The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-01-05

EaMs: 81 & esRs5 HsslEs Sss5 s;ssass e sss.nss
and going out motioned us to follow.
He took us to q shed and told us to
pick up g couple Of picks and shovels
and to 60 with him. We fell in behind
with our tools and l wondered if it
was a grave digging expedition we
were on for the tops temper had not
improved.
However, it proved to be less blood
curdling. We were lead to spot
about fifty yards in the rear of the
company quarters and told that it had
been decided by the powers that rule,
that well was required and we were
to dig until we struck water. Then
followed some directions as to the di-
ameter of the we'll and disposition of
the earth thrown out. With this we
were left alone. Now why we'll was
wanted we could not reason out. The
post had an ample supply Of water
which was carried into every building
necessary, by 9 fine system Of
plumbing, but it was not ours to rea-
son why. So we set to work and in q
couple Of days had sunk the well to .
depth where windlass and bucket
were required to hoist the earth to the
top But such digging to get to that
depth hope never to do again. The
#top soil in a large portion Of the high
lands Of the Dakotas is called s'gumbo.''
It is clay but is as dry and hard as
old putty. a pick will make an inn
preston on it and IL the wielder is
lucky he may chip off piece as big
as 9 pigeons egg. We had had our
fun but were paying for it with q
vengeance. To operate the windlass
one Of us stayed at the top while the,
other filed the bucket, alternating our
i positions every halliday, Whsp the.
well had reached depth of about
twenty feet the man at the bottom
could see nothing but the sides of the
hole and the sky above him.
Commodore, our boss mule skinner,
had an old horse that had given him
good service but who was now blind
and unable to work. This relic was
allowed to wander about nosing out q
succulent bite of grass, now here, new
there. About his neck was attached
strap from which was suspended q
cow bell so that the old fellows where
abouts could be learned when time
came to put him up for the night.
Several times he had strayed over to
the well and had come near falling into
it. One day, while was at the bottom,
l heard the tinkle of old Pete's bell but
J paid no attention to it as Frank was
at the top and would drive him away
, if he came too close. The bell sounded
j near, then it seemed farther off.
: Again it came nearer, then the old
chap seemed to scent danger and took
little walk. This kept on for half an
hour or so and kept working away
J chipping off little flakes OF gumbo,
trying to get bucketful. A little
dirt falling from above caused me to
J stop and look up, but as dirt fell occa-
I sionally it did not alarm me. Some
, more dirt fell and the sound of the
/ bell seemed to be right at the edge Of
, the we'll. frank" I yelled, "drive
f that old plug away. He is poking
, around up there and kicking dirt
!, down faster than / can shovel it up"
There was no reply to this and the
tinkle of the bell continued "Why
] don't you come out Of your dream and
) get that old skate over to the grass ?"
: This shouted at the top Of my voice.
Still no answer. The bell still was at
the same place and l commenced to
J, think hard and fast. I had an idea
q that if the old horse fell into the well
}. he might be hurt and if there was any
. thing left OF me / might be blamed for
( it. Could I catch him and let him
a [ to do. These and many other things
4 passed through my mind but did not
satisfy me. Then I started to climb
the rope, but climbing a half-inch rope
q is not an easy job sfor a landsman
Tie hole. was about five feet in diane,
]. ter, too wide to brace myself against
the sides, sol had to depend entirely
on climbing that rope to get out Of my
q predicament and the we'll.
It This was accomplished after hard
r struggle and as Il threw myself OYeI
= the edge and clambered to safe posi-
:. tion looked for the cause OF my aIx
g iety. No horse was visible, to thl
!. naked eye but there lay Frank laugh
Z ing as If he saw joke and danRlI
i an old COW bell.s Never mind old boy,