Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-04-20

rock over my head and the other
burying itself in the mud in the bot
tom. could mako out u ledge pro-
lecting few feet ont from the per-
pendicular wall, and under this I ran
for shelter from tho murderous rain
that was falling down that old shaft.
Here l was safe, and after several more
shots there was silence and tho two
Williams must have gone on, thinking I
lay dead there where no man might
bury me and where only whitened
skeleton might be found in future
years for some one to marvel over for
a moment and then to leave.
at had been late in the afternoon
when 1 descended, but was already
dark rs could be down there, and oven
If L had anything with which to have
kindled light, every match had had
been destroyed by tho water into
which had fallen. walked round
and round my prison, longing in vain
Tor the torch, at least, that Sharp and
the other rascal were to have lowered
after me, but leaving my starting
point, felt my way about until /
came back to it, and calculated that
the shaft was five by five feet. But 1
could discover no outlet, save TINT
far above my head. Then 1 recon-
noitered to sec what was in the pit
besides water, mud and ME. On one
side away from the little pool came
across heap of bones of various ami
mails, MS near as L could Judge, and
handling these discovered something
that sent the delicious intoxication of
hope once more thrilling through my
veins, and this was whilo many of
these bones were brittle with age and
had long been bare, there were others
that still had fragments of flesh hang
ing to them i'll way rs if some ami
NAL had eaten meal here.
Reflection camo then whispering
that these creatures to which these
bones belonged might have fallen over
into the pit, and the latest conner de-
voured all the remains that no found
and so sustained life for few DAYS
But L could not relinquish my hope so
soon and tried to believe that these
were signs of some animal making this
its den and that this animal must have
some exit Repeating this to myself l
fell asleep ut last, worn out with the
fatigue and nervous excitement of the
day. was awakened by the snuiiing
of some animal i'll my face, but could
not make out what this animal was,
though there was n full moon looking
down the shaft Mt me, like n mild
beneficent eye. L lay quite still, not
daring to move amuscle, but presently
the cold, damp nose of the unseen in
spector of my body tickled me into ii
sneezc. There was low growl and
sharp teeth seized my wounded
shoulder i'll such way rs to cause mo
the intensest agony, Tut 1 controlled
myself, and presently tho teeth let go
and the creature, whatever it was,
walked away and could hear it
crunching tho bones between its
powerful jaws.
81 meant, if possible, to learn which
way it went on leaving the bottom of
the pit, but OH this occasion I was dis
appointed, for after awhile the sound
OF its tearing and gnawing was over,
and though ran at once to tho spot
where L thought it was, the animal
was gone. All next day l waited for
its coming with Impotence. that YOU
must have known something of my po-
sition to appreciate, and growing hun
CRY myself was glad to eat bit of the
uncooked flesh it had left, and which
was piece of mountain sheep. TWAS
some time before I could prevail on
myself to touch the water at the lowest
part of the pit, but thirst, keen and
parching, at last overcame my objcc-
ton, and I drank long and deeply.
est was again near night when nv
visitor came again, and this time 1
marked the spot where it seemed to
enter, and moved toward it, but the
sharp eyes of the animal noted nv nc
ton, and with growl of fury attaked
me so suddenly that had only time
to catch mp the nearest object which
happened to be thigh bone of some
large beast, and this L brought down
with terrible thwack upon the head
of the aggressor. 1t fell back for an
instant, when plucked out my knife
and stuck it to the hilt in which
hoped was the creatures neck, but
which proved to be its shoulder. Then,
unable to withdraw my blade ut once,
again struck with my bone, and
stunned the animal for moment.
When it arose again could hear it
crawling away, and reaching out
seized it by the tail; it turned on me
with n snarl and caught my hand in
it's teeth. and I felt upon my flesh the
warm drip of blood that told me that
the creature was wounded, perhaps
badly. AS [ made no move, it soon
dropped my hand and went on whining
piteously, and, guided by this and by
putting out my fingers with MS light n
touch ms could upon it's sleek skin,
l followed it the few feet that lay be-
tween il and tho wall II moment
it WAS gone, and [ was Mt loss to know
where. But knew the exit must be
within very short distance of me, 80
lay for second recruiting my
strength, and after n minute or two,
felt II cold breath of air in my face.