Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-06-14

scr"ping the wet 6tGG away before uc, and
pushing it back until the suck ct In our
rear was full, when it had to be dragged
out into the shaft and shot up to tie
surface. The mere labor Of dragging the
stun out and returning for more occu-
pied much time, and increased material
ly as we got further from 'he pit. At
one point we found our progress com
pletely stopped by a rock embedded in
the sand, and after attempting for three
days to work it out by means of the
crowbar, we were forced to turn aside
and burrow round it. The rising tide
was a continual source of trouble and
anxiety, for besides washing in the sides
of our tunnel, it Slapped the shering Of
the pit, which gave way twice, despite
our watchfulness. In addition to this,
we were in continual dread of being
blocked in by the fall of the ragged
and unequal mass above us.
/ shall never forget our horror one
night. on feeling a difficulty in breath
ing and observing our candle burn low.
On backing along the tunnel l discov-
cred that the thing / dreaded had come
to pass; q mass of sand and shingle had
fallen in and completely blocked our
retreat. The more we thrust with our
rect the more compact the obstacle be.
came. The water was rising in front
of us, and it seemed inevitable that we
should be drowned like rats in a drain
Every moment the difficulty of breathing
became greater, and an awful siugins
in the head warned me that we were
being sufocated. 1t was the terrible
sensation we may all have experienced
in dreaming of being buried alive.
The water advanced steadily, but we
still stuck in the same place. We lay
in water up to our necks, crly keeping
our mouths free by raising eur heads
against the top of the tunnel. To make
the horror greater. our light went ont.
l claSped Psyche's hand. thinking il
was all over. and resigned myself at
well as l could to the death that sesrnet
close at hand. But the water that threat
ened to drown us saved us by loosenins
the sand behind. and suddenly, to oui
inexprcssible relief, we breathed freely
as the sand melted away before the pres
sure of our feet. When we got out ints
the cave | fell upon my knees instinc
lively, and knelt there, sick ard trem,
bling with emotion, while Psyche raised
her little hymn of gratitude above me.
This terrible accident made me decid,
that night that we would run the awful.
risk no more, but the next morning hope
overcame my fears, and l went again
into the tunnel, leaving Psyche, however,
in the cave to do work that I reckoned
would occupy her till 1 came out. he
fore I had been there an hour she came to
my side with a joyful cry, having done |
in that time all that I had set her te |
do, and done it well. I let her stay. Il
do not think You could live alone now, =
Psyche" said l.. "And SO, if I am ia |
perish in here, you may as we'll die with |
me-" 1-e
But we were not again caught in thi, /
way, and despite all the difficulties W.
had to overcome, at the end of tive |
months from the time we fRt began our |
TUNE we had penetrated under the cliff
a distance of not less than forty feet
from the pit. And this I reckoned might
fairly be considered about half the dis
lance we had to go.
Ito be continued.)