The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
CHAPTER V.
A VOICE FROM THE DEPTHS.

he found huge Slice OF nice CAKE on MS
table. and again he cried "Astonshingp'
In the spring however, the bouquets again
began to appear, much to the old mans
delight. He began to believe that after all
he was really fond OF flowers.
One dav the little girl was stealing out
of the old mans cabin, after having de-
posted fresh bouquet, when voice call
ing out, Hello help! helpI' caused her to
halt. ''Where does that queer cry come
from from I wonder?" said the child, and she
stood and listened. Again she heard a
faint and seemingly far-away cry Of
"Helpi"
She looked up and down the river and
up the hill above the cabin, but could see
no one. While she was running about and
wondering where the voice came from, 1t
again reached her ears.
"Whv, it must be Uncle Ben, and he's
in his tunnel2" and she few to the mouth
of the tunnel, but a few yards distant, and
listened.
"Helpr' came a cry, in voice she rec
ognized as that of Uncle Ben.
Eyes Uncle Ben; l am here! I'm COM
ing!" cried she. wait till get a candle,
and into the cabin she ran for candle and
matches.
Lighting her candle just within the
mouth of the tunnel she swiftly advanced
into the long, dark drift. She had not pro-
ceeded very far, however, before the we'll
known voice of Uncle Ben was heard, as
he cried out in surprise: why. is that
YOU. little one? Bless you, my child
Why. | have but to cry out and my good
fairy instantly appears"
"Oh, Uncle Ben, you're living on the
ground!''' cried the girl. What is the
matter?"
Don't be alarmed, child; it is nothing.
/ hurt my leg so that | could not walk. l
crawled out this far, and, getting tired,
set up cry to bring some one to help me
to my cabin. But how came you here,
some one passing along the trail, but never
dreamed of your hearing the call. Where
were you, little oneP"
"Well, Uncle Ben, you see I'd just been
into your house and left the flowers"
IAN? Then, at last you acknowledge
that you are the good fairy that brings the
flowers? But 1 knew it, child knew it
all the time. And now you come to find
and help Uncle Ben when he can no longer
help himself You are, indeed. my good
guardian fairy p
Butch, Uncle Ben what can 1 do to
help you? Can | carry you out to the
cabin? Can you walk if you lean on meW
mo, child, no. Go and tell your father
where l am, and tell him that am afraid
my leg is broken. But don't let that
brighten you, little one, and don't run too
1dSL. L Slld1l UC vel SOIAlO4ldDlC uClC I'LL
til your father comes. A broken leg is
nothing-nothing at all. 1t will be well in
a week."
Little "Tum Tum" darted out of the tun-
mel and flew, rather than ran, along the
trail up the river. She called to every one
she met or saw to go to the assistance of
"Uncle Ben
"Who?" asked nearly every person.
"'Surly Ben you call him., cried she,
as she ran. "But he is good, and he is
hurt in his tunnel. Run to himp'
Lighting q candle, she dashed into her
fathers mine, and soon he and his part
ners were out and Fastening down the
river.
The miners who hurried to old Ben's
assistance soon had him out of the tunnel
and laid upon the cot in the cabin, when
one was sent for the nearest doctor.
In few words the injured man explained
to the miners about him-all now full of
sympathy and kindness-that blast which
he had placed in q large bowlder had ex-
ploded prematurely, hurting large,
jagged fragment against his right thigh
and hip. For time he had lain stunned
and unconscious, but on recovering his
senses he had crawled out along the tunnel
as far as he had strength to move, for pain
and loss OF blood had made him very weak.
The physician found the old man thigh
and hip so badly shattered and lacerated
| that he at once pronounced the case hope
| less. He declared that it would be worse
| than useless to subject the in jured man to
! the pain and shock that would be atten-
dant upon the amputation of the shattered
| limb. In amanner as considerate as pos
| sible the doctor told the old man that he
could live but four or five days at most,
and that he would do well to arrange his
worldly affairs without delay.
That evening little ''Tum Tum" and her
| father visited the old man, for he had said
to John Dale: 81 want to have her here
in my poor cabin at least once before
die"
The face of the sufferer frightened and
| he seemed to forget his pain as soon as the
child appeared before him.
at first the little girl wept for her old
! friend, but he soon succeeded in comfort
| ing and reassuring her. He was not con-
| tent till she was seated on a chair beside
| his cat, where he could hold her hand in
| his while he talked. He then ioked with
| her about the way in which she had
played the good fairy" by stealing into
his cabin with her floral offerings. and
! became as merry as though he had been
unhurt and in the best of health. When
visited by pang so severe that he could
not control his features he turned his face
aside from the child till it had passed.
The next dav little "Tum Tum" an.
peared early at Uncle Bens cabin with a
fresh bouquet and remained prattling at
| his bedside for several hours. During
most of this time the old miner who was
| in attendance in the capacity of nurse
old Zeke Bundy-remained out in front OF
the cabin, marching up and down the trail
and occasionally taking his pipe out of his
mouth to mutter some passing
thought. After shaking his head fol
some time the old fellow broke out with
| Never seed the beat ont! Old Ben Sur
| Tvs got a heart into him arter all. He
| couldn't think more o. that wild, gal
lopin young ,un if he was her mother. As
| for her, he's her Uncle Ben'-her dear
Uncle Benz How did she ever find him
outp Must be a case of two cranks-the
wolf and the wild gurl"
To miner of the bar, who came dowr
the trail and proposed to go into the cabir
and see old Ben, the patrolling nurse
curtiy said: ''Hold on! you can't go in
there now. Old Ben's fixin to pass in hi:
chips. John Dale's little gurl-the wilc
un-'s at his bedside. He Civ me hint
that he had somethin particular to say tc
| her-good advices, / s'pose-before hs
dies. Pore old Benz His times sot. Hes
| got ter go. Too bad; too bad Jist as hi.
/ heart was berinnin' to mellerl,, And thf