Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-10-07
CHAPTER xxx

on every side of us, that we had to shout
at each other in order to be heard; and
even our shouts sounded like mere whis-
pers. though we were so close together.
took light from my hat, and reach
ed out of the water, looking into the
young masters face. 1t was ghastly
pale, but there was mark on the tenn
pie. as of blood. | put my hand upon
his heart, and discovered that it was
family beating.
"He lives STILL" I said; then, without
more parley, l disengaged myself from
the rope, and proceeded to make it fast
to the senseless man. AS l did so, the
water almost swept me away, but | held
on to the rock and kept my place. When
the rope was firmly secured under George
Redruth's armpits, shook him sharply,
and, to my joy, he opened his eyes, par
italy recovering from his torpor.
Then l touched the rope and pointed
upward, making signs that he was to
be drawn up. He seemed scarcely to
understand; but lifting him in my arms,
l placed him in position, and then tugged
three times, as signal for the men to
haul in.
There was n momentary pause; then
the rope frightened and the light body
began slowly to ascend. Still, waist-deep
In the sea, | watched it journey upward
lax ana loose as 4 dead thing, now
rasping against the damp walls, now
quivering and turning round and round,
till it passed the first platform. Far, far
above it, | saw the faint CLEAN from the
spot where the men were gathered. At
last it disappeared from sight, and
knew that, if life lasted, George Redruth
was saved!
Then l clambered on the ledge beside
my uncle, who was still lying in the same
position, with his head leaning back
against the dripping wall. l took his
hands in mine, and pressed them eagerly
As | did so, l saw, to my horror, that
the breast of his mining shirt was satur-
ater with blood, that his face was ghast-
ly white, and that there was on his lips
a light stain of red.
Are you hurt?" l said, with my lips
close to his ear
II doubt my back be broke. A lump
o rock fell on me as l were carrying
young master here"
Gently and tenderly, I secured the
rope around him, but he moaned with
ward. AS the rope tightened, he uttered
cry of agony. However, 1t was too
late to avoid the risk, and it was the last
chance.
Supporting him in my arms as long
as possible, l saw him drawn upward.
When his full weight fell upon the rope
his agony grew terrible, and think he
tainted away; for he hung in the air
like a dead man. l watched him rise
slowly.
The rope stood the test, and he was
drawn safely up the abyss. After a long
interval, during which l waited in sick
ening terror, with the waters thunder
ing and the rocks quaking around me,
the rope again descended. / secured it
under my arm-pits, and, giving the sig
nal, was drawn upward.
Wildly and joyfully, the men surround
ed, almost kissing me in their rapture at
my temperance. l looked around for
George Redruth He had recovered from
his faintness, they said, and had been
helped by two of the men up to the
mouth of the mine. But lying on the
platform, his head supported on Michael
Penmaurs knee, was my uncle, white
and bleeding, like man whose time had
come.
knelt by his side, and took his hand
He looked up into my face; and l saw
that his eyes were filmy and dim. The
air of the mine, even up there, was fetid
and foul, and | saw that he breathed
with difficulty.
Hugh, my lad" he said, family
"Come close-I want to whisper to zee
Can you forgive me?"
"Forgive your" l cried, greatly moved
"What have l to forgiven"
Listen, lad, and I'll tell zee"
yes" l answered, fairly sobbing.
"Put down your head and listen. | bs
dying, sure enough, and afore l die
want to ha' your forgiveness. They
would ha' hung zee, lad, for what did
TWAS | that killed the overseer!'
had guessed az much, but when tn,
truth came from my uncle's own lips
started in horror. He clutched my
hand, as if fearing that l would shrink
away.
"'Twere all on account O. my Annie
my poor little lass. We met out on the
cliff beyant the mine, and he said sum
mat that made me numbering mad. He
said she were bad; and afore L had time
to think, | struck at 'un wi my knife
Then he staggered back 'twert
on the very edge of the crag
and the earth seemed to give way undel
him, and he went o'er-screaming-
went DER to his death on the rocks he
low. That was how 1t cam about!
didn't mean to kill 'un, but 'twere don,
like fash o. lightning-and the mex
marning the next marnint
they found 'un lying, dead ant
bloody, on the Shore"
May God forgive you" I murmured
still bending over him.
His eyes were fixed on vacancy, hi
hands clutched mine like vice. Sudden
ly he leant forward, drew his hand from
mine, and pointed.
"See therer' he cried. "'Tis hissel