Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-03-07

me to my perilous position, and i
realized that Hetheringay had
come to my rescue ] could hear
his muscles cracking, and feel his
heavy painting, as, with a desper-
ate effort, he partly lifted and
partly dropped me ON to the safety
of the ledge.
Neither Of as spoke for some
minutes. until Hetheringay hav-
ing recovered his breath, said.
That was a near thing for you,
my boy. knew something would
happen if we yentured tomoye."
"But we cannot stay here idle"
/ gasped. SIN spite of what hap
pens i am going to make another
effort to get out Good heavens,
man, we have been in here for a
day and night to my certain
knowledge! cans feel myself
growing weak for want of food"
With a grunt Hetheringay as
scented to my persuasion, and we
once more pushed on. The impos-
sible is always proving itself the
possible, and although previously
we had been moving in the cave for
what seemed like an eternity, ten
minutes after we had made the sec
ond Start, became convinced that
it w growing light. Then we
turncu corner, and there, not
hundred yards ahead, we could see
the mouth of the cave.
The sight drove all caution from
our minds. Together we rose to
our feet, and, regardless of the
gaping abyss at our feet, dashed
out into the open.
With the afternoon sun shining
on our faces, we felt the whole
world once more lying at our feet.
Oh, it was good to feel the warmth
of the sun and the soft wind on our
cheeks, and to smell the faint bon
fire smoke. The forests were n
light maroon, the sky was ineffably
blue and tender, and here and
there a black crow fiOated almost
mOtionless in the still air, Heth-
eringay looked at his watch.
Its twenty minutes to four" he
said, thOughtfully. "And we went
into that place about two o'clock
yesterday - over twenty-fOur
hours ago. Yesterday was the
fourteenth of October, wasn't it?"
yes" l answered. Think of
it, nearly twenty-six hours in that
hole. ] am surprised our hair has
not turned gray"
We were ravenOusly hungry, of
course, and, despite the stiffness
caused by crawling so long on all
tours, we ran down the mountain
side like goats.
We wondered what would hap
pen when we appeared. We pic
tured the despair Of our friends
and the searching parties drag
ging the lake, and hunting at the
foot of the precipice.
Suddenly we heard voices ahead,
and came face to face with Miss
and Rogers strOlling
through the woods near the Oaks.
When they saw us they evinced
no surprise, and only nodded to us
from a distance, and remarked on
the stupidity of our tearing and
our clothes for the mere
pleasure Of scrambling rocks
Hetheringay went up to Rogers
and shook his hand as though they
had been parted for long time
How is everything?" he in
CURED, earnestly.
Rogers looked astonished, and
Miss Brooks turned scarlet.
"Why-er-what do you mean?
I-er-I think everything is all
light" he blurted out
"Haven'c they missed us at tn.
)aks?" asked Hetheringay, start
ng back.
missed your" said Rogers, alb
'ently, looking relieved, and steal
ng glance at Miss Brooks. 'Why
-er-I don't know. l haven't
ieard anything about it, They
lidn't expect you back until din
Ter, did they|
Suddenly it began to dawn Oh
ne.
"What day of the month is it,
Rogers ?" / asked.