Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-07-08
IN A HOLE.
BY II. C. DODGE.

ha been away from the ranch
since daybreak on solitary hunting
expedition for small game, and now,
with night coming OH, | was cndcav-
oring TO find my way back.
Where and how far | was from
camp know not, but with a general
idea of its direction. pIo,l,led over the
wild plain, expecting every moment
to strike the trail and &c. home with
out either trouble or danger.
The thoughts of the good supper and
glad greeting would have from my
jolly "cowboy" companions spurrcd
Inc on Willie the setting sun warned
inc that had no time to lose
In spite of my woodcraft and scout
ing skill and fcarlossness in travelling
the wilderness alone began 10 feel
apprchcnsive that was lost. At first
| only laughed at myself for thinking
so, but when milo after mile in tlc
deepening dusk brought NJ sign of
the anxiOusly looked for trail began
10 realize that the smartcst ranchnan
sometimes can b.undcr in his reckon
ings.
Sill ! wouldn't sdmit yet was
wrong and, fighting back thc dismal
feeling of lorcsomcncs and peril that
oppressed me, l continued to push oil
as fast as my tired lcga would lot me.
On went through tie prairie grass,
straining my eyes in the dusky glo, III
striving TO find the tail--suldenly
down, down | tumbcd straight TO the
bottom of what seemed to bo a deep
well.
Stunned by my fall, luckily broken
by the heap of soft rubbish | landed
on, | must have lain for a while un-
conscious.
When recovered my senses all was
Pitch blackncss about me and looking
upwards | could sec few stars fain;-
ly glimmcring from the sky.
After pinching aud examining my
body and thankfully finding that all
my bones were intact, struggled to
my feet aud gropcd around to disc ,vcr
if possible what sort of place had
gotten into.
The hole seemed circula~ and ap-
parcntly five or six feet in diameter.
The sides felt like hard clay, and the
bottom was dry and ihickly covered
with long accumu alton of leaves
and grasses.
How deep was down in the earth
could not tell, but rightly guessed
the distance was some twenty feet.
How tho holc ever got there !
couldn't imagine. Maybe years ago it
was dug in the hope of striking water
for the cattle which belonged to the
discarded ranch.
AT any rate the hole was there and
/ was in it. The thing that puzzled
me the most was how to get out.
As nothing could be done in that
line till daylight, and perhaps not
then, laid me down and went TO
sleep.
When | awoke after refreshing
slumber the round spot of bright, blue
sky above me seemed higher than
ever knew it before.
As necdful preparation to escape
from my more than likely grave
made a little fire with some of the
dry stuff aud managed to cook one of
the three birds | had shot The day
Lcforc. o. that with II few drops
from my water flask breakfa-tcd.
Then | stared my wits to work out
a plan of delivcrancc.
had with me my gun and plenty Of
cartridges, pipe and tobacco, small
hatchet, matches, hunting knife,
revolver, two birds and pint of
water; also few yards of rope.
In the almost vain hope of being
heard determined 10 frequently fire
my gun aud shout, though | know the
sounds would be dcadened.
After shooting and haIooing several
times with no answer of course, cx-
amincd the texture of the sides of my
tomb. 1t was red clay aud firm
enough to cut withou; crumbling. If
l had some strong siicks-which |
hadn't, though searched through the
heap of rubbish for thcm-I might
drive pegs in the side of my prison
and maybe climb up on them. Perhaps
1 could chop spaces there TO answer
the same purpose.