Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-09-09

feeling the blood gathering in his neck |
aud head. until the pain was terrible.
ne venturcd 90 stretch forth his hands.
His left found nothing. but his right
touched cold and sllmy stone. Sweep
ing his hand as far around as possible.
he suddenly paused. and said:
Heavens. ] am in a well. i feel
the curving OF the stones. ! must have
fallen here when the trap was sprung
by Hammond"
Reaching up with immense difficulty.
for he hung face downward. ne at
last succeeded in grasplns the iron bar
above.
Il have lodged in falling" said be. I
MY head is bruised and bleeding II /
must have struck the edge OF the door 4
as A. fell But FOR the strength OF /
Hammond's Overcoat. were row
dead 1 must set out"
lie heard a great noise above him.
as he swung himself up. SO as 70 sup
port his body by swinging upright.
with the iron bar under his right arm.
Hammond Is not satisfied" said he.
"He comes 20 make sure OF his muir
der" And though brave and noble as
man could be. James Greene felt an
icy horror gripping at his heart
He is mailing fast the trap" he
/ said. Il am 20 be entombed alive In
| this horrible grave"
Twas not Luke. but old Fan mailing
and securing tho trap-door. The noise
at length ceased. and James Greene
thought:
by the sound judge that I am not
I many feet below the trap-doOr. There
must be some small interval between
the door and the edge OK the wall
The area OF the door. as well as
can remember It when fl fell. must be
at last four feet square"
He swung his feet out boldly. and be
touched the other side Of the we'll
Good" said he. quick and true IN
measuring. The wei IS less than i've
feet in diameter. The trap-do0r must
have swung downward 90 its full
, length-say four feet at least. There
fore there must be space OF four
feet at least between the level OF the
door and the mouth OF the wei. FOR
, otherwise the door would have struck
2 the combing OF the well. and so shot
g me aside. whereas. from the sound
e have just heard. the door is right over
2 my head. As near as 1 can judge from
e that hammering I am only ten OF
o twelve feet from the level of the trap
r Take the swing OF the door from that
l. and I am six or eight feet only from
q the edge OF the wei. I must try <
stand upr'
2 This cost him much time and labor
Tor the well wall was Shiny an,
fra..a
bar. or spike. few inches long. stick
lnS out OF the stones Immediately a
his left. This was once part OF Ia
same bar he was swinging on.
- James Greene we know was q car
penter. and as 4 general rule carper
=, tiers can climb like cats. Give a spr
~ carpenter three strong nails and ham
mcr. and he can go anywhere
Greene was bold and active. and
~ spite OF h.s slippery footing he ina
Is stood erect. but with one foot on th
- first bar that had saved him. and tl
other ca the last found iron fra-men
He was clear six feet ia stature, but .
49, he now stood. his feet wide apart. az
lracing his body with his ourstre tchC
bands against the wall line. "A On
drawn from his toe TO the level of p
- head we'd not have measured FOL
4, lcet.
-, IL must try 90 stand on one foot
80 said he. ''lf but Tor a second"
At an imminent risk OK falling % q
~ bottom OK the well-aud ot ATS depth
- bad no idea-he arose on one Zoe
~ and at the same time threw bis ~
go upward 10 its full length.
- To his great joy the first joints
- his fingers chung 10 the brink OF ,
we'll
"Wiu Il bear my weightT was
next thought. 4 have hold enough
- lift me until my left hand can take
- drmer grasp. But the stone sec
-. crumbling. or It's mortar under
- finger tips"
=. He paused awhile IN great doubt.
peril was terrific. II the stone shol
crumble his fan would be certain.
Something splashed in the Shiny o.
- Tar below him. He listened. AnOt
splash. and a squeak.
Rats said he. They have
,,,-- covered my presence. and wiz dog
- less attack NE. I must trust In [
and act"
And commencing his soul TO his
~ ator. be swung his body out from
- well and threw up his left arm
The stone did not crumble; II '
arm in its place. Drawing himself
as high as his breast, then throwing