Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-08
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
THIS Is A TERRIBLE TEN MINUTES
Midnight in the cave and two weary
men peering over the barricade into thu
gloom, so as to guard against surprise
Twenty -four hours ago DAILY kept watci
with me, sitting where Snowfall To-
night strove with sleep; now his body
was lying within few yards Of me un
der the yellow sand. Still he was richer
in knowledge than all the centuries had
made any living philosopher, for ht
knew what lay beyond life's bourn
What was TO become Of me before "a
hours' / would either, like DAILY. have
solved the great mystery, or might b
and it was my cherished hope-on my
way to bring help and deliverance te
the little camp.
II is indeed merciful Providence
that denies man prescience in regard
TO his future.
Jack and Gordon slept In the cave.
had begged them to let me watch alone
with one Of the boys. and they had
granted my request. My idea was &c
have ''good square think" II might
be my last night on earth. and wanted
to make the most Of my time.
half past ~, and the base Of the
Southern Cross had described a hal!
circle.
'It must be O'Clock. Dick. Why on
earth didn't you call Us at the right
timef" IL was Jack who spoke.
"Well. / didn't feel like sleeping and
thought that l might just rs well
watch little longer Snowball's 5 sound
asleep there. saw him nodding and
told him no might drepof. Isay, Jack.
do you see that sheet lightning away Il
the south, It's been pretty bad these
last few nights We may expect live
ly thunderstorm at any time. Good
night. old mani" And left the terrace.
Sleep. like the angel OF death, was
asserting its sway over the suffering
mortals in the cave and bringing a
brief respite of relief to the suffering
and weary at heart. The little fire flick
cred spasmodically. casting grim. mis-
shapen. furtive shadows upon the root
and sides Of the cavern. The wounded
man stirred and muttered uneasily in
his sleep. I entered noiselessly, lay
down near the fire. and slept.
sprang 20 my feet to see a woman
putting fresh log on the fire and the
yellow dawn light struggling into the
cave. could hear an organ magpie
outside among the leaves piping his
beautiful song. And now saw it was
Norah Mackenzie who was attending TO
the fire.
GOOD morningl hope you've slept
wellf" she inquired Of me cheerily.
I looked st her face. II seemed 10
have grown thinner and paler within
the last "a hours, and IL was no Won
der. could see she had not slept, and
remarked as much.
had looked at her eyes secretly for
the last time, but could not trust myself
TO speak, being afraid that they might
gness my purpose and prevent me car.
rying it out wanted all my nerve. /
penciled n note and gave il to Snow.
ball. having taken that child OF the
forest into my confidence, and told him
that half an hour or so after my depar-
ture he must give that note to Jack. 1t
was very brief one, merely saying
that I had gone for help. In case of my
not returning within "a hours they
would understand something had hap
pened.
Jack and Savile were still watching
at the breastwork, and the others We're
in the cave. seemingly asleep. ! stepped
into the crevasse, and SNOWFALL fol-
lowed. II was neck or nothing now.
There was no such thing as drawing
aack. I took off my boots, tied them
round my neck and frightened my belt
round my waist. / looked up at the
little strip Of blue sky which showed
between the great rugged walls of rock
They must have been at least 200 feet
in height, and confess for minute
experiencing something akin to terror,
thinking Of what the slightest mistake
would mean in my ascent. 1t would
mean a quick. but horrible death ex-
perienced an almost overmastering de-
sire to look once more upon the woman
who had been the cause Of my staying
in this gulf country and who was now
lost to me forever. but the knowledge
that il would only serve TO unman mo
overcame the wish. Then, selecting
what seemed a suitable place to begin
the ascent, l inwardly breathed short
prayer.
"Baal you go. Mista Parker" plead
ed poor SNOWFALL "You tumble down