The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-09

1t was almost dark, deep in the earth
where we stood, but the circle of blue
sky lit by the rising moon shone pure as
an emerald far above, and clearly de-
fined against this heavenly background
the great chain hung like a gigantic
spiders thread, while upon it, and
slowly working their way downward,
discovered four dark fgnres. Already
our enemies were coming.
Itouched my companions, and pointed
upward. Even in the cleaning, could
see the savage Joy that lit their fea-
lures; and Charles rifle sprang to bis
shoulder as mine had done, but old Jack
dragged il down, and, as the sliding
figures drew nearer and nearer, he
leaned toward us, and hisssd in our
ears.
"Save yer balls-ye'll need 'em. This
is best"
And with his long hunting-knife he
made Il sudden heavy lunge forward,
then pressed backward against the wall
There came sobbing groan, a hide
Gus writhing of the lowest head upon
the pendant chain, gush of something
warm upon my hands; then a dull thud
the gurgle of running liquid, and 81
| lencc.
"Onew said old Jack, and lunged
again.
Again The gasping writings, the guslI
of blood, and the dull, sickening thud
ut our feet.
"Twow whispered the old man.
NV heart grew faint-this was MUIR
For Gods sake" l muttered, my
hand upon my companions arm, stop
This is horrible!" =,
Jack glanced at the figure above, as il
TO measure his distance. shook his arm
free, and answered me in whisper:
eve must kill or be killed. Three!
Another lunge, silent and deadly as
those before it-another leaden plunge
of the black and quivering mass to the
earth another gurgling sound:
Charlie stepped to my side, his own
blade glimmering cold in the starlight.
"It is better than our rifles" he NUT.
tered; land they must die! 1t is our
only hope"
And he crouched at the side OF old
Jack, awaiting the coming OF the fourth
and last Indian.
Nv humanity shuddered, but I knew
that they were right.
Nearer and nearer the last victi m
drew. Link by link he dropped into
the silent grave that yawned to receive
him-link by link until his feet were
level with our faces-when, for an IN
slant, he paused, and bent to peer into
the blackness beneath him, with 8
grunt Of curiosity.
AS he did so q sudden gleam lit tie
nightsky above-a lurid glare; wild,
hoarse shouts were waited to our ears,
and the cracking of hungry flames told
that our camp had been fired by the
wretches.
The same red light fell, too, into the
silent shaft as the night breeze swept
the flames across its mouth, disclosing
to the motionless Ute hanging upon the
chain in a single glance the horrible
pit into which he had fallen!
At the sight there rang one terror
stricken whoop-one only-then three
pairs of iron hands dragged the wretch
down, three knives cleaned as they
Glove the air. and darkness and death
returned together!
For the moment we were safe; but
not for long, Even as we dragged the
bodies of our slain enemies aside the
great chain overhead was frightened,
the bucket was shaken free from the
bloody floor upon which it rested, and,
q moment later, began slowly to ascend
the sEaft.
The Indians above had heard the cry
of their comrade, and were alarmed.
To raise the bucket would occupy
nearly fifteen minutes. From the in
slant that the great iron cylinder,
empty, but dripping with the warm
life blood of their brothers, should
meet the gaze of the Utes above, we
should be hunted with a vengeance and
a ferocity only to be quelled by exter'
mination.
We could not hide now. The storm
would not pass. We must defend our
selves against the entire horde, or die
| like rats in hole.
These thoughts needed no words.
Each mans heart he'd them; and as
the bucket rose higher and higher above
US, we paused no longer, but turne
quickly down the narrow drift and dis
appeared. The earth swallowed US.
The drift we had entered the upper
one-ran some thirty yards to large
chamber, then turned abruptly down
ward for fifty yards more. From this
point a short shaft led to the second
level, which retraced the course of the
one above, continuing for nearly loo
yards further, in crooked line, to the
point where we had been working dur
ing the day.
This drift was eventually to open upon
the hillside, far below the main shaft,
but some fifty feet Of earth yet re-
mained. The only exit from the mine
was by the main Shaft.
We reached this chamber, and
paused.
"Now, boys" said Jack, "my plan is
this: That we barricadc the DRIFT right
here, and fight the cusses at this pint.
We kin retreat to the lower level, il
needful: but this air is better than that
below, an ef I've got to pass in my
cheeks, want mouthful O. good air
and not choke-damp to die on. What
dye say?"
We both agreed, and then, with hur-
rying hands, began to throw up such q
barricade as could be made of loose tim
Der, ore and earth; but ere the work
was completed, a distant clangor told
us that the bucket was down and our
enemies approaching. Then we paused,
and each man watching, we waited by
our barrier.
For little time ali was silence, and
even the sharpest ear. trained 10 note
the breathing of the creeping wolf, or
the stir of the hidden snake, could dis
Germ no sound; but at length l became
conscious of q distant noise-a dull rub
bing, as it werc-the dragging of a
heavy body along the floor, which grew
more and more distinct, until at last it
seemed to be just before US. Then I
touched the arms of my companions.
The sound was clear now; it was the
slow shuffling of our moccasined en-
emies approaching.
Our hastily. built wall rose to within
three feet of the roof of the level. At the
touch of my hand we all leveled our
weapons across its top. Then, as though
by a single impulse, three triggers were
pressed, three rifles cracked, their
sharp reyerberations mingling Wi tn
the wild and defiant yell which burs
from our throats. The battle had be-
gum
An instant of livid flame-a glean