The Portland daily press., 1883-12-25

think, though at times would have given
worlds to have run away from my thoughts
How time went l could not tell but it seemed
after while that [ must have slept for L
leapG up all at once with the fancy strong upon
me that l heard Polly calling; but though I
strained my ears to listen, there was nothing
but thu drip, drip of the water; while [
feared to call out. for the sound went echoing
along, so that it seemed to be- repeated again
again, till felt to creep with dread.
Many hours must have passed, for a heavy,
dull, sleep feeling oppressed me as L lay there,
numbed bodily and in mind; but at length /
started up thoroughly awake, feeling certain
mat had heard cry which seemed to have
whispered like in my ear. / sat up trembling,
when again there came the shout family heard
as It came along the top of the water, and then
L gave a loud despairing shrek for help three
times, and then tainted.
When / came to again it seemed like waking
from dream; and / felt that confused that /
could hardly believe that l was not in my own
room at home; bat as L sat up, the thought of
where was came upon me again, while like q
faint, buzzing, whispering noise, [ could hear
voices. To rouse up and give tremendous
shout was but the work of a moment, when
my heart rose, for it was answered, though but
family, and | knew that / was being sought
for. and sat listening.
But soon grew impatient and began wad-
ing into the water, so as to be once more near
er to living creatures; and waded on and on
hardly stand, when l shouted again, and now
could hear the reply quite plainly.
After while | saw faint light fash along
the wall, and knew that piece of something
burning had bsen cast down the pit; and then
again and again saw similar flashes, while /
stood there trembling lest 1 should sink from
exhaustion and be drowned. But now some
thing far more reviving came, for, like q star
shining along the water, / could see lhe light
OF lantern that had been lowered down, as it
cUr1 n q nvulu OH of 80
sage; while at length close by il I saw some
thing move, when l felt choking as knew
that man had been lowered down, and was
swinging beside the lantern; while, when his
voice came ringing along the passage with a
CHEEKY where are you, mate?" for few mo-
meDts my head swan, and / couldn't answer
Cant you get to me?" he says, after had
answered.
MOI | says, 81 dare MT try to swim it,"
Then / must, he says; and then he shout
came along to my ears. "How far is it?' he
SAYS.
"About SIXTY yards" 1 gasped; and then he
stopped and called out to me to keep up my
heart, and he would soon be back; when,
shouting to those above, he was drawn up once
more, and it seemed hours before heard the
sound OF his voice again; and directly after,
conld see the lantern coming to ards me, and
then I've a recollection of seeing some one
with light splashing about in the water, and
of having something tied under my arms
which floated me up till was pushed along to
the mouth of the passage, where / can recol-
lect cliDging to the rope made fast around me;
and then was swinging about and knocking
against the rough sides of the shaft, while
voice at my ear kept saying, ''Cheer up mat
ey!' Then, in sort of sleep, heard people
talking, and some one said, "Here, catch hold
of these life-beits!" and it seemed like the
voice of the man who came down to me. But
the next thing l recollect is lying in nv own
bed, with some one sitting at the side, as she
used to all she could for the next three days;
and told me, she did at last, of her horror
when did not come home, and of the search
next day; but there were no footsteps on the
waste on account Of the snow, so that no one
would have searched there, had not boy been
seen with my walking-stick, which he had
found sticking up in the snow by the old pits
mouth. just as 1 must have left it when fell
into the fearful gulf which held me for two
long daysl