Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-31
Tom Cornwiler'S
& s Tumble q d
Z BY L. G. Bates.
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Cornwiler. :,
"Deary met should be afraid he d
break his neck" said Mrs. Millwalte.
II don't see where he got it, said
Mrs. Cornwiler. :,
"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 a sailor, SAID
Cornwiler. "and his father was top
man in the navy under old Commo-
dore Preble. Toms inherited then
climb from you"
While this discussion was going on
indoors Tom was going off outdoors.
Mrs. NIillwaite's visit gave him a
chance to go fishing. He put a hook
and line in his pocket, intending to
cut fishpole on the way, and trust
inc to find fat, white bait grubs IN
old logs. He owned a sharp one-hand
Ratchet. which he thrust under his
buckskin belt.
A quarter of mile from the river
he came TO a familiar tree-stub. IL
had been a forest giant, but some
storm had broken off its top, leav-
ing its great trunk 30 feet high FOR
est fires had consumed the fallen top
and deeply charred the huge trunk
Tom struck il with his Ratchet head
To his surprise II sounded hollow
n mere shell. He was Immediately
curious to know If It was hollow all
the way mp. and the only way to as
certain was to climb it.
A more uninviting stub to clmn
/ could not be found. It was very
primy. and too smooth and large TO
be clasped by either arms or legs;
but Tom sought a thicket and cut the
largest tough withe he could md
lie wrapped this about the stub and
fastened its 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, rails
ing 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 if upon
the ground. When his curiosity was
satisfied he slipped off the hoop tc
retie IL more to suit him. An incau
tious movement broke a bit of the
edge and disturbed his balance. He
made a violent move to recover him
self. More edge crumbled inward
and down he went inside, head ane
heels together, like a shut jackknife
One hand held TO the hoop, pulling Il
after him. Head, back, hips and legs
scraped down the long tube, carrying
fragments of rotten wood and
dusty cloud.
Tom struck on a deep, soft pile o
debris, into which his doubled-ul
body plunged breast and knee-deep
The conclusion shocked him breath
less and set his nose bleeding copi
ously and the dust and blood hin
dered the recovery of his breath. Al
though he was not quite unconscious
It was long before he stirred. TIL
; back OF his head had been severel.
raked and rotten wood was groun'
into all his decorations.
When at last he began to try t
move he found himself wedged in
vainly he wiggled; he could hardl
stir, and could neither lift himsel
nor get his legs down. His hips, bacl
and all the muscles Of his legs ache
and priclyled intolerably from strai
and checked circulation.
He could not resist crying; but, be
ing lad of good courage, enduranc
and resource, he soon began sy'
tematic effort for release. paekin
the loose debris down as firmly as h
= could with his hands, at the sam
u time pressing it away all around wit
his body. This exertion caused grea
er ache. but he persisted resolutel,
y BY and by he got his Ratchet out {
his belt, and struck it. after a doze
! efforts, so firmly into the woode
wall that he could hang his weigh
4 60 il with one hand while lac worke
: the debris under him with the othe
Z lie gradually enlarged his space su
! fciently to allow the bending Of h
: knees After that he was not lon
= in getting his body up and feet dow
= so as TO sit cramped on one hip, wit
: both feet nearly level
4 Exertion, pain and the pressure
3 returning circulation made his pulls,
= ihrob and his head swim, and ]
4 lapsed into semiconsciousness. Ho
a long this lasted he knew not. b
, when he began TO struggle again ]
. was in black darkness. A few sta
q shone calmly down his wooden we
q but he could work only by feeliI
about with his hands. He felt e
q hausted, hungry and weak. but
q kept on working until he managed
stand erect Then, after feeblv kic
ing and pushing debris to fill up L
Y hole where he had been. he curl
= himself as comfortably as he cou
= and slept blessed though troubl
Y sleep.
Y After a long time he stretched o.
= His sore heels hit one wall. his 50
Hr~w sha nsNaw THE ss,,,n a.. =