The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-12-17

l WttS dOOuO tIio SlZt Ol lily mana, ana
there, to my no small alarm, saw
Mad Jake creeping among the gun
powder barrels with a lighted candle
in his hand. With half-suppressed
exclamation of impatience, I crossed
over to the trap-door and tried to lift
| it.
My feelings may be imagined when I
found that was prisoner in the loft
| the trap was bolted on the other
side.
In an instant I had returned to the
hole in the floor, and was on the point
OF calling to Jake to release me, when,
to my unspeakable horror, I saw HIM
deliberately remove an ronhoopfrom
one OF the barrels, and wrench off one
OF the ends, exposing the gliltering
black powder to the light OF his can
die.
gazed down upon the mailman
without power to utter q sound; while,
with an eager, hungry look on his
White face, and curious glitter in his
wild eyes, he plunged his disengaged
hand again and again into the pow
der. He appeared to be searching for
something, and presently, with an in
articulate cry OF satisfaction, he held
aloft small canvas bag, which gave
forth a blinking sound as he took it.
He tried to unfasten the string of
the bag with his teeth; for he still
held the candle in his other hand. His
efforts seemed fruitless, and then my
blood seemed suddenly frozen in my
veins, and my whole body grew stiff
with horror as Isaw the maniac plunge
the unlighted end of his candle deeply
into the gunpowder, and leave it burn
ing in Its improvised candlestick.
In the extremity OF my fear, l re-
gained my power OF speech.
"Jake for Heavens sake put out
that lightn' l shouted.
He uttered startled cry, glanced
wildly round, and then hiding his bag
quickly in his breast, he darted out
OF the she'd, and I heard his swiftly
retreating steps die away in the dis
tance.
AS the awfulness of my situation
was borne in upon me, a. horrible numb
ness crept over my frame; and
for a few minutes l knelt upon the
floor, gazing down upon the lighted
candle, feeling utterly powerless to
move a limb.
So deeply had the candle been
thrust into the barrel that scarcely
two inches appeared above the
powder, and as l watched it burning
steadily away cold sweat burst up
on me; and then my heart began to
beat painfully, sending the blood
swiftly through my veins as sprang
to my feet and rushed frantically to
the trap-door.
There was an iron ring on the upper.
side, and this I seized firmly with
both hands; but although put forth
my whole strength, and struggled with
all the ferceness of desperation. 1
could not raise the trap. The bolt
held stoutly, and l knew that was
only wasting my strength.
[. looked eagerly to find some other
means Of escape.
The roof!
In an instant I had climbed upon
the trusses Of straw; but even then,
although | stretched my arms to the
utmost, the rafters were some inches
above the tips of my fingers. But, as
] have before said, there were holes in
the roof, and it now occurred to me
that my voice might possibly be heard
by the watchman at the mill.
I shouted loudly for help-not once
only, but again and again, uttering
shrill, piercing cries, which even start
led myself by their intensity.
Then a horrible fascination COM
PEELED me to approach the hole in the
floor, and look down at the flame OF
the candle, which was slowly and ST.
lently burning down towards thefatal
powder.
Half an inch OF the wax had been
consumed since last looked; half an
hour more, and-good God! the
thought was unbearable; and srrang
to my feet. and paced wildly up and
down my prison, beating the stone
walls, and shouting loudly for help.
Like flash of light an idea crossed
my brain! had O. knife in my pocket,
and in another moment [ was on my
knees over the trap-door hacking furi-
ously at the solid woodwork with the
sharp blade. Ii only could make
hole large enough for my hand to pass
through and draw back the bolt was
saved.
I worked fercely-madly, till the
splinters flew round me and the sweat
poured off me like rain. 49,
] was working for my life. .....a...
There could be no doubt that I was
making progress; but should. I get
through in time? AS the question
presented itself to me I began to work
with redoubled vigor; out almost i'm
mediately, in trying to draw my knife
from the tough oaken flooring, the
blade snapped off quite suddenly close
to the halt!
I dashed the useless handle down
with a cry OF despair, and went to look
at the candle . ~
There was scarcely half an inch left,
so knew that must have been work
ing fully twenty minutes.
Ten minutes before the powder
would explode! ....
My brain reeled
| took out my watch and held it
over the hole that I might see the
time by the light of the candle.
Ten minutes to seven.
BY this time | ought to have been
riding by Annie's side AS the thought
of Annie crossed my mind, I felt as if
4 =. I -