The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-23

the man reached the top breathing very
hard from the work Of climbing and you
may smile II you please) knew from
this breathing that II was Dauphn. In
deed I had been so much In the dark
that I was becoming like bat, with no
least need for eyes. and knew both the
Captains and DauphIn's manner OF
breathing as we'll as their voices. When
ne had pulled himself up I spoke to him
I'm whisper.
rs that you. Harry" ne said. much
surprised / answered Yes. and then as
fast as / could told him what had hap,
pened since had come up, and how mat
ters stood. He then told me that he had
first gone up the Gopher Hole, but, being
SCARED by the throbblng SOUND, whlch
now filed the whole cave beyond the
Trap Door. he had retreated back to-
ward Rope Pit. and had like to have been
caught by the men, they having come up
the pole. He had 10 put out MS loren ana
Green away. and had finally thrown them
of the track and got down the pole him
self but. having no light or food had
seen but one thing 10 do. that Is. 10 come
M the rope and take his chances His
hands were sore from feeling his way and
he was faint with hunger. He boosted me
IN and got what was left OF the bread,
which I gave him. together with some
meat and cheese. the first right food he
had tasted I'm four or five weeks II he
spoke the truth. He was soon done and
then. on my telling him that | had
matches he was fast for our going back
down the rope.
Come on. Harry" he said. Down
there Is no place for n white man or an
honest man to live, but II is safer than
this u.s. Though If we could get more
such grub as that I'd say stay. We can
get along without the Cap'n. The Cap'n
Is a good man I'm some ways. but he's
ever too free with. 'Daupnlin, hold your
tongue or. 'Dauphin, you'll be we'll
hanged some day He amt got no feel
ms for man what's been unlucky. the
Cap'n amt Were well rid Of the Cap'n,
so we are. Harry
'I'n not listen to such talk about the
Captain" | said. you may go down "
YOU choose, but I mean 10 stay and see
II ! can't do something for him 'u'f
| best stay, too and maybe we can get out.
You ought TO know some place mere
where we can hide til they give no 'he
hunt for us and then we can see what
we can do"
"Oh. for the matter Of what yor cay
| I do know an uncommon snug place 10
stow ourselves. but staying here and
worst thing we can do"
Come. show me that place" I said.
| and we started with him grumblins like a
cross bear about the Captain.
We went only a little ways and then lit
/ n candle. There" said Dauphln point
| ing to n hole not much bigger t11n far-
rel head I'm the ceiling; up there if
place whichH make YOU say you're In the
| Robins Nest again. # is so Ike it, lar
ring the hole I'm the bottom
! 1t was beyond our reach. but he sto'p-
| ed over and / stood on his back: 'aen as
/ he slowly strachtened up / got hoii OF
/ the edge and drew myself M, win hia
pushing on my feet. Then he ross "a Up
the candle and the last Of the bread,
and / lay on my face. and. catching my
| toes in a crack. reached down and hauled
| him I'D bv the arms though the lit went
close to pulling me i'm two. The place. as
| ne had said. was very Ike the Hohln $
| Nest. and being. In way. hung up ]
| called II the Swallows Nest. There was
| also some room around the edges, cracks
] and low places. one Of them with some
| little stalactites and pools Of water. There
/ was no other way TO get out except
| through the hole in the bottom.
! IF Ike London shoves his head up that
! there hole he'll need linimcnt Tor To
| chucklcd Dauphin. Then he broke on a
| stalaemlte shaped like a teacup. which
must have weighed FIVE pounds, ana,
tearing a sleeve from his coat. he tied
| IL in one end OF the sleeve with leather
| strings from his boot tops, winding II all
! tightly. and making a most horrible
weapon. IT seemed 20 me- and he was that
cheerful about Il. Chucking himself ana
! talking Of London's head. that If made
me shudder 10 watch him.
| But no head was thrust up the mole,
| though some Of the men went through
the room below several times From a ie"
words we caught I concluded that they
| had given mp the hunt for botn OF us.
| n must have gone near 20 being two
| do,., that we STAYED I'm the swallow S
Nest. then We left 81, We thought Tor a
/ short time only but We never sn" li
again. and | dare guess that bunch oi
kevs that I forgot and left there Us
| there 10 this day. 1t fell out I'm this wise
| Our yictuals being gone and our candIes
| dow, to one small bit. something had On
he done: decided that we had hest SCOUT
| little and see what 10 should ne s'
we started. We soon came up near th'
| Fort. creeping Ike cate. over rock a
| tho ond Of a small hole we got view OF i'
| down "A large tunnel. Thus ] may descrl ne
| n I'm two dozen words. Largepoom, nearly
| round maybe one hundred feet across
| eoor mostly level and sandy. Bright hre
| in middle. with smoke going straight UP
| as IL IL were under dome, as DauphH
| GndeeD said II was. The outlaws we,
| sitting about the fire drinking ana snok
| inc Iondon still with his arm in a sling
Nv heart gave glad leap as | saw the
Captain sitting n little to one side seem
ing as well as ever.
| The liquor they were drinking was III
bottles. which they passed about ireeS
| enough. We watched them Tor some
time Dauphin growing every time ne
saw them drink. / had hard work t'
keep him stil. and was on the polht OIL
Going back to the Swallows Nest "hel
one Of the men rolled M in his blanke
nv the fire as II 10 sleep for the hlsh'
soon the others began 70 90 Hhe"iav
bsing think. two-thirds drunk ah'
thought there would never be Det
Cor time to do what ! had planned
pv.and-bv they were all in thelr damn
| cts except London and one "lher' y
this London got up and snapped pan
| ~ handouts on the CAPTAIN Wtis'9
who then himself lay down Win
| blanket. while London went back ana US
Pint was a good deal dlsheartened t.
see that the other man intended 10 slal
| on guard. He sat on a rock cauNl
burning beside him. and win MS ieNolNe
| in his lap. But soon he began 10 ullhh on
~ n big fat bottle which he took IRON
his pocket and I had hopes. Ana m
homes used me well. too because a'le
some time he rolled over ON the par
ground and went as sound 10 sleep as ,h
1