Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-22


down before had passed through the sec.
ond tub. but was out Of arms reach and
made good use Of my start.
The water had risen considerably. Il was
up to my threat ia one part. Ny sodden
petNcoat chung 20 my legs and weighed me
down ns rose to my feet. Nevertheless /
scrambled mp into the cellar Of the Joy while
the men below were cropping for the foot
irons, swearing fuiously. a lamp stood
on The ground where they had left it beside
the lagstone which Taras had thrust aside
with his foot One edge OF the stone Law
square with the side ofthe hole, Seized by
a savage impulse, l caught hold Of the stone
by the farther edge and raised IL into per-
pendicular position Then, as Drigo's bead
appeared, with yindictive deviltry in his
appraised face, pushed and let 1t fall. It
struck his head and he fell with howl on
his comrade below.
1t was easy enough TO escape now. A
glimmering light in the bar showed me
that the flnp was open; against the wall
rested the steps by which they had de
seconded. But the blow had dealt Dri-o
filed me with fiendish joy and whetted
my thirst for vengeance. All the evil pas
sions Of my nature were animated with a
craving for retaliation as / thought of tho
evil those men would have done to Tarns
and me. The only wish of my heart was
to infict some terrible punishment upon
them. / dragged up the stone and poised
IL in the hope that Putty might come IN
and that might serve him "a had served
Drigo. But he was wise enough to profit
by the experience OF the other and pre.
ferred to stay below and vent his fury in
curses.
While was waiting the stone slipped,
and in moving to keep it in position my
foot struck the lamp and overturned it. IL
was large benzine lamp, and as the oil
ran out it took fire, sending up licking
tongues Of flame The pool spread, and the
blazing liquid running over the edge of the
shaft ran down in fiery stream and
dropped in gouts Of flame. The men below
shrioked aloud In terror,
get out Of my way" shouted Putty
1--WE shall be burnt alive IL we stay here
We must get back through the hole"
heard them cursing each other as they
struggled together, each trying to get first
into the run. Then when the struggle
ceased Drigo, gasping for breath, cried;
I'VE can't 10 back The waters up to
the top"
The pool Of FIRE kept spreading. could
hOld tho stone no longer 1t fell with a
thud, cutting of the sound of mingled ex-
ecrntions from below. ran up the steps
into the bar, and having drawn them up
aftcr me, 50 that II the men got out of tho
shut they could not escape from tne cellar,
let down the flap. The place was thick
with suifocslgg smoke. Scarcely able to
breathe, groped my way down the pas
sage, drew the bolts of the door and got
out onto the balcony.
Taras was waiting for me at the end Of
tlr stairs. His figure was Just discernible
by the fqiut light that came from the gus
up Ferryboat alley In couple of min
utes / was by his side, painting for breath.
I've keep You a-waitin.n gasped.
mot long, said he.
Indeed all that l have narrated in this
chapter may have taken place in less than
20 minutes.
Have you been running9"
Yes, one way aud another I've had u
pretty good run for it,"