New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1892-03-16
expected to accomplish enything,

| The windmill stood some two Or
three hundred yards from the house,
directly behind the wine cellar. 1t
was about twenty-five feet high from
the base to the top Of the wheel, but
in that deceptive twilight it looked
| like some giant finger reaching the sky
stuck my tools in my coat pocket
and began to climb the long ladder
which stretched to the top Of the
tank. From there it would be easy
to reach and manipulate the wheel.
/ made the ascent in safety, and
after little reached the top Of the
rough boards with which the tank
was covered. For some time / stood
there, admiring the splendid view, and
wondering at the extent Of country
that came under my gaze, until
warned by the ever-increasing gloom
that | was out on business not
pleasure.
forgot just what was the matter
with the wheel, some simple disar-
rangement of the machinery which
took me but little time to remedy.
Feeling certain that the mill would
perform its duty as we'll as before, I
turned to retrace my steps. In doing
SO | stepped upon a half concealed
trap-door, intended to be used as q
means of ingress into the tank in case
of repairs being needed. The door
was old and rotten; it's hinges were
broken, and it rested very insecurity
upon it's foundation. Consequently it
could not retain my weight, and tilted
suddenly. I fell with q prodigious
splash into the water beneath.
There were about two feet OF water
in the tank. gurgled and spluttered
and struggled as though there were
twenty. However, quickly regained
my feet, dripping and shivering from
my sudden immersion, but uninjured.
But I was q prisoner.
The tank was about ten feet in
height. The sides were perfectly
smooth and afforded no foothold.
There was no ladder or other means
by which I could Chamber out. Vowed
that if ever [ built q tank I would
provide for such a contingency as the
present.
About three and a half feet above
my head was the supply pipe. If [
could only manage to reach that [
might possibly pull myself up and es
cape. [ knew very well [ could not
do this, but hope, like love, is blind to
all obstacles, and l jumped desper-
ately for the pipe. | failed, OF course.
I did not come within a foot OF it,
However, after I had continued my
efforts for some time felt q comfort
able warmth creeping over that por
tion of my body which was above
water; therefore, in lieu Of anything
better to do, | kept on jumping.
By and by my teeth stopped chat
tering and [ stopped leaping.
"Here's 6; pretty mess!' | said to
myself. Il wonder how long Pm to
be penned up in this place? My legs
are tired enough already without
having to stand on them all night,
and l can't very we'll sit down in two
feet Of water.'
It suddenly occurred to me that /
possessed g. voice Of tolerabe strength
and clearness, and that might make
good use of it upon the present occa-
sion. Accordingly, | gave utterance
to g. few Of the most startling yells
that probably ever assailed the ears
Of a mortal. But they we're unsuccess.
After I had shouted myself hoarse I
waited with patience for the arrival
OF q relief party-with ropes and
other paraphernalia with which to
remove me from my unpleasant pre-
dicament. At the end of five minutes
it hadn't come; at the end of half an
hour I did not believe it would come,
"Surely," I thought, ''they must
have heard those warwhoops at the
house. At any rate, it's about time
Eller started out to hunt me up. He
certainly doesn't think it's going to
take me forever to mend his confound-
ed windmill. What can he be about?"
[ was becoming troubled. The pros
pect Of having to remain cooped up
in my present narrow quarters all
night was by no means pleasant. The
expectation Of having to stand for the
next ten hours in two feet OF cold wa
ter was-literally and tiguratively-a
chilly one. 1t might have done for
one OF those old, time monks who
were always imposing penances upon
themselves for sins committed, but it
was not suited to a person OF my
tastes. Most cheerfully would [ have
resigned my position to any one ex-
pressing a wish for it.
1t was now pitch dark in the tank
The only light [ obtained was the fee
bic glow of the stars shining through
the trap-door I stood under this,
gazing wistiully into the heavens so
high above me. After a time my eyes
grew heavy, my head fell forward on
my breast, and, strange as it may APP
pear, dropped into a gentle doze
! was awakened by slight breeze
tanning my cheeks. l opened my eyes
dreamily. Overhead l could hear a
deep, rumbling, grating sound; some
thing was going up and down, up and
down, like a monstrous churn in mo-
ton.
"What can that be?" was my ejacu-
| lation.
was not long in suspense. A per-
feet deluge Of the coolest kind OF wat
er came pouring down, drenching me
to the skin, givingme a regular shower
bath.