The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-08-09


II don't see where he got It," said
Mrs. Cornwller, boldly.
''He got It from you, that's plain"
said Mr.. Cornwiler. boldly.
From me! Why. just climbing a
fence makes me almost dizzy"
"Your father was sailor" said
Cornwller "and his father was top
man In the navy under old Commodore
Preble. Toms inherited their climb
from you"
II suppose a sixteen-year-old boy Is
more trouble than fourteen-year
girl" said Mrs. Millwalte. my Clara's
comfort"
whenever Toms wanted" began
Mrs. Cornwller
"a good strong boy Is wanted pretty
often in a new country" interrupted
her husband. Sometimes 1t gets tire
some to him."
Whenever Toms wanted" persist
ed Mrs. Cornwiler. "he generally has
10 be found In tree-top. IL wears out
his clothes dreadfully."
THAT Is a bother" said Mrs. Mill
waite. "Now Clara wears her dresses
longer than any other schoolgirl Of her
age"
While this discussion was going on
indoors, Tom was going of outdoors.
Mrs. Millwaite's visit gave him n
chance to go fishing. He put hook
and line in his pocket. intending to
cut a flsh-pole on the way, and trust
ing TO find fat, white bait-grubs In old
logs. He owned a sharp. one-hand
hatchet, which he thrust under his
buckskin belt.
A quarter OF n mile from the river
he came to familiar tree-stub. IL
had been a forest giant, but some
storm had broken of Its top, leaving
its great trunk thirty feet high. For
est fires had consumed the fallen top,
and deeply cbarred the huge trunk.
Tom struck 1t with his hatchet-head.
TO his surprise II sounded hollow-a
mere shell. He was Immediately curl
Gus to know II IL was hollow all the
way up, and the only way to ascertain
was to climb II.
A more unnvitlng stub to climb
could not be found. IL was very
grimy, and too smooth and large to be
clasped by either arms or legs; but
Tom sought thlcket and cut the
longest tough withe he could find.
He wrapped this about the stub. and
fastened it's two ends securely TO his
belt with strips Of strong bark. max
ing a hoop somewhat larger than the
tree. Leaning well back. he walked
his moccasined toes right up, raising
the hoop by quick jerks.
The tree was hollow. Tom sat on
the edge with his feet dangling out
side as steady of nerve as IL upon the
ground. When his curiosity was sat
isfied he slipped off the loop to retic
IL more to suit him. An incautious
movement broke bit OF the edge, and
disturbed his balance. He made n
violent move to recover himself. More
edge crumbled inward, and down he
went inside, head and heels together,
like n shut jack-knife. One hand held
to the hoop, pulling It after him. Head,
back. hips and legs scraped down the
long tube. carrying fragments of rot
ten wood and dusty cloud.
Tom struck on deep, soft pile Of de
brs, into which his doubled-up body
plunged breast and knee-deep. The
conclusion shocked him breathless and
set his nosebleeding copiously. and the
dust and blood hindercd the recovery
of his breath Although he was not
quite unconscious, IL was long before
he stirred. The back of his head had
been severely raked, and rotten wood
was ground into all his lacerations.
When, at last. he began TO try to
move, he found himself wedged In.
vainly he wriggled: he could hardly
stir, and could neither lift himself nor
get his legs down. His hips, back,
and all the muscles of his legs ached
and prlcked intolerably from strain
and checked circulation.
He could not resist crying; but being
q lad Of good courage, endurance and
resource. he soon began systematic
effort for release, packing the loose
his hands, at the same time pressing II
away all around with his body. This
exertion caused greater ache. but he
persisted resolutely. BY and by he got
his hatchet out of his belt, and
struck IL, after dozen efforts, so firm
ly into the wooden wall that he could
hang his weight to II with one hand.
while he worked the debris under him
with the other. He gradually enlarged
his space sufficiently to allow the
bending OF his knees After that he
was not long in getting his body up
and feet down. 80 as To sit cramped
ON one hip, with both feet nearly level.
Exertion. pain. and the pressure OF
returning circulation made his pulse
throb and his head swim. and he
lapsed into seml-unconsciousnes How
long this lasted lac knew not. but whcr
he began TO struggle again he was IN
black darkness. A few stars shonC
calmly down his wooden well. but h'
could work only by feeling about will
his hands. lie felt exhausted. hungry
and weak. but he kept on working I'll
he managed TO stand erect Then
after feebly kicking and pushing dc
bris TO OIL up the hole where he haS
been. he curled himself as comfortable
as he could. and slept a blessed though
troubled sleep.
He dreamed that he heard a rifle
shot. and that Ban was barking exclt
edly and his father hallooing. But hi
sleep was so profound that a dream
could not rouse him.
After \ long time he stretched on.