Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-08-24


Cornwiler
"Deary mel I should be afraid he'd
break his neck" said Mrs. Millwaite.
Il don't see where he got it," said
Mrs. Cornwiler.
He got il from you. that's plain"
said Mr.. Cornwiler, boldly.
From met Why, just climbing
fence makes me almost dizzy!"
Your father was sailor" said
Cornwiler, "and his father was top
man in the navy under old Commo-
dorc Preble. Toms Inherited their
climb from YOU"
While this discussion was going on
indoors Tom was going of outdoors.
Mrs. Millwaitc's VISIT gave him
chance 20 60 fishing. Tie put a hook
and line i'm his pocket. intending 10
cut fishpolc on the way. and trust
ing 20 find fat. white bait gruhs i'm
old logs. He owned n sharp one-hand
hatchct. which he thrust under his
huckskin belt.
4 quarter Of n mile from the river
ne came 20 familiar tree-stub IL
had been n forest giant. but some
storm had broken of its top. lcav-
ing its great trunk 80 feet high. For
est fires had consumed the fallen top
and deeply charred the huge trunk
Tom struck IL with his hatchct head
To his surprise II sounded hollow
mere she'll. lie was Immediately
curious TO know ~ IL was hollow an
the way up. and the only way 20 as
certain was TO climb IL.
a more uniuviting stub 20 climb
could not be found. II was very
grimv. and TOO smooth and large 10
be clasped by either arms or legs;
hut Tom sought thickct and cut thc
largest tough withe he could find.
He wrapped this about the stub and
fastened its two ends securely 90 his
belt with strips of strong bark. max
ing hoop somewhat larger than the
tree Leaning well back. ne 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 has curiosity was
satisfied he slipped Oft the hoop 70
retie II more 10 suit him. An iRcnu-
tious movement broke bit Of the
edge and disturbed his balance. Tie
made n violent move 10 recover him
self More edge crumbled inward.
and down he went inside. head and
heels together. like shut iackknife.
One hand held 10 the hoop. pulling IL
after him. Head. back. hips and legs
scrsped down the long tube. carrying
fragments of rotten wood and a
dusty cloud.
Tom struck on deep. soft pile OF
4
body plunged breast and knee-deep
The concussion shocked him breath
less and set his nose bleeding copi-
ousiy and the dust and blood him
dered the recovery of his breath. Al
though ne was not quite unconscious
ii was long before he stirred. The
hack of his head had heen severely
raked and rotten wood was ground
into all his lacerations.
when az last he began 10 try tC
move he found himself wedged in
Nainly he wiggled; ne could hardly
stir. and could neither lift hiaseli
nor get his legs down. His hips. bach
and all the muscles of his legs acheC
and prickled intolerably from strain
and checked circulation.
lie could not resist crying; but, be
ing lad of good courage, enduranc,
and resource. he soon oegan a sys
tematic effort for release, packing
? the loose debris down as firmly as h,
could with his hands. at the sam,
time pressing il away all around Will
his body. This exertion caused great
er ache, but he persisted resolutely
by and by he got his hatchet out o.
his belt. and struck il. after a doze1
efforts, so drmly into the wooder
wall that he could hang his weigh
I 10 il with one hand while he worke,
the debris under him with the other
lie gradually enlarged his space suf
ficiently 10 allow the bending OF hi
\ knees. After that ne was not Ion.
in getting his body up and feet down
so as 10 SIT cramped on one hip. Will
both feet nearly level.
Exertion. pain and the pressure o
returning circulation made his pulse
throb and his head swim. and n
lapsed into semiconsciouSness. HOY
long this lasted he knew not, bu
when ne began to struggle again h
was in black darkness \ few star
ehone calmly down his wooden wei
but he could work only by feeiin
about with his hands. lie felt OK
hausted, hungry and weak. hut h
kept on working until he managed I
stand erect. Then, after feebIy kicl
sng and pushing debris 90 fiji up IN
4 hole where he had been, he curle
himself as comfortably as he coul
and silent a blessed fhouCh frou HE