The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-22

A ScraplQG SO0nQ 8QQOUnCeu tu8t uo
was clawing at the lid to get 1t over him,
and that he finally succeeded I Judged
from the fact OF sudden silence falling on
the place.
We had finished none too soon.
Already the MAJ bearing the lantern
was descending the slippery stone steps
leading to the sepulcher.
He pushed open the door, which we
had neglected to fasten.
"This way, men. Now, be careful. We
DO not want any accident.
The four bearers slowly descended with
their burden, all entering the tomb.
I could feel my nerves quiverinR, such
was the singular nature OF the position In
which found myself. Perhaps / was
now experiencing something that had
come to many persons in a more aggra-
waited form upon finding themselves
buried alive-a feeling OF horror akin TO
despair.
"Put it down, men,"
Some one moved the box in which
was lying, but only little. 1t ohereo
more resistance than he had expected.
''There, some of you lend q hand.
Move this box yonder so that we can use
the two of them for horses. Now lift the
coffin and rest 1t across, 3d."
groaned, but the sound appeared 10
be taken as snort from one OF the men,
as they leaned over me.
We were trapped, shut into boxes, and
with heavy weight resting on the lids.
The air seemed to become suddenly
dense to me 80 that / could hardly
breathe ."
True, we had escaped discovery, but .
disaster that seemed to be q great deal
worse had now come upon us.
The men prepared to leave the vault
could hardly restrain from calling out
after them-indeed, my mouth was open
to do 80 when l thought better OF 1t.
We were left alone with the dead.
made an effort to raise the lid from
my box, but did not succeed. The mar
row space would not allow q man to
bring anything like his full strength to
bear on the subject.
One thing was fortunate, I thought.
A small corner Of the lid near my head
had been broken of. .lr
This left an opening large enough for
full supply Of air to come through.
When 1 remembered this my spirits
arose, for I realized that I was not to be
suffocated just yet, at any rate. .-.
"Joslyn!"
That was the Colonel hailing me. His
voice sounded from the depths OF the
earth, and seemed sepulchral enough to
fully suit'the occasion.
"Halloa! Colonel, now goes it?" an
swered, thinking that the occasion might
be helped by little levity, for my spirits
were very near the zero point
"This is nice pickle"
@How the deuce are we to get out?"
81 don't know. Can't you move your
lido"
sNot an inch"
sThat's bad. If I could only get
grip Oh the thing I'd bulge it."
His words gave me an idea.
I managed to twist my arm around so
that my hand passed to the end OF the
box.
Here was the hole spoken Of before.
My fingers went through, and I got
something Of clutch on the thing.
Could succeed in moving it?
There was nothing like trying 1t, and
defeat would not leave me any worse of
than had been before.
strained every muscle, and made one
heroic effort.
The result was not wholly satisfactory,
and yet I felt the lid move.
Changing my tactics / attempted to
shove it to one side, meeting with better
success.
There was now room enough to get
hold with both hands, and felt that the
matter was really settled.
Colonel, I'm working it out Have
patience for little while, and be sur
prised at nothing"
"Hurrah!" he family cried. and I be-
gan to believe he was feeling the lack OF
air.
This made me work faster, for al
though my own immunity was secured, I
did not wish my companion to suffer, for
he was OF value to me.
I pushed the obstinate cover OF the
box slowly to one side, until at length I
was able to sit up.
Then you rlay be sure I crawled out
of that place IN hurry.
I had not been able to see any Of the
men who brought the coffin in, and yet
it had struck me that the voice Of one
was familiar even when heard 80 indis.
tinctly.
could not place him, and at this time
could not bother thinking over the mat
ter.
When I crawled out OF the box, my
first duty was to strike match. l had
piece Of candle in my pocket that the
cracksman had given me, and this ]
lighted.
Colonel, are you all right still?"
A groan answered me. The man
was slowly suffocating, the lid OF the
box fitting closer than he had ever
dreamed.
I sprang to Ills relief. 1t was the work
OF few seconds to pull the lid to one
side and allow the air to enter.
Before this had shifted the musty at
mosphere Of the tomb with positive dis
gust, but my opinion Of it had undergone
something Of change.
It was precious now.
Colonel Cain Immediately revived, and
in two minutes was sitting up.
helped him out Of the box that had
almost been his coffin.
He sat on it, holding his head between
his hands.
@That was close call, Joslyn."
@For you it certainly was. Did you
ever see such luck we have for getting
into peculiar scrapes?"
"And luckily getting out again"
"That is true"
But don't understand how you man
aged to escape"
"This explains it. I got q purchase
on the lid by means Of this hole. The
rest WAS easy enouRh.n