The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-06-01

through which it had originally passed.
Whilo he was looking at it he was
startled by a sharp squeak ut his very
elbow. He glanced quickly about.
ana bright spark IN dark corner OF
the belfry caught his eye. Hepicked
up tho lantern and swung it in front
of him, and small gray animal
darted under beam. 1t was q rat.
All Mt once, Ralph recollected that
the old Eelfry was said to be infested
with these animals. and. raising him.
self, lie turned to go. AS ho did 80
his foot struck the edge Of fooi
board and he fell, knocking the Ian
tern over and instantly cxtinguishine
the light.
Somewhat startled now, for the first
time, he CROPPED about for the tral
door, but could not find it. Th,
moonlight, which came from above,
lost itself in the narrow tower, anC
where he lay it was almost entirely
dark. At last, however, his hand came
Iii contact with something which ht
knew was the trap door; but, even II.
he toucncd it, it tell with banrl II.
nervously tried to raise it again; bui
in vain. The door was flush with the
floor about it, aud there was no ring
bolt or projection by which to secure
o hold on it.
WnIIc nsIpn was struggling to get o
finger beneath tho trap door, the
samo sharp squeak which had startled
him before sounded again, and this
time it was almost immediately echoed
from hall dozen other places.
As he turned about, in every direc.
tion there shonc in the darkness tiny
sparks of light. Ralph knew that
even n couple cs the animal, he woald
not have feared. But n dozon of
them, boldly surrounding him in this
way in the darkness, sent shiver
down his back. He noteI, too, that
they did not seem afraid of him,
though he banged on the floor and
yelled ut them. Instead, they grew
bolder rs their numbers increased,
and ono of them presently darted
across his foot.
Ralph now sprang to his feet and
rushed at the enemy. Those in front
OF him at once retreated, rs ho could
tell by the disappearance of their
eyes But as he moved several jumped
at him from behind, aud one fastened
its teeth in his leg. He kicked wildly
at this, and the rat was thrown to one
side. Another instantly sprang at
him, and then n half-dozen Mt once, a
couple of the vicious little animals
fastening themselves in his clothes.
Ralph whirlel about, dashing his
assailants off for moment. 1t was
only for moment, however, for he
was attacked again Immediately, and
this time more tiercely than before.
Thoroughly terrific now, he yelled
loully, and kickcl AMI struck out
with fists AMI feet unfortunately
But no answer clmc to his cries. Tn"
walls of the tower cchoa his voice auI
the slucats AMI squcals OF the rats
but that was all.
Something struck Raj ph in the face
1nstinctively he luale pass Mt it with
his hand, thinking it was n rat. Blu
bell rope, which shook with the blow,
then swaycl into his face again.
Atthe second blow an idea camo to
him. He reached out quickly with
both hands aud grasped tho rope and
pulled himself from the floor. Then,
with one trem ,ndoIs kick, he shook
off the last of the rats which cluuy to
him. and, hand over hanl, raised him
self u half-dozen feet into the air.
The rope slowly descended with his
weight rs tho whecll slowly rcvolyci.
The bell Mt last struck solitary,
mut1icd note rs the tongue fell against
its edge. Then it was silent, rcn,;n-
ing tilted in the air, AMI, mnd Ralph
rested.
But the strain on HIS arms soon
warned him that he coull noS long
stay i'll his present position, even w tn
his feet twisted about the rope rs they
were. 70 go down he did not dare
To 80 uo was tho alternatives; s.
slowly he pulled himself higher until
his head struck something hard. He
quickly put up hand and felt for the
obstacle. A short examination told
him thut it was beam. Then he re-
mcmbcred that n couple Of stout tim
bers ran across the bclfry and gave
support to the frame in which hung
the bell
Ralph twisted himself about an Il
tried to force himself between the two
beams. But the Intervening space
would only admit his head and shoul-
lcrs, and, having worked himself that
far upward, he found his legs wore SD
confined that he could scarcely move
them. He then clutchcl the rop"
with one hand, and the most convcn-
lent beam with the other, and, for n
full minute, renamed motionlcSs,
resting. Below him he could hear the
rats squaking, and occasionally be felt
the rope shake rs som" particularly
active animal spranG nj it.
The movement of the rope suggested
n plan to him which promised tempo
rary rest to his arms, and h a. ono,
put it into execution. First he low
cred himself so that his hend was clear
of the beams. Then, while H. chung
fast with one hand, he raise | the slack
rope below AMI twisted it about tho
part from which he hung, SO that n
loop was Trde, into which he quickly
thrust one leg. 1t was very di i1icult
work, for the rope was thick and
heavy bui when it wns done upl no