The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-05-10

should lose my way! But such thoughts
were idle. How could / lose nv way?
l would go but a short distance and
then retrace my steps and seek the
bright sunshine again. l started once
more, my route leading deeper into the
bowels OF the earth. glanced around
me, now at the glistening walls that
seemed to dance and sparkle like
precious gems, now overhead at twink
ling CLEANS of blue and gold. Over
my head was mass of stalactites in
in which was embedded an almost hu-
man hand of exquisite symmetrical
beauty. Preached for stone that l
might sever it from its rocky mass, but
could find none large enough for my
purpose. | started in quest of one. and
in my precipitous flight lost my footing
and was hurled into yawning pit some
twenty feet deep. The fall shattered
the glass in my lantern and extinguished
the blaze. Temporarily stunned by the
fall. my clothes rent, and my limbs
bleeding. l reached for my lantern, and
in doing so cut my hands on the shat
tered glass.
The terrible reality broke upon my
mind. was alone in Plutonian dark
ness, the victim of silly infatuation.
l ran my hands hurriedly through my
pockets in search of my match-case.
but to my horror I had left it in my
vest, which had taken off and placed
with my camp equipment. What
fatal mistake! Once more hurredly
searched my pockets, and this time was
rewarded by finding the stump of
match. Igloated over it as miser
does his treasure. 1t was gold to me;
ah, it was even more, it was life! l felt
for the oil-can of my lantern. and was
gratified to find it within easy reach of
me. placed my finger over the smooty
wick and shook well the can. l was
heartily pleased to find it full of oil.
cautiously ignited my match and the
| sulphurous flame threw out blue. un-
steady light. By its faint CLEAN l saw
the three passages. and one that would
lead me to daylight and freedom. With
great precaution l touched the wick of
my oil-can. 1t famed up. sputtered.
and jumping from the wick seemed to
slowly fade away into eternal dark
ness. There was no time for idle re-
pinings. must grope my way to the
passage and hurry from the dismal
place.
Preached the passage and scrambled
over the very bowlder had passed be-
fore entering my unlucky chamber.
On, on sped as fast as the nature Of
the passage would permit. sometimes
over soft sandstone and again over
flinty rocks that rolled and rustled be-
meath my impatient tread. Sometimes
my passage would widen SO that could
walk with ease, and at others was
forced to partially crawl. At last my
way was completely blockaded. I'M
agine the terrible suspense that
overwhelmed me. l had taken the
wrong course. Great beads of per-
spiration stood upon my brow,
and my breath came spasmodic-
allys / could hear the palpitation OF
my heart, and my throat seemed to be
devonred with a consuming thirst.
retraced my steps and in counterfeited
glee tried to shake off the awful gloom
that surrounded me. l laughed aloud
and was answered by hollow mockery.
For hours and hours vainly sought tc
find an exit. but my efforts proved o.
no avail. In hoarse, changed voice
l screamed for help, and in the frenzy
of the moment invoked malediction on
the heads of those who knew nothing
of my fate. Physical exertion and sus
pense began to tell on my powerful
frame. Every moment found me weakc.
rs pictured to myself the horrors O
starvation. insanity and thousand
coutending evils.
This stimulated me to increased eff
fort, and l bounded forth like /:
frightened deer. but had gone but {
short distance when my head came ii
contact with pendent mass that lai6
me PROSTATE and unconscious. How
long remained in n comatose state
can not say When l recovered con
sciousness, glared fiercely around M,
and bounded to my feet. I had re-
ceived cruel blow in my headlonS
rush. and my woolen shirt and shoulder
were covered with clotted blood. M,
head ached with q dull, uneasy pain
and / felt deiirious. thought of hom,
and all the tender memories tina
cluster around it, and in that awfu
, moment shed tears. the first since child
hood.
thought of the only human creatur
that loved me, and wished that nigh
see her face once more, and then la,
me down and die. appealed t,
Heaven. and in the pathetic Language
of child begged for mercy and deliver
anee, ever struggling onward in m,
endless search and endeavor. for tn
, instinct of self-preservation is eve
strong in the human breast Follow
ing tortuous and intricate passage,
suddenly turned sharp angle and sav
family in the distance gleam of light