The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-08-01

tions. No, was in the right place,
but where was the ravine
a tap on the shoulder aroused
me from my meditation, and on
looking up I saw my two partners
who loudly abused me for having
neglected the preparations for their
supper. AS an excuse | showed
them the letter, and detailed the
manner of finding it. To my sur
prise, they were as much excited by
its perusal MS l had been, and look
ed around perseveringly for the IA
vine, but without effect for some
time. At last Jack Nesbill, who
had been a miner since AS, said:
81 think there has been a ravine
here, but it has been filled up by
the rains"
On close examination we decided
that his suspicion was correct, and
after some consultation we deter
mined that the next morning we
would commence digging.
Morning came, and we repaired
to the spot with pick and shovel.
Jack proposed that we should fol,
low the course of the ravine, which
appeared to run into the body Of
the hill, than dig down in any one
place. The result was that in a
few days we had formed quite a
cave in the side of the hill.
We worked at this tunnel fol
four days without finding the bag
On the fourth day Jack promised
that he and my other partner, Bill
Jennings, should carry the dirt
down to the river, and wash it
leaving me to dig in the tunnel. In
that way, they thought, we might
at least "make grub" while search
ing for the hidden money.
thought the idea foolish but as they
had entered so eagerly into my
views regarding the buried bag oil
dust, | made no objection to the
plan, and dug away with redoubled
energy. In fact, ] had thought SC
much about the object Of our search
that | had become utterly regard.
less of anything else. l had dreamt
of it when sleeping, mused on il
when waking, and it had obtained
complete control of my mind. Day
after day we worked-I digging
and my companions washing yot
strange to say, I did not become dis
couraged. They said nothing about
the bag of gold dust, and l asked
them nothing about the result o
their washing the cxcavated soil.
We had worked about three
weeks, and had formed Il tunnel eX
tending about fifteen feet into tho
hill, when, on one afternoon, com
pletely tired out, | sat down to res
in the cave. | had only intended tc
sit little while, but five minute!
had not elapsed before | was fas
asleep. l was awakened by Il crash
and found my feet and legs com
pletely covered by n mass of dir
and stones. The front part of til,
tunnel had fallen in, and | was in {
manner buried alive. About tel
feet Of the tunnel remained firm
and from my observation of it
structure prior TO the accident,
was convinced that | had no reason
to apprehend any danger in tina
quarter. My partners had carrieC
dirt enough to the river to keel
them busy for the rest of the day
so had nothing to hope from thei
assistance. The question that frs
presented itself to my mind was
how long can life be sustained il
this confined state? | had read
dozen times statistics in relation t,
the amonnt Of air consumed hourl,
by II human beings lungs, but, lill
almost everybody els, had mcrel,
wondered at the time and then for
got the figures.
How much would | have givel
then to have been able to rccal
them! The next thought was, no,
| can l proceed to oXtrioate myself
This question was difficult of solu
ton. If I went to work with
I shovel and pick to clear away tn
dirt that had fallen, 1t was extreme
: ly likely that all which l could b
, able to remove would ho immcd
: ately replaced by that which woul
: fall from above, This was ploasan
3 | racked by brains to devise som
y means of liberating myself, br
! without effect.
: Leaning against the wall in uttt
n despondency, l was about to thro
: myself on the ground and await m
: fate, when I observed quito GU
@ rent Of water. on y small scale, WI
: making its way down the side
| Al ! E,,,I I ,,.,y, Il I