The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-05-14

1neu the narrower part OF the crevtce 10
see II he could not climb to the roof by
bracing himself from wall to wall. AS
it was reasonably evident that the cav
ern had originally been nothing more
than an irregular crack in the sand
stone, open. at the top through it's en-
tire length, and afterward gradually
covered in by slow accumulations of
earth and debris interviewer with twigs
and grass roots, he argued that it would
be comparatively easy to dig through
this thin covering If he could obtain
foothold near enough to the roof to en-
able him to attack it. To make the
most of his strength, he dragged the log
to the place selected for the expert
ment, with the intention of using it for
ladder from which to begin the as
cent; and, having braced it against one
of the walls, he took off his coat and
shoes and made an attempt to work his
way up the desired underground.
The first trial was a failure. He lost
his hold before he had assembled to
twice his height,and slid back to the
sandy floor of the erevice; but there
was enough of a promise of success in
the undertaking to make him wear
away the remainder of the day in re-
peated endeavors, and to encourage him
to try again and again, even after the
long abstinence from food had begun
to have its effect on his tired muscles
and overstrained nerves. The final at
tempt, made just at dusk, carried him
to within few feet of the roof; but the
darkness baffied him; he again lost his
hold, and it was only by the utmost ex-
ertion of his failing strength that he
saved himself from falling heavily to
the bottom of the cavern. AS it was, he
knocked the log down in his descent,
and, realizing that nothing could be
done without the help of daylight, he
lay down in the sand and tried to 60 to
sleep.
Lying there in the darkness and lis
tcning to the microscopic noises sift-
ing through the entrance to the cave
he fancicd he heard sound as of some
light object falling upon the sand. He
first thought of wild beasts, but, re.
fecting that no animal large enough to
attack him would be likely to enter the
trap-like crevice, the incident was soon
forgotten in train of suggestions hav
ing the indistinct noises of the day fol-
starting-point. Now that he recalled
! them, he remembered hearing sounds
like the echoes of dull blows at irregu
lar intervals all through the day, ant
he specialized over their probable origin
| until WEAKNESS overcame him and hi
/ fell into doze from which the growl
ing of the rising storm awakened him
! Since there seemed to be sort of com
panionship in the roll of the thundel
and the sweep of the wind, he sat up t.
listen, and in one of the lulls he though
he heard voice at the mouth of the cav
ern. Wondering if his captors wer'
coming to liberate him, he got upol
his feet and felt his way to the farthe
end Of the cell, standing under the aper
ture and staring up into the gloom
While he stood there listening an,
looking, a small star of yellow ligh
made its appearance at the extreme ent
Of the rocky corridor, and he saw tn
shadows of two faces framed between
the walls of the narrow slit in which tn
chamber terminated. His first impuis
was to make his presence known; bu
before he had taken step he recoile'
in horror ut the sight of a gun barre
thrust through the crevice above tn
wavering star of light.
Under some conditions mental proc
csses are instantaneous. Ringbran
saw and understood the purpose of hi
enemies as clearly as if his sentence ha
been pronounced with formal verbiagt
With the understanding came fren
zied fit of terror, and he shrunk wit.
chattering teeth and trembling limb
into the deepest recesses of the cave
the wavering light danced in fantasti
gyrations before his fascinated gaze
! noise like the beating OF hundre
drums filled his ears; aud he could fec
the cold perspiration pricking fror
every pore. The suspense was horr
ble, and for few moments he though
he should die from the very abjectne
{ of his fear; then suddenly he felt
sharp pang as If something had give
way in his brain, and the overpowerir
nausea of terror vanished asifby magi
3 Iii its place came strange feeling
t cxaltation that sent the blood tinglir
2 to his finger tips; the roaring in h
ears ceased, and his sight became on
E more keen and steady. Springing
: his feet, he drew the colonels revolv
Z from his pocket and took careful al
: deliberate aim at the face behind Il
i yellow star of light; his finger press'
4 The trigger, and the crash of doub
t detonation filed the cavern. With q
e flash and the report the light disa
(; peared, and he felt sting of pain
b his arm; he knew he was wounded, b
d the hurt seemed only to augment Z
, violence of the fit of ferocity that hi
: taken complete possession OF hi
!, Rushing toward the point where u
!, light had disappeared, he wedged hiI
u self into the crevice, grinding his tee
7 IN iinpotent rage when he found tn
, he could not reach far enough to g
: the range for a second shot. F
u After it was all over, he sat dov
: upon the log and examined his arm
u well MS he could by the sense of touc