heavi-
ly against me, and l almost lost my
balance. Instinctively l put out my
hand, and it touched the cold, clammy
face of corpse, 1 shuddered, and
drew back, and the body went slowly
swinging past me!
".Why should it do so? I asked
myself, and the answer flashed through
my brain in a moment.
"sBecause the tide was rising!'
"'Yes, it was too true. Every step
I took convinced me that this was the
case.
"Light again! In the distance 1 saw
the wide river, with the lights glimmer-
ing on the opposite shore; but how was
/ to reach them? Never did more re-
greet my inability to swim. Every step
l took plunged me deeper into the wa
ter, and it was with extreme difficulty
l could retain my footing. 1 stood
still, and ere many minutes had passed
the water had risen to my chest.