The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-07-19

pulley wheel and crosspiece went hiss
Ing into the water. followed by one OF
the upright two-by-fours which struck
endwise and toppled over in one
corner, still blazing. The sand from
the excavation had so filled the bot
tom OF the well that the water was less
than two feet deep. and four or five
feet Of the blazing timber leaned
against the ctubIng. T0 well-shaft
was instantly filed with smoke and
flame.
"Ill shovel II out" he exclaimed.
and selling the shovel he began 10 send
a stream Of sand down upon the fire.
This had good effect, and the flame
became less but smoke began 10 come
into the cave In suffocating quantities.
Some OF the blazing boards came
down. and Howard saw that the smoke
was constantly growing worse. Then
something happened that made him
see that he must change his TACTICS. A
considerable piece Of the gravel roof
came tumbllng down about him, some
Of the stones and chunks OF hard clay
almost rolling on Jim. To shovel out
any more sand would be fatal.
He threw down the shovel, took one
OF the blankets and tore three stout
strips and knOtted them together. Then
he punched up what remained Of the
blanket In loose bundle tied one end
Of the long strip around 1t, and keep
ing hold Of the other end, tossed the
roll out Of the opening, took n deep
breath, leaned out and began churning
IL up and down In the water and
swinging 1t around. For desperate
five minutes he kept this up, only turn
ing his head back into the cave occa-
quleting words to jim.
At the end Of this time he saw VIC
tory. The blazing upright had broken
and settled into the water. and the wet
blanket had put out the flames which
had begun to creep up the curblng. The
fire above seemed TO be about burned
out
The air In the cave was choking jim.
Howard cut the bottom from the bas-
ket. and using 1t as a fan. gave him
some relief. He became quieter, but
began TO complain Of thirst. Howard.
squeezing water from the blanket, wet
ted his lips and brow and the boy
again dOZed.
AS the afternoon wore away the
shaft gradually cleared OF smoke.
When 1t be- to grow dark Howard
lit the candle again, and Jim reused
up. He was still feverish and incapa-
BILE of realizing their situation. but did
not, on the whole. seem any worse for
his rough experiences. and IL was not
long before they were both asleep.
When Howard awoke I'm the morning
Jim was sleeping natural sleep. The
fever was gone. Perhaps Ii had run
It's course. or 1t may be that the cool
ness of the cave had been good for
him.
When ne awoke he was entirely ra-
tlonal, and listened to Howards ac-
count OF the happenings Of the day
before with lively interest.
"The main thing I want to get to the
surface for" said Howard. in answer
to Jim's inquiry on the subject, sis To
see II | can get something for you 10
eat-you say you're hungry. But L
can't think OF n thing | can possibly
find except potatoes. or course the
COW and the hens are gone"
"Well. there were two hens nests
under the pigeon grass along the edge
OF the breaking"
That's sod forgotten them"
Howard then began the work of get
ting out of the well. He first sawed
two OF the pieces of curbing in half
and then split the pieces. He then
nailed two of these pieces across the
corner Of the shaft, one about two feet
above the other Getting out on the
lower and cllnging to the other he then
fastened the third still higher. This
gave only one nail for each end, but
he saw that he must take the risk.
Next he tied n yard of the blanket
strip to the lower piece. drew himself
up on the second. and clinging To the
third with one hand, reached down
with the hatchet In the other hand.
and prled Off the first piece, and drew
IL up by the strip OF CLOTH and then
fastened II above the other. ThisAopera-
ton he repeated again and again till
he reached the top.
Little remains to be told. because no
more serious difficulties beset the way
OF the two friends. Howard found the
buildings totally destroyed, of course.
and the COW and oxen were gone. but
the pony was grazing near. having
apparently been too shy for the In
dians. and the hens had also escaped.
In their nests I'm the grass Howard
found eggs, and these he boiled in the
tin dlpper found in the bottom OF the
hall. burned rain barrel. Potatoes
then were In plenty. On the second
afternoon n strange cow came to the
tub to drink, and Howard caught and
MIXED her.
1t was Saturday before IL was
thought best for Jim TO venture up.
Howard had completed the ladder
with nails found In the ruins OF the
house. and with one end of the picket
rope tied about him. and Howard
lifting gently on the other end, Jim
had no difficulty in making the ascent.
They decided to start for Fort Ridg-
ley Immediately after dark, Jim riding
the pony and Howard walking be-
side. and they reached that place on
the evening OF the second days trav-
| cling.
The two friends never went back to