The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-06-06


Maya halted on the brink TO strip her
self SO that there might be as little as
possible TO impede her movements i'm
climbing the stair, and twisted her
hair into knot. Next she tied the
cord about her middle and the water
skin, to which she fastened the flint
and steel, upon her shoulders. Light
ing two of the largest torches she fixed
them slantingwise in crevices OF the
rock, so that their flames shone over
the mouth of the shaft, down which she
threw, first bundle of unlit torches,
and lastly one on fire. This torch did
not go out, as she had expected that ii
would, for presently looking down the
pit she saw spark of light shining
one hundred and fifty feet or more be-
meath her.
Now all her preparations were COM
plete, and nothing remained 10 be done
except TO descend and search for the
water.
BY the time that she was n third of
the way down the shaft her courage re-
turned TO her, and the only fear she
felt was lest some of the inches should
be broken. Fortunately this was not
the case, although one of them was so
much worn that her toes slipped out OF
II, and for a second or two she hung by
her hands. Recovering herself, she
went on from step TO step till at length
she stood at the bottom of the shaft
After a few minutes pause TO get her
breath, Maya found one OF the dry aloe
stems and lit IL at the embers of the
torch, which she had thrown down the
pit. Then she looked round her 20 find
herself In a large, natural cavern of no
great height, which sloped gently
downward furthe: than she could see.
Turning her eyes to the floor she
searched for and found the patti that
lad been followed out by the feet OF
the ancients, but now was half hidden
In sand and dust.
II ran straight down the cave and she
followed IL for fifty PAGES or more,
holding the light In one hand and
some spare torches under her arm.
Suddenly the passage took turn,
and there Ia the center of a wonderful
place, such as she had never seen be-
fore, CLEANED the water which she had
rislxed her life to reach.
This water, though clear as crystal,
was not still, for once i'm every two sec
onds n great bubble rose in the center OF
the pool 20 burst on its surface and send
a ring OF ripples Co the rocky sides. So
beautiful was this bubble, and so regu-
lar its appearance, that for some min
ing that she had no time TO spare, set
herself TO get To the water, only 20 find
that she was confronted by a new diff
Guilty, and one that but for her fore
sight might have proved insuperable.
The rock bank of the pool was SO smooth
and slopcd so steepiy TO the water that
IL was quite impossible for anyone TO
keep a footing on 1t.
The ancient had overcome the
trouble by means OF a wooden stair
case, as was evident from the places
followed in the rock TO receive the up
rights, but this structure had long since
rotted away. AT the head OF where
this staircase had stood a hole was
bored I'm the rock, doubtless TO receive
n rope by which the water bearers sup
ported themselves while they filled
their Jars, and the sight of this hole
gave Maya an idea.
Untying the cord which she had
brought with her, she made IL fast
through the hole, and having fixed the
torch into one of the spaces followed TO
hold the timbers of the stairway, she
slid down the bank till she stood breast
high In the water. For n minute or
more she remained thus drinking her
iii and enjoying the GOODNESS OF her
hath. then, first having taken care TO
remove the finder that was tied 20 II,
ehe slipped the water skin from her
shoulder, washed II out, filled and re-
placed II.
Next she dragged herselfup the bank,
and by the light OF n new torch started
Cor the foot Of the shaft. Here Maya
eested awhile, gathering up her ener-
ries, then she commenced the ascent.
There were f0i of the notches, for she
had counted them as she came down,
and now again she began 20 count so
that she might know her exact position
In the shaft, OF which she could see
nothing because of the intense dark
ness. Before she had assembled fifty
steps she was dismayed TO find feeling
OF WEAKNESS taking possession OF her,
which forced her 20 pause awhile, hang
ING TO the face OF the shaft. Then she
went on again, and with great efforts
reached the seventy-fifth step.
Then Il seemed that voice called
her. and she struggled, writing forward
like wounded snake. tn darkness
closed IL upon her mind.
Wien Maya recovered few minuOcs
later She found that she was lying upon
fhr edge Of the pit. over which her feet
stfil hung Ingfantlv abe remembered