The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-07-13
IN A HOLE.
boston Times.
BY II. c. DODGE.

hal been away from the ranch
since daybreak on solitary hunting
expedition for small game, and now,
with night coming on, 1 was endeav-
oring to fiud my way baek.
Where and how far l was from
camp knew not, but with general
idea of its direction. 1plodded over the
wild plain, expecting every moment
to strike the trail and get home with
out either trouble or danger.
Tho thoughts of the good supper and
glad greeting / would have from my
jolly "cowboy" companions spurred
me on while The setting sun warned
mo that l had no time to lose.
In spite of my woodcraft and scout
ing skill and fcarlessncss in travelling
the wilderness alone began to feel
apprehensiye that | was lost. AT first
i only laughed at myself for thinking
so, but when mile after mile in the
deepening dusk brought no sign of
the anxiously looked for trail began
to realize that the smartost ranchman
sometimes eau blunder in his reckon
ings.
Sill l wouldn't admit yet 1 was
wrong and, fighting back the dismal
feeling of loncsomeness and peril that
oppressed me, l continued to push on
as fast as my tired legs would let me.
Oa ! went through the prairie grass.
straining my eyes in the dusky gloom
striving to find the trail--suddenly
down, down l tumbled straight to the
bottom of what seemed to be a deep
well.
Stunned by my fall, luckily broken
by the heap of soft rubbish landed
on, | must have lain for q while un-
conscious.
When | recovered my senses all was
pitch blackness about me aud looking
upwards | could see few stars faint
ly glimmering from the sky.
After pinching and examining my
body and thankfully finding that all
my bones were intact, ] struggled to
my feet aud groped around 10 discover
If possible what sort of place had
gotten into.
The hole seemed circular and ap-
parcntly five or six feet in diameter.
The sides felt like hard clay, and the
bottom was dry and thickly covered
with long accumulation of leaves
and grasses.
How deep was down in the earth
could not tell, but rightly guessed
the distance was some twenty feet.
How nhe hole 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 tho holo was there aud
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
slnmber the round spot of bright, blue
skv above me seemed higher than
ever knew il before.
As u needful preparation to escal o
from my more than likely grave
made little fire with some of the
dry stuff and managed to cook Que of
tho three birds l had shot the day
before. On that with few drops
from my water flask break tasted.
Then started my wits to work out
plan of delivcrance.
Ihad with me my gun and plenty of
cartridges, pipe and tobacco, a small
haichot, matches, hunting knife,
revolver, two birds and pint of
wafer; also few yards of rope.
In the almost vain hope of being
heard determined 10 frequently fire
my gun aud shout, though knew the
sounds would be dcadcncd.
Aftcr shooting and halooing several
tunes with no answer Of course, cx-