The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-21

these creatures to which these bones be-
longed might have fallen over into the
pit, and the latest conner devoured all the
remains that he found and so sustained
life for a few days. But could not relin-
quish my hope so soon and tried to believe
that there were signs of some animal
making this its den, and that the animal
must have some exit. Repeating this to
myself fell asleep at last, worn out with
the fatigue and nervous excitement of the
day.
Il was awakened by the shifting of
some animal in my face, but l could not
make out what the animal was, though
there was a full moon looking down the
shaft at me like mild, benefcent eye. l
lay quite still, not daring to move mus
Gle, but presently the cold, damp nose Of
the unseen inspector of my body tickled
me into a sneeZe. There was low growl
and sharp teeth seized my wounded
shoulder in such a way as to cause me the
intensest agony, but l controlled myself
and presently the teeth let go and the
creature, whatever it was, walked away
and | could hear it crunching the bones
between its powerful jaws.
81 meant, if possible, to learn which
way it went on leaving the bottom of the
pit, but on this occasion l was disap-
pointed, for after while the sound of its
tearing and gnawing was over, and though
/ ran at once TO the spot where l thought
1t was, the animal was gone. All next
day | waited for his coming with impa-
thence that you must have known some
thing of my position to appreciate, and
growing hungry myself was glad to eat a
bit of the uncooked flesh it had left and
which was piece of mountain sheep. 1t
was some time before / could prevail on
myself to touch the water at the lowest
part of the pit, but thirst keen and parch-
ing at last overcame my objections, and
drank long and deeply.
at was again near night when my Wis
itor came again, and this time l marked
the spot where 1t seemed to enter, and
moved toward it, but she sharp eyes Of
the animal noted my action, and, with a
growl of fury, attacked me so suddenly
that had only time to catch up the near
est object, which happened to be thigh
bone of some large beast, and this l
brought down with a terrible thwack
upon the head of the aggressor. 1t fell
back for an instant, when l plucked out
my knife and struck it to the hilt in what
l hoped was the creatures neck, but
which proved to be its shoulder Then,
unable to withdraw my blade at once,
again struck with my bone, and stunned
the animal for moment.
when 1t rose again l could hear it
crawling away, and reaching out seized
it by the tail: it turned on me with a
snarl and caught my hand in its teeth,
and | felt upon my flesh the warm drip Of
blood that told me that the creature was
wounded, perhaps badly. AS l made no
move, it soon dropped my hand and went
on whining piteously, and, guided by
this and putting out my fingers with as
light a touch as l could upon its sleek
skin, followed it the few feet that lay
between it and the wall. In moment it
was gone, and l was at loss TO know
where. But l knew the exit must be
within very short distance of me, so l
lay for second recruiting my strength,
and, after minute or two, felt cold
breath of air in my face.
This came as if down funnel in the
earth, and following it / soon had my
face at the opening. Where the animal
could go l could follow, so l prepared to
go up the channel 1t was quite narrow
at first but widened out presently, and |
guessed that ! was in another shaft Of the
old mine. After crawling on for half an
hour, my progress being impeded by rocks
and debris that had fallen into the place,
l saw ahead Of me the faint glimmer of
day, and in another ten minutes was in
the open air.