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

As we had done so well this day l
thought we might afford to Fave a little
light with our slpper-Psyche being as
unable as myself to see in fetal darkness
so / got out the candle, which even
cur hunger had spared, and struck a
match. Although the light was still try
Ing to Psyche's eyes, she was greatly
Interested in the means of producing IL;
and VIXEN l made her strike a match she
gave IL long-drawn exclamation OF Won
der in seeing the light burst forth, and
continued to hold it at arms length I'M
I'll the flame approached Der myers,
when she dropped it with a cry OF ter
ror for heat was as much q new eSpe-
rience to her as light. But the crown
ing surprise came when | 'lrew out my
watch, which had run down, wound 1t
up, and set it to what | thought might
be the hour. She bent over it in mute
establishment, pointing to the second
hand as it travelled round, and repeating
softly the sound it made. l think she
looked upon it us a living thing, a kind
of ''caw,' for she murmured that word
obviously among the strange musical
sounds she made when l ceased to taiK
to her, and when | put it in her hand
she smo4thed it with her cheek, n would
by nc means allow it to lie on Its race,
though the shining back drew forth a coo
Of admiration. / took it to her alcove
and put it below the blanket that served
for her pillow, and she was content TO
lie down at once and keep it company,
fancying, I imagine, that by my keeping
1t in my pocket it was a delicate sort OF
creature, that must be kept warm and
comfortable. l heard her singing to II
In a low tone for some time afterward
as / sat In the dark bordering over the
strange things that had happened to me.
was awoke in the morning by the
whistlIng of old Peter down the shaft.
send up the pitcher, you little var
mint" he called, as | took the things
from the basket, "and the bucket like
wise if you want any water"
1.-THE bucket is down below. and the
pitchers broken" I answered.
He drew up the cord once more, and
slammed the cover down, without wait
ing to hear the song OF thanks which
Psyche, who had qnuickly followed me,
offered. She put the watch with tender
est care into my hands. l left her to set
out our breakfast, which she instinctively
saw was her business rather than mine.
and went to have a peep at the blue sky.
I found the water high in the hollow, and
after a refreshing dip I peered down into
our pit to see IL 1t was as We had LETT IT.
I saw that the rise and fall ct the water
had caused a slip in the sand, and above
two feet of our work would have to be
done over again. This was no more than
/ had expected, but I saw ttat we must
devise some means of snoring up the
sides before we could make more progress.
Returning to the large cave, l bade
Psyche 60 and take her dip-an instruc-
ton which she readily understood and ac-
cepted-while I sat down to ccI slider the
subject Of snoring up the pit; blu some
how I could hit on no device until
Psyche, having taken her bath, came
back and sat down by my side, and l
told her what was ON my mind, in the
hope that some idea would come to me-.
For l began to see hat this method of
thinking aloud brought a clearer percep-
ton Of things than silent meditation, be
sides being agreeable to my companion.
You, see, Psyche" said /, breaking
the loaf in half and giving her one por-
ton, I'VE may have to 80 Il good vas
further down yet, and all the time we
are working below the level Of high
water VIZ shall be subject TO continual
washing down and washing in Of sand
and rubbish. If it were shored. the
water coming in would be an advantage,
for Il would loosen the stuff, and we
could pull it up in the bucket that hangs
down the we'll. The only way I can
think Of is to wall it round below the
level with chunks Of chalk. The
job will be to bring them in from the
heap out there-and a long job, too, car
rying them in one at a time. If we only
had a barrel that he could Eli and roll
along now! Barrels there are enough
In French Peters cave-I saw some in
tact, rs If they were still full Of spirits.
And there's just about enough candles
TO last us through. / wonder if we
might venture in there. It's worth try
do you think, my quiet, atten-
tive little friend?"
What she did think l cannot tell, but
taking her encouraging manner for APP
prevail of my idea, / determined to make
the attempt. That morning We climbed
the great slope, and happily with such
unexpected escape from accident that
have nothing to tell of our passing into
French Peters cave this second time
except that we found the slip had con-
siderably opened the gap at rhe top, and
that my descent to the bottom OF the
inner side was less igniminious and ter
rifying then before. saw 10 material
change In this cave.
A couple Of barrels sheltered by an
angie ef rock had escaped destruction.
I knocked in the heads and found them
full Of spirits, which I ruLhlessly emp
tied away. The empty tubs we got up
the alope, and rolled down into the inner
cave, having first filled them with old
slaves, which might serve us In the
future Tor a light and also we took a
crowbar and another az from Psyche's
altar. The gold lay there in mockery
of the power Of wealth I would have
given as much Of it as a man could take
In return for an iron shovel.
Having got all that we wanted for our
present use, we returned to the big cave,
and carried our treasures 10 the edge of
the pit. The water had now ebbed, and
in order to see better what the face of
the cltf looked like at the bottom l
choppeA up a couple of slaves into thin
strips, and, having built them up in a
conc % the edge, I set fire to them. And
this led to an unanticipated result which
I Aastm 20 tell. The FIRE had not been
burning ten minutes when We heard old
Peter whistling f~uriously down the shaft.
"WhAt are you at nowT he called.
when ! answered his whistle from tho
bottom ~ the shaft. s"Ain't you got nc
feelin' Ct respec's for the sick that you
! 30 a cheking your poor grandfather with
this here smother of smoke? Do you
want me 20 come down and knock your
heads o6f You're rot to put that fire
out at once. do you understand that,