The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-13
Twas not Luke, but old Fan mailing

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 am not
many feet below the tap-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 l
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 l
have just heard, the door is right over
my head. AS near as 1 can judge from
that hammering, I am only ten or
twelve feet from the level of the trap.
Take the swing of the door from that,
and I am six or eight feet only from
the edge Of the well! 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, few inches long, stick
ing out Of the stones Immediately at
his left. This was once a 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 q spry
carpenter three strong nails and ham,
mer, and he can 60 anywhere.
Greene was bold and active, and in
spite of his slippery footing he final.
ly stood erect, but with one foot on the
first bar that had saved him, and the
other on the last found iron fragment.
He was clear six feet in stature; but as
he now stood, his feet wide apart, and
bracing his body with his outstretched
hands against the wall line, a line
drawn from his toe to the level of his
head would not have measured four
feet.
II must try to stand on one foot"
said he, IF but for second"
At an imminent risk Of falling to the
bottom of thewell-and of its depth he
had no idea-he arose on one 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 it bear my weight" was his
next thought. II have hold enough to
lift me until my left hand can take a
firmer grasp. But the stone seems
crumbling, or tbs mortar under my
finger tips"
He paused awhile in great doubt; the
peril was terrific. If the stone should
crumble his fall would be certain.
Something splashed in the Shiny ooze
far below him. He listened. Another
splash, and squeak.
Rats" said he. "They have dis
covered my presence, and will doubt
less attack me. I must trust in God
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 was
firm in it's place. Drawing himself up
as high as his breast, then throwing up
his knee and gaining additional brace.
he was soon seated upon the brink
of the horrible grave from which he
had escaped.
Thank Heaven" he murmured, as
he took breath after his labor. 80
far l am SAFE"
Feeling about, he found large stone
lying loose. This he dashed in the
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 work
is but begun" said he, cropping about
with extreme caution.
After about ten minutes spent in this
manner, he paused and reflected:
Il am in a square prison-fifteen feet
from wall to wall. The well is in the
centre. and the floor Of the trap about
FIVE feet from the ground. am here.
walled up as it were. All, Katy, if you
knew your loves situation, how your
dear heart would bleed! To what hor
rors are you exposed in the power Of
that outrageous villain, Luke Ham
mond"
tn no confinued