The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-05

and below that the space was empty. New
ertbeless IL took me many hours to get the
rubbish out, having nothing 10 dig with
hut INV hands and nothing but my apron
TO carry it up in when got down a certain
distance, and then the box, which at first
sight seemed to have been set there by the
hand OF Providence, appeared after awhile
TO have been wedged in by my worst enc
my, for It dehed all my efforts to loosen It,
until my patience and strength were well
nigh exhausted, and then had TO get to
the top and drag 1t out, which was even
more difficult. Ten o'clock struck before
this task was accomplished.
/ had been compelled to light the candle
to get the box out, and there was now not
more than an inch left.
blew out the light and put the end in
nv pocket l could feel my way along the
tub run. and the light would be needful
when I got into the cellar Of the Joy.
The were iron staples in the side of the
shaft placed at intervals to serve as steps.
The descent was easy enough, but mt the
bottom fresh obstacle presented itself. /
was standing in wateri II the tide was up,
It would be impossible to get through the
run, that part of the shore being complete
ly under water at the Hood.
Dropping on my knees, crawled for
ward. entering the first cask. The thick
ooze was high over my wrists, but still TX
they were all fairly on the same level the
passage was yet sufficiently open. The
ooze might simply be the earth that had
silted through in the course of years left in
its present condition by receding tide.
But what if IL was wet with the rising tdef
This question made me pause despite my
impatient desire to go on. IL the tide rose
before / could get Taras out of the cellar,
sll escape would be impossible, and hemmed
In we should both be at the mercy of Drigo
and Putty. On the other hand, IL waited
until the tide had risen and fallen again, it
might be too late to save Taras.
backed out Of the run, clambered into
the cellar and raising myself into the case
ment of the ventilator looked out. The
water was certainly high, but whether it
was rising or falling could not tell. As I
looked out a clock chimed the half hour
past 10. At II the Joy would be closed.
Then anything might happen to Taras.
One thing was tolerably evident-the two
men would 60 down into the cellar, IL only
to see IL Taras was still alive. But they
might have, and probably had, made ar
fangements with the other man to take
him away from the Joy, in which case,
II waited till the tide had risen and fallen,
] should find the cellar empty when I
reached it.
This reflection and belief that the tide
was yet some distance below high water
mark decided me to mako the attempt at
once and run the risk of being imprisoned
by the tide "At any rate" said to myself.
''I shall be prisoner with him."
Without another moments hesitation
dropped down into the run, put my matches
and candle end IN part of my dress where
they were least likely to ge ~etted, and
then crawled along the rur through the
slush, which, to my satisfD~-ton, found
came nowhere above my elbows. When
reached the farther end, rose to my feet,
and finding the irons In the wall mounted
up by them until my head struck the flag
stone above, and here, knowing that l
should need all my strength, paused for
a minute to get breath. Then, bending my
head, rose another step, and setting my
shoulders against the flag strained every
muscle to straighten my body and push up
the stone.
For some time 1t resisted all my efforts,
but at length the matted earth above CIV
ing way it yielded slowly, and pushed it
mp sufficiently far to get my head and shoul-
iers through the opening. But being now
Stretched to my full length, and finding no
iron to set my foot on and get fresh pur-
chase, could go no farther and stopped
there, unable to get either up or down, the
heavy fagstone pressing cruelty upon my
shoulders, scarcely able to breathe and feel
ing as IL NV 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 there gasping for breath
and despairing of release Indeed think
must soon have tainted under the dread
full pressure, but that Taras, having lis
tened to these inexplicable sounds In the
ground in passive perplexity for some time,
hearing the faint moan that escaped me
when felt that It was all over with me,
groped forward, and finding the opening
set his foot under the stone and thrust 1t
right back with one strong effort.
Ny sense of relief was indescribable. In
moment / had scrambled onto the floor Of
the cellar. I struck a match, and raising
II my eager eyes fell upon the great figure
and noble face Of Taras He did not rec
ognize me at first, and the look Of astonish-
ment In his countenance was curious to
see. And no wonder. From head to foot
Twas drabbled and daubed with black ooze
and dirt. Icould have looked like nothing
human rising out of the earth and thus dis
| figured. But he knew me by the time had
lit the candle. He murmured some unin-
telligible words Of gratitude. and his eyes
were suffused with the tears that sprang
from his sensitive heart
mo time for jawin about that" said /,
interrupting him. "We've got TO get out
of this afore Putty comes down and the
tide comes up"
He turned round and showed me that his
hands were tied behind him. The hemp
was black with the dried blood from his
wrists. The sight of IL filled me with rage
against the villains who had used him SO
barbarously.
There's knife in my waistcoat pocket"
he said.
found it and cut the knotted rope, but
| Il was some time before he could use his
numbed hands. At length life returned to
them. And all the time we stood there
knew that the water might he rising In the
Il nm