The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-10-16

some minutes neither of us appeared
disposed to break the silence. A feel
Ing of cold, helpless despair of life had
crept over me, and yet was conscious
of a strange curiosity as to how our
position affected my singular compan-
ion. At last the silence and darkness
grew so oppressive that l felt as if
must say something to make sure that
was not alone.
"Menzies." 1 whispered. "NIenziesp'
"Weel, captain?' His voice came
back to me, cool and self possessed as
ever-almost, as it seemed to me, with
touch of humor in it.
Il was right after all, you see. We'd
have been in luck if we had been
blown up
Speak for yourself, captain. Am
no that fond o. gunpooder."
"1t's a good deal easier than burn
ing, 1 fanc--," said, with something
like groan.
"Ah wudna wonder, captain, but Ah
hae nae mind tae try. Am thinkin'
it's aboot time to be gettin' DOT O. this.
Ah Gamma say All like the smell OF"
No doubt if there had been any light
l should have stared in my surprise.
AS it was, only said: "Good heavens,
Menzies! What do you mean?"
"Haud on till get alangside an get
ma teeth Until yon lashin' round yer
haun's."
l felt him roll over and over in the
sand, and then, after a pause, a sharp
tooth touched my wrist from behind.
Not a word was said, but 1 felt his
teeth gnaw and tear with dogged en-
ergy at the fibers that seemed almost
to cut into my wrists. The process
was slow one but at last he stopped
'Noo," he whispered, "A'm thinkin'
We can help yersep, gin ye but gle yer
haun's a jerk"
A single effort proved that he was
right, and my hands were at liberty.
"Noo," he whispered again, "ye'll
maybe dae as much for me, though
Am no sayin' but what teeth's better
than fingers for wark like this efter
a."
MenZies was right. At least, found
it a slow and difficult job to unloose
the cord that bound him with my be-
numbed fingers. l managed it at last,
however, and his hands were also free.
Then we set to work to free our an
kles, and after a delay which seemed
endless to my .impatience we succeeded
and stiffly regained our feet 1t seemed
to me that hours had passed, and l
scarcely waited to restore the circula-
ton to my legs before 1 whispered
anxiously:
"Whats to be done next, Menzies?
Let's get at it at once or it III be day.
light"
"Weel," he said deliberately, "Ah
dinna think We'll gang faur wrang
tae get oot o. this, tae begin wi. Am
fair sick O. the smell OF"
You don't suppose they've left it
unguarded?" asked
Am no sayin' that a'tegither, but
We'll jist fin oot," he whispered, with
characteristic caution. Feel for the
wa, an then jist creep alang ahint
me. Am thinkin' We'll come .tae
somethin' afore lang"
l felt rather than saw him pass me
in the darkness, and 1 followed as
nearly as l could in the same direction.
Two or three steps, and my out
stretched hand touched the rough wall.
l stretched out the other and touched
my companion.
"A' RIGHT, sir" came back to me in
the darkness.
We moved onward silently, step by
step, straining our eyes in the hope of
seeing something to guide us. At last
/ thought it was growing a little
lighter. There was a gray look in
the darkness. 1 thought / could make
out the darker shadow of my COM
panion before me.
1--WE must be near the place they
brought us in at, Menzies," whis-
pered at last.