The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-20
fooNrINUED.

Suddenly fiickering, luminous streak
appeared in the black distance as Putty
tried TO strike match 1t was wet He
tried another, producing another blue
streak.
I'VE must get a light somehow, or we
shall get a-stickin one another" he NUT
tered Amt you got ere a dry match,
mater Mines all wet"
To my increasing terror, Drigo made no
reply, supporting my belief that he saw me
and was preparing to cut me down. But
after few moments Of terrible suspense
another streak appeared in the darkness at
some distance from the Others Drigo had
found match and was trying it. He was
more successful. A green spark fell, and
the sulphur began to bubble up into violent
fame. 1t already threw a livid light on
his hideous face and a CLEAN on the knife
In his hand In another moment l should
be seen.
How could escapei The easement was
beyond them.
The steps were behind me, but 1 dared
not turn my back on that knife. The box
In front of me suggested better means,
and as Drigo raised the burning match,
making the way clear. l shot across the in.
tervening space and dropped down the
shaft into the run. The light was so dim
and my movement SO rapid that was not
recognized by the men. They saw only a
figure dash past and drop down the hole,
and under the impression that it was Taras,
as knew by their cries, they gave chase in
an instant, one-Drigo, belleve-dropping
down before had passed through the sec
ond tub, but l was out Of arms reach and
made good use Of my start.
l.s.. L.. Al, n
up to my throat in one part. My sodden
petticoat clung to my legs and weighed me
down as l rose to my feet. Nevertheless |
scrambled up into the cellar of the Joy while
the men below were cropping for the foot
irons, swearing furiously. A lamp stood
on the ground where they had left It beside
the flagstone which Taras had thrust aside
with his foot. One edge Of the stone lay
square with the side ofthe hole. Seized by
a savage impulse, caught hold of the stone
by the farther edge and raised it into a per-
pendicular position. Then, as Drigo's head
appeared, with vindictive .deviltry in his
upraised face, pushed and let it fall. 1t
struck his head, and he fell with q howl ON
bis comrade below.
1t was easy enough to escape now. A
glimmering light in the bar showed me
that the flap was open; against the wall
rested the steps by which they had de-
scended. But the blow had dealt Drigo
filled 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 the
evil those men would have done to Taras
and me. The only wish of my heart was
to infiict some terrible punishment upon
them. dragged up the stone and poised
1t in the hope that Putty might come up
and that might serve him as 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 I was waiting the stone slipped,
and in moving to keep 1t in position my
foot struck the lamp and overturned it, 1t
was large benzine lamp, and as the oil
ran out 1t took fire, sending up licking
tongues of fame The pool spread, and the
blazing liquid running over the edge of the
shaft ran down In a fiery stream and
dropped in gouts of fame. The men below
shrieked aloud In terror.
SECT out Of my way" shouted Putty,
I'VE shall be burnt alive il we stay here
We must get back through the holen
heard them cursing each other rs they
struggled together, each trying to get first
into the run. Then when tho struggle
ceased Drigo, gasping for breath cried:
1--WE can't go back. The waters up to
the top"
The pool of fire kept spreading. could
bold the stone no longer. II fell with a
thud, cutting OH the sound of mingled ex-
ecraiions from below. ran up the steps
Into the bar, and having drawn them up
After me, 10 that il the men got out OF the
shaft they could not escape from the cellar,
I let down che flap. The place was thick
with suffocating 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
the stairs. His figure was just discernible
by the faint light that came from the gas
pp Ferryboat alley. In couple of min
utes was by his side, painting for breath. 4
i've ken, YOU a-witin." Rasped.