The National tribune., 1900-03-15
An Unexpected ,1isnap to the Tunnel.

seemed OYerpOWerIng, appeared 10 De con-
centrated in the tunnel. ST gasped as he
entered, but Graham pulled sturdiiy Tor
ward, and ST followed him.
The hole was but very little wider than
Sis broad shoulders, so that his arms
We're cramped In their action;
Il m afraid you'll have trouble In getting
along" Graham said. This hole wasn't
built for men who have as much meat on 'em
as you have. Here, take this half-canteen;
You can Scrape some off the sides here and
there. and give you more room won't
need II, anyway. I've struck some hard
pan, where it II be of no use. IL have to
cut out chunks with the knife
As near as ST could Judge, the tunnel
started low enough TO pass under the stock
ade, and had been pushed forward about
Is feet or more. This would take them
foot or two under the 20 feet OF space be
tween the dead-ine and the stockade, and
was therefore less than half-done. for they
would have to go quite as far beyond the
stockade on the outside. in order to come up
at some distance from the guard, and hope
to escape his observation.
ST was SURPRISED at the energy with which
Shad Graham attacked the hard clay with
his inefficient tool He stabbed into the
earth with his knife. and pulled and pred
until he had dislodged clods, which he
rolled back under him 10 ST. who passed
them on. with handfuis OF dirt to Monty,
who i'll turn passed them out to the boys.
lItN DIOht lipDl I'D lIltD SIIlitlel pltttS, W
make no splash in the water. and be readily
dissolved by it. and stuffed the dirt into
the drawers legs.
AS one of the guards was perched at one
side where the creek issued from the stock
ade. another at the other side. and one dl-
rectiy over the course OF the tunnel, the
greatest care was enioined upon the boys IN
carrying out and emUtyIng TIE dirt. No
trail must be left leading to the tent. for the
rebels inspected the ground every day for
signs Of digging, and any trace OF the red
clay through which they were now dig
ging would be dead give;:way. They
must dribble it along in the water OF the
creek so that it would be scattered and
carried some distance. and not be notice
able. They must do this In such Il way as
not to attract the notice of the guard, who
would not only shoot them but alarm the
camp and bring about discovery Of their
work. To instruct Harry and Gid Iii tins
mad been No. 3s duty: and he carefully
taught them 10 carry their burdens as II
they were the little bags Of meal which the
prisoners something's carried. and 10 WAGE
into the creek at different places. and as
they emptied the digt. scatter 1t with their
feet, TO make il less, noticeable. The boys
were a little nervous about the guards al
first, as they had to start out under the
very eyes of the one over the tunnel, and
do their work in the face Of those on both
sides Of the cEeek. They would start al
! = =
emily they got used 10 this. however. and
over the feeling that every time the guard
changed the position Of his musket he was
raising ii 10 sloot al them.
ST was tirsi almost 10 faintness in pulling
out the dirt, before 'Shad Graham showed
any weariness in digging. Then Graham
remarked:
There. I'll have 10 come out and rest a
little. | think I've dug six inches. and
shaped it up well oil the sides. Crab back.
boys, and let me out"
They all backed into the tent. and pres
emily Graham emerged. his face covered
with perspiration: and his hands muddy
from the clay having mixed with the sweat
Goodness" he gasped. that clay's as
tough as whitleather. It's the worst I've
struck yet. And the old knife's getting
duller every minute. Now. No. 1G. when
you 60 in he very careful to dig the same
with both hands. Dig just exactly as
much with your left hand as you do with
your right. to keep the hole heading straight
FOR the stockade. If you don't. you'll
make a curve to the left. That's the mis-
take that all men make when they begin
digging tunnels. and the first thing they
know they have them shaped like horse
shoe"
Il understand" said ST, new idea strik-
ing him.
Don't be discouraged by the slow head
way you make continued Graham. "a
little at time goes far III a day. Don't
be ambitious and try TO dig too much the
first time. You'll break yourself down.
You faint in the hole, and give us no end
of trouble getting you out. Ii you dig an
inch OF so, or even just learn how to dig.
it II be all that you can do. or ought to do.
the first trial. Now, remember to stop and
crab back Just as soons you begin 10 feel
tired"
ST outwardly acquiesced but inwardly
resolved that he would dig possibly several
feet before he stopped.
Graham dismissed No 3, and took Gid
Mackall's place in carrying off. while ST.
grasping the knife. crawled into the hole.
followed by Monty and Harry, Gid remain
ing at the mouth.
The air grew still heavier and more
mephitic as 81 crawled in, until it seemed
as if he could not breathe. But lie attacked
the clay energetical!y with his knife. In
spite Of the simplicity of the task, he had
never attempted anything so difficult
before in his life His head swan. the
utter darkness confused him, the feel OF
natural the narrow sides of the tunnel
cramped his arms and misdirected his
blows. He could not make natural
motion. and only jabhed feebly and vainly
at the clay beyond his head. This battling
helped to excite him. he was speedily bathed
weak that he had to stop and rest. He
then felt over the face of the cut carefully.
began to recognize its nature, and the way
to go TO work But he did not make an
inch of real progress, nor get ont enough
dirt to fill one of the bags, before he saw
that it was wise To follow Graham'S in
functions. and back out for a rest
In view of his experience, ST laid down
positive inJunctions to Monty that he must
not remain more tlihn five minutes in the
hole. or sufficiently long to get acquainted
with the work. GFlicn, if he did not come
out. Harry was TO catch hold of his foot and
pull him out. willie Gid did the same to
Harry, and ST would pull the whole string.
Being much smaller than 81, MONTY,
also less affected 1by the vitiatcd air,
was able to do quito'a little digging before
the relentless grip of Harry on his ankle
hailed him back Then he cIasped his
hands on the ground in front of him, and
triumphanily brought with him quite a
pile of dirt, to show the progress that lie
had made. II was sthe same with Harry
and Gid, and when Graham went in again
for inspection, he was gratified to find that
| nearly foot Or fIprogress had been made
during the evening". He did little more
while he was inside than shape UP the
sides, and assure himstlf that the course
of the tunnel was being kept straight. for
now the moon WAS rising rapidly, and
work would have to be abandoned
AS the light became stronger, Graham,
bent and hobbling as il suffering from
scmryy, went around and examined care
fully to SEQ that no trail of red clay had
been left to hint at their work. Not a
STRAY cIol 0,cuDpa his Shorn oyou ua