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

more difficult, Ten o'clock struck before
this tas., was accomplished.
had been compelled 10 light the candle
TO get the box out and there was now not
more than an inch left.
blew out the light aud put the end in
my pocket. could feel my way along the
tub run, and the light would be needful
when | got into the cellar Of the JOY.
The were iron staples ia tho side Of the
shaft placed Ut intervals to serve as steps.
The descent was ensy enough, but at the
bottom fresh obstacle presented itself. |
WAS standing In waterl II the tide was up.
II would be impossible TO get through the
run, that part OF the shoro being complete
ly under water ut the GOOD.
Dropping on my Buees, | crawled for
ward, entering the first cas!i The thick
ooze was high over my wrists, but still II
they were nll fairly on the same level the
passage was yet sufficiently open. The
ooze might simply be the earth that had
slltcd through IN the course Of years left in
its present condition by receding tide.
But what IL IL VIVA wet with the rising tidoy
This question made me pause despite my
impatient desire to go on. II the tide rose
before | could get lpras out OF the cellar.
all escape would be impossible, aud hemmnd
in we should both he ~ the mercy of Drigo
and Putty On the other hand. II / waited
until the tide had risen and fallen again, ii
might be too late to save Tar,,s
| backed out Of the run, clambered into
the cellar and rnising myself into the case
ment Of the ycntilutor looked out. The
water WIS certainly high but whether 1t
was rising or falling | could not tell. ASH
looked out 4 clock ohimed the half hour
past 10. At II the Joy would be- closed.
Then anything might happen to raras.
One thing was toleribly eyident-thu two
men would 20 down into the cellar, II only
to sec II Taras was still alive. But they
might have and probably had, made ~.
raagements wiki the other man to take
him away from the Joy, IN which case,
II | waited I'LL the tide had risen and fallen,
! should find the cellar empty when /
reached It.
This reflection md belief that the tide
was yet some distance below high water
mark decided me To make the attempt az
once aud run the risk Of baiug imprisoned
blythe tide. "AtRny rate, !" said TO myself,
~ shall be a prisoner with him."
Without another moments hesitation
dropped down into the run, put my matches
and candle end in u part OF my dress where
they were feast lscly to get wettcd. and
then crnwlcd along tue run. through tho
slush, which, to my satisfaction, found
came nowhere above my elbows. when l
reached tho farther end, rose to my feet,
nnd finding the irons In the wall mounted
up by them until my head struck the flag
ntnne above, and here, knowing that /
should need all my strength, paused for
q minute TO get breath. Then, bending ms
bend, roao another step, and setting my
shoulders against the flag strained every
muscle 10 straightcn my body and push up
the stone
For some time II resisted all my efforts,
but at length the matted earth above civ
ing way IL yielded slowly, and pushed it
up sufficiently fnr 10 get my head and shoal.
ders through the opening But being now
stretched 10 my full length, and finding no
Iron to set my foot on aud get fresh pur-
chase, could 60 no farther and stopped
there unable to get either mp or down, the
heavy iHgstone pressing cruelty upon my
shoulders, scarcely able to breathe and feel
ing as II my poor chest bones would be
crushed IN.
dared not cry for help, lest my voice
should be heard by the men above, and
could only hang theirs gasping for breath
aud despuIrng OF release. Indeed | think
must soon have fnnted under the dread
full pressure, bat that 1arns, having lis.
tened 70 these inexplioable sounds In the
ground in passive perplcSity for some time,
hearing the faint moan that escaped mo
when felt that II was all over with me,
CROPPED forward, and finding tue opening
ret his foot under the stone and thrust II
right back with one strong effort
Ny sense OF relief waE indescribable. Ina
moment had scrambled onto the door Of
the cellar, ! struck match, and Iuising
H. putrfr Gvaa t,p,,, ths ,,,.,s
and noble face OF raras. He did not rec.
ognise me ct Hrst, aud tho look of astonsh.
mont in hiS countenancc was curious to
see. Aud no wonder. Fgom head to foot
was drabblcd aud laubod with black opge
and dirt lcould have looked like nothing
human rising out OF the Garth and thus dis
figured. But he know mo by the time | had
lie the candle He murmured some unin-
telllgiblo words OF gratitude, and his eyes
were sutiused with the tears that sprang
from his sensitive heart.
mo tlmo for jawin about that" said |,
interrupting him We've got to yet out
OF this aforc Patty comes down and the
tide comes up.n
He turned round and showed mo that his |
hands weru tied behind him. The hemp
was black with the dried blood from his |
wrists. The sight OF it filled me with rage
against the villains who had used him so
barbarously.
There's knife in my waistcoat pockot,p
he said.
found It and cut the knotted rope, but |
1t was some time before he could use his |
numhed hands At length life returned TO |
them. And all the time we stood there /
knew that the water might ho rising In tho
run TO prevent our escape, yot was uncon
scious OF alarm or fear or even Of impa
tience- was with him.
II am ready now. Arc we to go down |
thereGn he asked.
nodded assent and led the way by drop !
ping to the bottom Of the shaft, / stood I
aside, and he dropped down also. Then |
diyed into the run, holding the light up to I
the top that be might SEQ. The oozc was
no higher, and we got through Just as the /
candle end gave ont, but he Ind TO squeeze
TO get his broad shouldersthruuRh the ends
of the casks sprang up the hole By tho
irons and at the top struck matches while
he mounted
We were safe, but TO guard AGAINST pur-
suit dropped the box down and Tarns re
placed the stone, moving IL as II Il were no
more than apiece OF board Then l led him
by the arm 10 the easement, and striking
another match showed him the hole by