Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-05-14
merciless teeth OF the gigantic saw,

merciless teeth OF the gigantic saw,
and then, goodby to life.
The beam being some six yards
long, and I being attached to the end
furthest from the saw, there were
some four yards now standing between
me and destruction. I knew that the
saw was q moderately quick one, for
had often watched it in an idle mo-
ment, little dreaming of what the fu-
ture was to bring forth for me in con-
nection with this apparatus, and I
calculated that five minutes at least
must elapse before I was caught by
the revolving saw.
1 wonder if any human being, no
matter how great his imaginative
power, can realize, even dimly, my
feelings as I lay staring up at the
ceiling while the beam was slowly,
but surely, drawn by the automatic
pulley nearer and nearer to the saw.
And still the machinery whirled and
whistled, still the betting groaned,
still the wheels flew round, bringing
me nearer and nearer to death.
For few moments fancy played
strange tricks with me, and the clear
ness of my brain vanished. I thought
that was dead and had passed to
some wondrous island, where Ella
was beside me. Then I awoke, and
the horrible reality came back to me
with sickening pang. For the ma.
chinery still whirred and whistled,
the betting still groaned and the
wheels flew round, bringing me
closer and closer to the end.
Now I was a yard from the saw,
now only two feet, and soon, very
soon, 1 must reckon in inches
Nearer and nearer still, the huge saw
revolving like some fierce monster, its
teeth shining in the warm sunlight
waiting to taste my blood. Nearer
God help me, nearer still!
Twelve inches, eleven inches, ter
inches, and still the beam crept on
I was parched and choked; my eyes
seemed to burn with a redhot fierce
ness. I tried to cry out, but breath
failed me. Nearer and nearer still
On, on, on, went the beam, ant
even as 1 gave myself up for lost, ant
felt the wind produced by the saw OIL
my temples, I heard tremendous
noise, followed by a piercing cry o
human agony. Then Inconsistencies
came, and I knew no more.
When I recovered, ound mysel
Oh the floor of the shop. My bonds
hal been unfastened, and several peo
pie were beside me. One of them
whom took to be a doctor, inquired
kindly how felt.
"Much better" I returned, as
swallowed the brandy which he helt
toward me; every much better. Blu
now tell me, please, what has hap
pened, and how it comes about that
have been rescued"
"You will have to tell us afterward,
he said, pleasantly, chow it came
about that you We're bound to tina
saw. BY Jove, you had a very mar
row squeak. You see, the boiler
burst. and the machinery stopped
just in time"
understood all in moment. Thu
maniac, forgetful of all else save hi
desire for vengeance, had doubtless
forgotten to open the safety valve
with the result that the boiler plates
had become overheated, and the ex
plosion had occurred.
I looked up at the betting and saw
that it hung limp and inert.
"Ah, yes," said the doctor, motto
ing my glance, "the shock of the ex
plosion no doubt threw the belt off tn
shaft; but if you look Mt your shoes
my friend, You will see what marrow
squeak you have had"
looked at my boots and found tina
the heels had actually been cut
by the saw, so that had not the boile
exploded at that moment, I mus
surely have gone out to one of thu
most horrible deaths that the mind o
man can conceive. It'll Bits.