Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-12-21

then one Of our candles would 90 out.
and we were forced TO step and relight
II from the one that still burned, as our
matches were all wot and useless. A;
last ] stood in the chamber next the
fatal barrier.
What moment OF suspense, Of dread,
l suffered while waiting for Dad 20
come upl hastily scanned the walls Of
this the highest Ceiling available, aud
my heart sank ns saw tho uninisial;
able signs OF overflow on every side aud
overhead. bud soon joined mo. mud
bcgrimcd and painting. lie looked the
fond incarnate dragging himself forth
from his homo OF ooze and filth. But
did not laugh as my terrified gaze rested
ON his pale and troubled face. You may
be sure. remember feeling great
pity for him. however.
Tremblingly we advanced fow rods
and came upon tho wall. but, 10. no exit
was visiblel Now II was concealed by
small pool with aswift mnolstrom that
swallowed, with evident Rnsto, those bits
Of wood and leaf which came near its
hungry gullet. Weak and overcome
with excitement. we sat down on little
knoll, and with the protruding eyes Of
doomed men watched the steady up
crawling OF the stream, so different from
thcsong whispering brool, Of an hour ago.
The awful silence was oppressive, while
tho heavy darkness gathered ON every
side rs II TO extinguish our feeble lights.
Both OF our heads were hatless. and a
small stream Of crimson triclsled from
Dud's forehead-a wound that he had
received from u jut,ing rock or some
obstacle overhead
The situation was terrifying.
was almost certain that death WINS
inevitable. but singularly enough my
whole attention was conferred on my
miserable companion. l gazel ateadily
Mt him, wondering what his thoughts
must be, ind II all his past life was hur.
rying before him In review. as had
often heard II said mems lives would do
when ,vpath seemed inevitable. Silently
and STEADILY, like come great yellow ser.
pcnt, the brook crawlcd into tho mar.
row chamber and coilod fold on fola.
We had already moved back TO higher
ground once, and now II was inching up
about our fect again. Our heads were
against tho highest part OF the rock
ioof. 30 1t would DO bother TO keen orr
places than to move back To a moro
trying position which would 10 no safer.
To my dying day shall never fc .got
the feelings that oropt over mo Mt tho
water stole up along my body cold aud
Shiny. II seemed that was being grad.
ually swallowed by some foul mon.
sier. Tho Submerged portions of my
body soomed severed from the trunk,
whilo sure death developed mo. A son.
sation OF insuiicrnblo closeness almost
cholcd mo. while tho very hclplessness
Of the situation added u thousand tcrrors.
Dudley sat rs ono In n profound stu
por. one hand grnsping the two inches
OF tollow yet left. his other scraping Dit.
cously along tho rough wall, as though
seeking mn exit for It's pctrifel owner.
For my part became strangely quiet
after time, whilc n Gonso OF indiffer-
encc possessed me. A sort OF resigun.
ton TO tho inevitable, ! suppose, for tho
Hoods continued TO press upward. Our
shoulders were now Just above tho
waters. while my hand grew so weary
OF holding the candle that 1t seemed "a
II about to sink below tho surface do.
spite my every effort.
Neither OF US had spoken for some
time. when Dudley suddenly turned Ia
Inc. II can't stand II any longer" no
said simply. Tell them goodby at home
for inc II you ever get ont" and hc rose
as II to launch himself forward. saw
his object ut once and reached out 10
grasp him. "Hold on, bud +" | said; II
don't believe Il Is going to get any high.
err" ut doesn't mako any difference
he repeated. 'Wc both can't live long
In this small space anyhow" md no
sank from view. felt him touch me-
us he rolled over. aud clutched Mt his
body TO lift him 10 the surface. but i.
escaped my grasp and u succession of
bubbles told mo that further effort was
uselcss-ho was drowned. His candle
had Of course gone with him, and |
questioned whether II would not DO best
for mo 10 extinguish my own, since II
was fast exhaustiny the oxygen that
was an absolute necessity to my life.
But could not decide TO snuff out that
feeble light. II was almost like life itself.
l cannot describe 10 you my feelings
us i sat q hundred feet underground.
with only n breathing space of five or
six feet about my head, the water at INV
chin md tho cold form OF my dead
companion at my feet. 1t seemed "a II
this mental torture lasted for hours.
when, 10, agreat joy seized motto flood
had ceased to rise. But its abatement
must DO arswfter or would perish mis-.
erably from mere exhaustion. In half
IN hour tho water sank so low TINT |
managed to get under tho rock, and
with loudly beating heart saw once
more the bright, sweet light of day. 1t
was about o'clock in tho afternoon.
and l found that q tremendous rain had !
fallen, which accounted FOR the torrent
IN the cave.
l hurried of to the village as fast as
my stiff limbs could carry mo and told
my story. A score OF men went bacl,
with me and recovered tho body OF nv |
comrado.
In that fearful raco for life he had
saved MIN at the cost OF his own.-A,
d. d. in Short Stories.
A Martyr to DUTY.
a.. a..1