Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08

OH MS ulster ana fell TO digging With VIII.
The soil proved to be very sandy and easy to
work. Indeed, from its appearance, he soon
came to tho conclusion that it was not virgin
earth, but worked soil, which had been
thrown there. Presently his spade struck
against something hard; he picked it up and
held it to the lantern. 1t proved to be an am
cient spear head, and near it were some
bones, though whether or no they were
human he could not at the time de-
termine. This very interesting, but it
was scarcely what he wanted, 50 he dug on
manfully until 10 found himself chest deepin
kind OF grave. He had been digging foran
hour now, and was getting very tired. Cold
as it was the perspiration poured from him.
AS he paused for breath he heard the church
clock strike two and very solcmnly it sound
ed down the wild ways of tho wind torn
winter night. He dug on little more, and
then seriously thought of giving up what ho
was somewhat ashamed of having under
taken. How was he to account for this great
hole to his gardener on the following morn
ing9 Then and there he made up his mind
that he would not account for it, Tho
gardener, in common with tho rest of the vii
lacc, believed that the place was haunted.
Let him set down the hole to the "spooks' and
their spiritual activity.
Still he dug on at his grave for little
longer. 1t was by now becoming a matter Of
exceeding labor to throw the shovelfuls OF
soil clear of the hole. Then he determined to
stop, and with this view scrambled, not wi. h
out difficulty, out of the amateur tomb.
Once out, his eyes fell on stout iron crow
bar which was standing among the other
tools, such an implement as is used to make
holes in the earth wherein to set hurdles and
stakes; and it occurred to him that it would
not he bad idea to drive this crowbar into
tln Of oh, l.1
in order to ascertain if there was anything
within his reach. Accordingly he once moro
descended into the hole and began to work
with the iron crow, driving it down with all
his strength. When lie had got it almost as
deep as it would 80, that is about three feet,
it struck something something hard-there
was no doubt of it. He worked away in
great excitement, widening the hole as much
as he could.
Yes, it was masonry, or if it was net
masonry, it was something mcommonly like
it. He drew the crow out of the hole, and,
Selling the shovel, commenced to dig again
with renewed vigor. As he could no longer
conveniently throw the soil from the hole he
took ''skepn or leaf basket, which lay handy,
and placing it beside him. put as much Of the
sandy soil as he could lift into it, and then
lifted it and shot it on the edge of the pit.
For threequnrters of an hour he labored thus
most manfullr, till at last he came down to
the stone work. He cleared patch or 1t ana
examined it attentively by the light of the
dark lantern. 1t appeared to be rubble work,
built in the form Of an arch He struck it
with the iron crow and it gave back hollow
sound. There was a cavity of some sort I'M
derneath.
His excitement and curiosity redoubled
By great efforts he widencd the spot of stone
work already laid bare. Luckily, the soil, or
rather sand, was so friable that there was
very little oXertion required to loosen it. This
done, he took the iron crow, and inserting il
beneath a loose flat stone leverad it up. This
was beginning, and, having got rid of the
large fiat stone, he struck down again and
again with all his strength, driving the sharp
point of the heavy crow into the rubble work
beneath. 1t began 20 give-he could hear
bits of falling into the cavity below There!
it went with crash, more thana square foot
Of it.
lie leaned over the hole at his feet, de-
voutly hoping that tie ground ON which he
was f,nding would not give way also and
| tried to look down. The next second he
threw his head back, coughing and gaSping
The foul air rushing up from the cavity on
chamber, or whatever it was, had half
poisoned him. Then, not without difficulty,
he climbed out Of the grave, and sat down
| on the pile of sand he had thrown up Clearly
he must let the air in the place sweeten Il lit
! tie. Clearly, also, he must have assistance il
he must descend into the great hole, He
could not undertake that by himself.
He sat there upon the edge of the pit,