The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-09
FARGO'S MAP OF

hands and knees, but not once did
make a mistake and so wrong i went
bv our bedroom, and heard the suaiiBe
thump. thump. thump. which now lnieu
the tunnel at the side. On anu Oh NJ
rjed till I came TO the foot OF the STEEP
tunnel leading TO the sink-hole dome. l
looked eagerly on the ledge for the rope,
where | had seen il when | got the gun:
but ii was gone.
need not say that / was astonished.
The candle was down 10 the last men,
and the melted tallow was running over
and hardening on my fingers. couiu
only hurry back to the PIT where the
Captain had gone over. Here Jana
speak with due bounds 1 was even more
astonished. The matter which struck me
speechless with wonder was the rope
which | had gone after. one end tied
about the pillar ard the rest coiled on me
edge of the pit rot four yards from where
the Captain had gone over.
Nh candle had some time before got
too short 10 carry, so | had stuck IL IN
the hollow of the larger end OF small
stalactite which | had broken off. The
melting tallow had filled this. though
there was not teaspoonful or IL lell'
making IL more like a small lamp. Wheh
/ saw the rope | instantly pushed inc
coil over the edge into the pit. ] heard
stuck the stalactite in my cap and start
ed down the rope. knowing nothing how
far il might be, nor ever having trled
20 go down any rope before: indeed. IN
nv right sense (for I was truly out or
my mind) | doubt If had had the cour-
age to do IT, $500,
Down l went, hand urder hand. till
7 found my feet in the water but push
ing against the wall l managed TO swing
fVaa NVl
| peered into the darkness and called
out Captain with my last strength.
Here. Harry" / heard as If coming
from deep underground. / could not tell
which way TO go. so | stood still with my
lamp blazing finely In my cap. and IN a
moment the Captain came falling over
some rough rocks. and | ran forward 10
him. Then il happened that my very last
grain of strength was gone, and l re-
member only OF beginning TO sink down.
and not even of striking the ground: and
the next thing knew as | opened my
eyes was a great blaze OF flame as IF
the cave had been on fire. then / saw
il was torch sticking in the ground,
and that the Captain was kneeling be-
side me splashing water in my face, and
eating something. taking fierce bites, ike
a wild beast IL seemed TO me.
Eat IT, Harry; eat IT, he cried thrust
ng something into my hands. ard / fell
TO doing so. also like a beast of prey.
I think. only knowing this. that what I
vas devouring was soft and greasy. and
I truly believe 1t was five minutes before
! came to realize that ] was boiling cold.
half-roasted FISH.
Till the last OF the fish was gone We
neither of us spoke one word, any more
than two dogs nigh. have done: and
sometimes have thought that we growl-
ed at each other and fought over the
last moutl:ful. but ! suppose We aid not
it was only after we had finished 0here
was little enough of the fish, though we
ate ii bones and alb and drunk at the
river that we could afford the time to
talk; then the Captain said:
Harry. you came in the nick OF time
with that rope. How did you ever man
age 10 get it here at al, and you SO
weak"
Whercupon / told him the whole story
as | have written il here. The Captal rs
eyes opened wider and wider as I went
on. we being now both enough refreshed
so that we had the life 10 be surprised:
and when | had done he thought some
minutes and then said:
well. Harry. don't know how II got
here. but Ii must have come by my hands
! suppose Isaac London or some of his
gang brought II for their own purpose
and you missed each other in the road
some way. They must be all around us
and we had best keep out of their sight
II we can. We have had little food
and perhaps we can get more and then
ind our way out"
"But tell me how you got out of the
water after your fall?" said anxiously.
II don't rightly know. but I suppose
had sense enough left in me after
struck TO founder out. because after a
while came to myself lying half on the
ground and half in the water. could see
nor hear nothing; then called 20 you and
getting no answer thought would crawl
about and find the fire. I went the wrong
way, and had been creeping among rocks
and pits, and pools OF water for what
seemed like hours when I heard you
call After you Hoped down In that faint