The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-07-19
4 The FRIENDS OF The Lao. .QUI-PARhE PRAIRIE

I
In the rope reached the wheel he let
go the rope and found himself sus-
pended dozen feet above the water.
After some little effort he succeeded
In saving off the tongue which pro-
jected behind the other boards on the
end OF one OF the pieces Of curbing
and took IL out and stood IL In the
tub. Before him he found the sand
A mere touch Of the saw blade started
It rolling out and splashlng 10 the
water below, and when he had re-
moved two other boards IL came down
In yellow food.
After IL ceased 10 run out he reached
In with the shovel and dug out what
he could. When there was n sufficient
cavity he wrlggled in and began shov-
elllng the sand out. Soon he had a
space cleared the height OF the stra-
tum. abdnt five feet. and four or five
feet In each OF It's other dimensions
though these, OF course, were not ex-
act, owing to The cavlng OF the sandy
sides. Leaving the tools In his new
made cave he drew himself up 10 the
surface.
As Howard climbed up on the out
side curb he saw n cloud OF dust to
the north, and In II he could just make
out movements which convinced him
that IL was raised by horsemen. Very
likely n band OF Indians securing the
prairle But there might stlll be time
enough.
Howard found Jim sleeping. He
first snatched up a basket and in IL
thrust some food-a loaf OF bread, the
remains Of fried prairie chicken. and
other odds md ends. He also put I'm
Jlm's medicine and the lantern. Hurry
Ing out TO the well he put the basket
In the tub. Back again TO the house
he ran. Jim was still asleep. As
Howard rolled the blankets on which
he lay around him. he opened his eyes.
whats up, HowardT
Nothing. Jim. We're only going TO
move a little ways. Just keep still
I'll carry you"
Now what are you going TO do with
me, Howard?" He spoke In hesl-
tatlng. frightened manner, being still
fevcrlsh and flighty.
"The well, 1t needs fixing" answered
Howard, lifting him. you'll help me,
won't you"
The movement made the boy dizzy;
his eyes closed and his head sank on
the others shoulder.
Howard glanced out the back win.
dow. 1t was the Indians who were
coming In the cloud OF dust. They
were approaching the cabin from the
opposite side to the path from the
well, so If he reached 1t soon enough
they would not see him. Howard ran:
now he did not notice Jim's weight.
He placed him In the tub, holding him
In a sitting posture on the edge with
his knees. and again lowered away into
the depths. When the tub stopped OPP
poslte the opening. Howard drew IL
close against the curbing and said,
Tumble in there, Jim, and then you
can lie down and rest"
Jim lunged forward mechanically
and crawled In, muttering. Howard
threw In the basket and blankets. and
drew himself toward the surface.
AS he came up he heard the cries Of
the savages. At the top he kept him.
self below the edge of the curb and
peeped through crack. They were
still beyond the house. He unlocked
the tub and tossed IL over the edge to
the ground. He could not get the
bucket which belonged In its place,
but he tied knot in the end of the
rope SO II could not slip through the
wheel lie had taken out the stick as
he came up. All of these things he
did so that the suspicious OF the saw
ages might not be aroused.
As he seized the rope in one hand
ready to slide down he peeped out
again. The Indians had just begun
circllng around the buildings after
their usual tactics. AS he went down
the rope he heard their first shots.
Inside the cave he found Jim In n
stupor, evidently caused by the exer-
ton. He hastily put the boards back
in place. and lightly fastened them
by mailing the laths across them.
The shots of the Indians now came
but dimly to his ears, and he could not
hear their shouting ut all. But the
tramplng of their ponies was like n
steady roar. Soon this stopped. Prob
ably they're exploring the buildings"
said Howard to himself. Setting
them on fire. likely. too"
Then the voices of the savages came
plainly. and he knew they were at the
we'll He heard the bucket jerked out
of the water. This happened dozen
times or more, and Howard knew they
were watering their ponies. Then he
heard them throw the bucket on the
ground. and next came the tramplng
OF the horses as the Indians rode
away.
Howard pressing his eyes 10 the
crack saw n sudden glow of light in
the well-shaft. He pulled back one OF
the boards cautiously so rs to get n
better view. Blazing clnders and
sparks were coming down In a show
er.
They've fred the well.curb. too!'
he said aloud "And the rope and
bucket are UP there. and were down
herer' He turned and looked at Jim In
the faint light. But I've saved him
so far. anyhow" he added.
Howard pushed the board back into
position. and lit the lantern, an old
fashioned affair with candle inside
and with four-glass panes and n pyra-
mid shaped perforated tin top. IL was
cool enough In the cave, but the air
was becoming close. and Howard felt
very nervous about the fire. He again