Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-10-01
Politics Devoted to Literature, Local and General News


growing stronger ana stronger, ana
feeling the blood gathering In his neck
and head, until the pain was terrible.
he ventured to stretch forth his hands
His left found nothing, but his right
touched cold and Shiny stone. Sweep
ing his hand as far around as possible,
he suddenly paused, and said:
Heavens! 1 am in well! l feel
the curving Of the stones. / must have
fallen here when the trap was sprung
by Hammond"
Reaching up with immense difficulty,
for he hung face downward, he at
last succeeded in grasping the iron bar
above.
II have lodged in falling" said he.
"NIy head is bruised and bleeding. 1t
must have struck the edge Of the floor
as it fell. But for the strength OF
Hammond's overcoat, were now
dead. l must get out"
He heard a great noise above him.
as he swung himself up, so as to sup
port his body by swinging upright.
with the iron bar under his right arm.
Hammond is not satisfied" said he.
"He comes to make sure Of his mur.
der" And though brave and noble as
man could be, James Greene felt ~
icy horror gripping at his heart.
"He is mailing fast the trap" he
said. Il am to be entombed alive IN
this horrible grave"
Twas not Luke, but old Fan mailing
and securing the trap-door. The noise
at length ceased, and James Greene
thought:
by the sound judge that l am not
many feet below the trap-door. There
must be some small interval between
the door and the edge of the wall
The area Of the door, as we'll as
can remember it when it fell, must be
at last four feet square
He swung his feet out boldly, and he
touched the other side of the we'll.
Good" said he, quick and true in
measuring. "The well is less than five
feet in diameter. The trap-door must
have swung downward to its full
length-say four feet at least. There
fore there must be space OF four
feet at least between the level of the
floor and the mouth of the well, for
otherwise the door would have struck
the combing of the well, and SO shot
me aside: whereas, from the sound |
have just heard, the door is right over
nv head. As near as | can judge from
that hammering, | am only ten or
twelve feet from the level of the trap.
Take the swing of the door from that
and | am six or eight feet only from
the edge of the well! l must try TO
! stand up.'
This cost him much time and labor,
| for the well wall was Shiny and
smooth. At length he found an iron
| bar or spike, Il few inches long, stick.
ing out of the stones Immediately at
his left. This was once Il part Of the
same bar he was swinging on
James Greene we know was car
penter, and as a general rule carpen'
ters can climb like cats. Give Il spry
carpenter three strong nails and ham
mcr, and he can go anywhere.
Greene was bold and active. and In
spite of his slippery footing he tlal'
| ly stood erect, but with one foot on tho
first bar that had saved him, and tho
other Oh the last found iron fragment
| He was clear six feet in stature; but as
he now stood, his feet wide apart, and
hracing his body with his outstretched
hands against the wall line, line
| drawn from his toe to the level Of his
head would not have measured -four
| feet.
Il must try 10 stand on one foot.
said he, III but for second
At an imminent risk of falling to the
bottom of the well-and of its depth he
had no idea-he arose on Oh1 foot
and at the same time threw his arm
upward to its full length.
To his great Joy the first joints OF
his fingers clung to the brink of the
| well.
"Will 1t bear my weight?" was his
| next thought. Il have hold enough tC
lift me until my left hand can take q
tHmer grasp. But the stone seems
crumbling, or it's mortar under my
finger tips"
lie paused awhile in great doubt; the
peril was terrific. If the stone should
crumbe his fall would be certain.
Something splashed in the Shiny oozt
far below him. lie listened. Another
| splash, and a squeak.
covered my presence, and will doubt
less attack me. l must trust In Coo
and act"
And commencing his soul to his Gre
ator, he swung his body out from the
we'll and threw up his left arm.
The stone did not crumble; it wa!
firm in its place. Drawing himself VI
rs high as his breast then throwing VI
his knee and gaining additional brace
he was soon seated upon the brinl
Of the horrible grave from which 1t
had escaped.
Thank Heaven" he murmured, al
be took breath after his labor. "S(
far l am safe"
Feeling about he found large stont
lying loose. This he dashed in th'
well, and the splash Of it's fall routed
The squadron of ferocious rats begin
ming to move upward for assault.
And now to explore; for my worl
is but begun" said he, groping abou
with extreme caution.
After about ten minutes spent in thi
manner, he paused and reflected:
II am in square prison-tifteen fee