St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-09-15

not more securely Gagged than /. His
cave was sealed with the seal Of
King Darius, whit mine bore the
seal of the storm king.
Giddy and sick at heart I climbed
down to the floor and looked up at
the skvlight. Part Of the tree lay
across the hole and a limb hung
temptingly inside as if to taunt me
with an offer of help that was sever
al feet beyond my grasp. l was a
mouse in a jug.
As stood there gazing wistfully
at the mouth of my jug l caught the
sound of running water. I hurried
to examine this new feature, remem-
bering l had not explored my cell.
1t was quickly done. 1 was in a
cave about twelve feet each way,
with neither stick nor stone to build
scaffold to raise me to the opening
in the roof. A goodly stream of
muddy water was pouring in at the
side OF the cave next to the little
gully which | had noticed. I found a
crevice in the rock by which the
water entered, but it was not near
ly large enough to allow me to es-
cape.
The wind had died away as sud-
denly as it had arisen and rain was
pouring in torrents. Soon l noticed
that the water was coming in much
more rapidly than it went out. Here
was new horror. Not only was
mouse in jug, but some one was
pouring water into the jug.
Feeling suddenly faint, sat down
on the wet rock and tried to realize
my situation. was young and life
was full of charm for mellow could
l give it up? And in such a misera-
BILE, ignoble way! was not a cow
ard; had faced death in the form
of fierce beasts and fercer men and
never f1inched but to die in a hole,
with no effort to escape, no hope
it was horrible.
Soon the water had risen to where
| sat. was almost driven mad by
its demoniac laughter. Chuckling,
gurgling, fairly shouting with fiend-
ish glee, it came dancing about me,
seeming to rejoice that was so help
less-that | was mouse in a Jug.
Frantic with rage at it's hollow
mocking mirth, 1 dashed again up
the rugged wall and strove to roll
the stone from my tomb. In vain.
Hercules himself could not have done
it.
Higher and higher rose the water
and more and more frantic were nv
efforts. I prayed, Icursed, laughed
and sang, and anon burst into child
1sh tears, but the water never ceased
its chuckling and rose steadily all
the while. l could not cling long to
the wall and the water was soon up
to my armpits. A little longer and
it was up to my chin, and | could
hardly keep my footing.
By this time was calmer, for nv
panic had worn me out, and, the lev
water was fast benumbing me. When
1t lifted me from my feet | strove to
shake off the stupor 1 felt stealing
over me and struck out mechanically
to keep myself afoat For some
time kept up the effort, until, look
ing up, the thought occurred to me
that If could only keep afoat long
enough the water might lift me
within reach of the limb in the sky
light.
The water now rose more slowly.
for it had risen to the hole bv which
l had entered and some was escap-
ing there. Though hope renewed
had increased my strength for the
moment, realized that l was fast
failing, and the effort must come
soon or 1 should be unable to draw
my cramped and chilled body through
the opening.
Sinking low in the water, leaped
with all my strength toward the
limb, still some feet above my head.
Falling short, I dropped back and
went completely under. AS l arose
to the surface, taking advantage of
the momentum already acquired, 1
made one supreme effort and seized
the limb. Even now I marvel at the
strength still retained, enabling
me to climb safely out and fall faint.
ing on the ground.
1t was almost a fortnight later
when l regained consciousness. /
1ad arrived at home near midnight.
bruised, torn, haggard and raving
with the delirium of brain fever
brought on by that terrible expert
nee. 1t left me bald as you see
Harry Howard in Romance.