The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-12-21
Continued from page /

Continued from page |.
1, wondering what the Iellow couia mean.
HaWhy, do you not seea am monarch
"a Kingl"u
n" Your"
"Ay, me-just as you see me here-al-
though at present wear no royal robe"
."That is fact which is quite apparent"
returned /, scarcely knowing whether 70
laugh or look vexed. s"Pray, your Majesty,
where is your kingdoml" ..~--aaEpssSsassas1
my Silver Halls are here ~ he said, point
ing down the well. . "Listeni what l want
IS prime minister-one who can tend to
my affairs when ! am away. But am told
the chosen one must be spirit, and not
mortal, and my royal pleasure is that you
shall serve me in that capacity" &sN sa't
As he spoke he sprang behind me- and
pushed me so suddenly that, not being pre-
pared for the assault, / went over the verge
of the well in spite of myself, and fell heav-
lily to the bottom, a distance OF some fifteen
feet, but fortunately without breaking any
bones. l arose with perfect presence OF
mind, and as / looked up to the contorted
face of the miner, who was now bending
over and glazing down upon me, the whole
truth flashed upon me: '@.s~>>>
He tcds a maniac, and / iUds In his potuer! ~
1t was terrible discovery to make in my
situation, an d my heart fairly quailed at the
thought that the place might be my grave.
1t would be impossible for me to get out
without assistance; could not expect help
from the mailman who had put me there;
and what chance was there that any one else
would find me, or even think of looking for
me, in that out-of the-way placea These
were my first thoughts, that flashed through
my mind in an instant, and the next were
that should humor the fellow, fall into the
train of his insane ideas, and try what l
might gain by stratagem. e
"Oh, mighty Monarch of the Silver Halls"
said, 81 deeply thank your Majesty for
this evidence of your royal favor, and
humbly beg to assure you that already have
! become spirit and your prime minister,
only wishing to do your royal will"
"You look the same-we see no change"
he replied, now using the kingly plural,
land they told us it would take many days
to effect what we DESIRE"
"Who told your Royal Majesty thisl'
sour sub jects." 49, :
"And is it possible your Majesty can be-
lieve your plebeian subjects before your
noble minister" l~sk.sA
1--WE should not, perhaps; but days are as
nothing to spirit; and as you are now q
spirit, we will leave you for few days, and
then let you know our roya. pleasure"
With this he smiled grim smile, waved
his hand majestically, turned and disap
peared. called after him, but he returned
me no answer, and could hear his echoing
footballs slowly receding till they died out
in the distance. % ~r'~r
It was useless for me to attempt to de-
scribe my feelings when thus found myself
left alone in darkness, at the bottom of a phi
from which l could not extricate myself
and in part of deserted mine, from
which, if were wholly free, l might never
find my way to the world above. Though
felt myself literally buried alive, yet die
not at first wholly despair. A faint hop'
fingered that my guide might go back with
out me, his condition become known, mysel
be missed and a search be instituted for me
but then the chances were so many agains
my ever being found while living that tn
thought only gave me the feeblest ray o
comfort, which finally went out in q horri
BILE gloom that was worse than death itself
For three mortal days and nights-th
time of which was all one rayless, awfu
night to me-dd l remain in that fearful
pit; and then, nearly dead from hunger
thirst and despair, felt as if | was goin
mad myself. For long time had Gale
and shouted and shrieked for help, and now
without the faintest ray of hope, | staggere
around my prison, beat my head against 1t
earthern walls, tore my hair, bit my flesl
and shrieked because of the horrors tbs
seemed to set my brain on fire, and when 6
last heard human voices, and saw light
flashing above me, was in that state whe
the mind, lowering on the verge of insanit,
is not able to distinguish the true from tn
false--the real from the lmaginary-an
whether these were beings of earth or d
mons from the other world, l had lost I'll
power to determine.
My next remembrance is of findingmyse
in bed, and being tended with care; but
was two weeks from the day l entered th
mine before l had sufficiently recovered
relate my story and learn of the manner
my discovery.
Pedro, it seems, had gone back to
work in the mine as though nothing u
usual had occurred and subsequent
when questioned about me, he replied, in
very straightforward and intelligent ma
ner, that he had conducted me TO the upp
shaft, and then left me at my own reque.
1t was there supposed had gone out VIII
no one was about, and departed in We
uncivil way, and no search was made
me. In fact, owed my life to accident
one OF the miners, having occasion to visit
distant part Of the deserted veins, bell
startled by shrieks, the mystery of viii
he had the courage to investigate.
My narration of the conduct and langua
Of Pedro was the first knowledge any Q
had Of his insanity though many now
member something curious and singu
connected with him. An investigate
proved him rcfa compos men,ts, and he "
removed to an asylum. learned he h
once been lackey to courtier, which
counted for his supposing himself Xxi
main Ian on 10 a hacnminU royaltu q.