The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-11-24

had Just left and soon returned. carrying large
rock. He struck tho lack "A heavy blow, COM
pletely severing it from j.: fastenings. Then
| with trembling hands we threw back tho lid.
| The box was empty
"A cry of disappointment came from Jack
Il reckon it amt nothin' bnt some of them
| old heathens' soap kettles, after ALL he re-
marked, giving the box vigorous kick that
started it from its resting place. Seems to me
they took heap of trouble to lock it up
| "'Well, guess we had Just as well get ont
myself at finding the box empty. i don't see
anything else in here worth inspecting
".Hod on q moment replied Jack, bending
over the box. Mebby there's somethin' under
this
"He ierked the box from its resting place rs
no spoke, disclosing small cavity in the rocky
| floor beneath.
"'By Jupiter! look there' he exclaimed, in
new excitement. Hastily approaching and
bending over the spot l saw small cavity
some three feet long and a foot Deep half filed
with a collection of queer. looking vessels of
silver and gold. For few moments we stood
| spell hound.
".There's enough here to make us both rich
for life,' exclaimed Jack with burst of enthu-
siasm. No more climbin' higgins and furlin'
sails for mol And he gave vent to an audible
| chuckle as he began removing the articles from
the vault. In the bottom we found a graz
| heap of queer shaped coins Of silver and gnl'
which we speedily removed and placed in T.
copper box.
''As we did so VIC heard sliding, grinding
sound behind us, then the dull echo of a fall
ing rock.
1--WE glanced back and at the same time
startled cry came from Jacks lips. The open
ing through which we had entered the cham
Der had closed! With common impulse we
II, G,,l tI,,tc had
slid into the opening, completely closing it up
and shutting US in. We eXerted all our
| 7trength to move the block of stone, but of no
no avail. We were prisoners
ut is impossible to describe the feelings of
helpessness and despair that came over me as
realized our terrible situation. Again and
again we sought to remove the heavy stone
! from the opening. but failed to even shake it
in its place.
ave are shut in like two rats in a trap
said Jack in husky voice. We may never
get out of this alive!'
as Perhaps there is some other way by which
we can leave the place l suggested, but upon
investigation we round that the opening by
which We had entered was all that led from
the dismal chamber
ave now fully realized the seriousness of
our situation. Shut in beneath an old ruin, on
an unnhabited island with means of escape.
indeed enough to fill the stoutest heart
dispar.
The torches we had brought with US would
soon be used up and then would be left in
the blacklist darkness. Knowing this, we real
lied the great necessity of immediate action.
Whatever we did must be dono while our
torches lasted. We made hurried examination
of the walls that surrounded us, and we saw
that there was only one course left and that
was to dig our way out.
But here was great difficulty. We were
npath hp nj
not reach the outside by digging in a horizontal
direction We must first penetrate the walls,
If possible, and then dig our way upward. If
we could only succeed in displacing one rock
from the wall, it would not be difficult to re-
move others.
With nothing but our pocket-knives to aid
US we found the task a hard one but we set to
work with will cutting the cement from
between the layers of stone 1t took hours of
the most patient toll to remove the first piece
of masonry from the wall, and by the time we
had widened the wall sufficiently to admit
our bodies, the torches had been used up and
we were left in total darkness.
" / shall never forget the awful feeling of
despair that came over me az | realized that
we might never be able TO escape from our dis
NAL prison. All thoughts of the treasure we
had discovered left minds. and every
thought was employed in devising some plan
Of escape from the living tomb.
way in the darkness, with scarcely ray of
hope left. But with hearts fast sckenng with
despair we tocd on. We had no way of reck-
oning the time, and day and night were the
same. OF that fearful period that followed |
can never give an account. 1t all seems like
some strange, hideous dream now, and l can
never think Of that time without sh1dder.
:" How long we toiled there in the gloomy
tunnel | never knew, but it must have been
many days and nights. At times VIC would
become exhausted with work. and throwing
ourselves upon the pile of rock and dirt would
fall into fitful sleep, from which we would
awake to resume our toll. At last, overcome
with thirst and hunger, Isank down upon the
rocks and became unconscious
When my senses returned / found myself
lying in state-room aboard the Petrol, bound
for San Francisco. | was weak as a child from
my long illness of fever, and it was many
days before WAS allowed to talk. But finding
myself alive and in comfortable quarters was
content to wait for the particulars of my de-
liverance from the gloomy prison in the old
ruins.
When was better learned that tho Petrol
had been standing up the coast, intending to
stop at near point for the purpose OF obtain
ing fresh supply of water. when a signal was
discovered flying upon one of the little hills of
the island. A boat was sent ashore, where Jack
and were found. Jack was in an almost help
less state and / was deirious with fever.
we were taken aboard the Petrol, as was
also curous-looking copper box, which the
sailors said Jack guarded with jealous care.
Three days later the Petrol met the Equinox,
bound for Liverpool and on the latter Jack
took passage, taking with him the copper box,
in which was doubtless the treasure we had
found in the old ruin OH the island.
How Jack had succeeded in delivering us
from our prison under the ruin never knew,
for l never saw h i'm or the treasure again."
An IcOnoclast.