The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-02-22
lips moved and l knew she was pray

"I'm satisfied to go in such com
pany, ifgo / must" said to my
self, and then turned to work again.
In the meantime the water had
beer steadily rising. From being ;,s
high as the first joint of my fore
finger; it had risen while we we're at
work to tho height of the third. Ned
made several journeys to and from
the shaft, and found it always burn
ing, but the fire in the mine itself was
fast lessening.
Dick made his way to us, bringing
n huge piece OF IL mule. which the
party lie was with had slaughtered.
Then he told us that it was for the
sake of the lass he had left us, SO the
food would go further. The mule
meat was u precious gift, for Ned
and could eat it and leave the good
food for her.
Then Dick went back to his chums
Soon the oil in our lamp became cx-
llausted-the light fiickclpd for few
minutes-tllen we were left in utter
darkness. We sat there, Ned and l,
side by side, | just touching the hem
of Lizzie's dress, and occasionally
moving to let her feel that was pres
Ell and watching.
At intervals of hours-or such it
seemed-I would leave the spot and
crawl to the edge of the heap OF coal
on which we were seated, and plunge
my arm in the water to see how deep
it was. In time this was useless, for
when it had raised to the length of
my arm, and found the next time /
measured that my fingers would not
touch the bottom l left off trying it..
Of the other men we saw nothing.
At times we could hear one man cull-
ing to another through the darkness,
then these became less frequent, then
rcmained-unnnsweretl-tlmn the first
man said: Lord, have mercy on me
on me; have mercy on usall!' and We
heard his voice no more.
Ned shouted for Dick-no answer
then my brother reused himself; he
shook hands with me,
81 must go find Dick" he said. I
nodded '',yes," though lie could not
see mo in the darkness: but said not
IL word, and l heard him lower him
self into the water and splash as lie
trampcd off into the midnight black
ness--and death.
Inever saw my brother aliveagain
Then drew close to Lizzie and laid
my handuponh hers. Nowor,l passed
between us, no sound save IL dull.
heavy, sluggish creeping of rising
water was to he heard So far as We
could tell. we wcrc the only living
creatures in that great cold pit.
Slowly, but surely, the water con-
tinued to rise | could not test it's
depth, but it was easy to tell that
it was steadily approaching us.
Ihero was IL stupOr camcovel both
ofus: seemed tu hc struck dumb, |
had no desire to- move, no wish for
food or drink. We had no knowledge
OF the passhge of time, hut it seemed
;ls though | was livin" for years.
was reused to something like life
by Lizzie. With many Il feeble effort
she put her arm about my neck; !
was too weak to raise her head level
with my own. STOPPED, IL little
more she eXcrted herself, our lips met
one long, long kiss. her body re-
lnNed, then became rigid and lay mo-
tionlcss upon my knees.
And thus sat. Of food or drink |
never thought.
Still the water continued to rise
felt it touching my feet. spent the
time in sleep mostly, and when awake
was dragging l.izzic's form, inch,y
inch to the highest point. When en-
hausted ] would drop down at her
side and duly wonder how long it
would lmbeforc the water rose above
our heads. did not feel any par
ticular dread of this. now had be-
come 40 f;lmilnrized with tbs idea
that | only spcculatci in dreamy
kind of IL way an what the sensation
wourd be like when it did take place.
From what know now must have
slept many hours at II time.
woke once more: felt that my
fert were no longer in the water {
stretched them out, still without
touching it: had to push forward
some distance before reached il.
Then knew that the fire must hc
extingiishcd, that tllcpumps were at
work freeing the mine.
Could we still he saved!
No sooner did | find that there was
even the fi,intest hope OF rescue than
the resignation or indifference. which
ever il was, left me. and instead of
being able to sleep or browse as I
had been doing | becnnl" all alive.
With the soles of my feet lust touch
ing the water, | sat for hours before
could say to myself with certainty
that it had sunk any mere.
This was the most terrible part of
my Imprisonment. When ] parted
with Ned and he came not back to
tell me of Dicks safety, felt that
both were lost. when Llzzic fell help.
less before me thought she had gone
to Join them beyond, but it seemed
;ls though the separation w;ls to be
for only II few short minutes.
Now my thoughts were busy. Sup
pose l were saved to tell the story.
How was to face that poor girls
father, how tell the story to my
stricken mother?
sat there in the darkness, cold
and damp, and thought until my
brain reclcd, l wondered if were not
deceiving myself in belief that the
water had sunk at all.
Was Lizzie dead? half hoped so,
] alfhoped not. / dared not try
to rouse her, if she lived, to share in
what might be only de!usions in my
disorder"d mind. l tried, and tried
to sleep, ] could not.
At last, in desperation. | lowered
myself off the ledge on which VIC had
rested the water barely reached to
my knees.
| clamhcred back, found the food
cans and ate some dried bread and
meat from Them the bottle of liquor
was there untouclcd-I tried to force
some of it into the mouth of Lizzie,
but her body was rigid, her teeth set
fast. Idrained every drop ofthe fiery
stuff. My strength returned. l felt
the vigor OF ten men.
Clasping the innnimate form of my
love in my arms, sprang into the
water and hurried on toward the
shaft.
l.