Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-01-29
CHAPTER Y.

cease cutting at the cliff, and intended
to keep it, | was by no means deferred
from thinking of escape. 1t would have
needed more than the pangs of hunger
10 make me accept perpetual imprison-
ment. And now that we might depend
with tolerable certainty on receiving a
daily supply of food, the possibility of
escape was greater than before. We could
afford to spend months in the effort. My
thoughts turned again to burrowing I'M
der the rock.
Come along, Psyche, let Us go back
to the place and see what we can make
of it." said / when we had put away in
our store all that was left of. the food.
She ran at once and fetched the ak,
and seemed rather sorry THAI glad when
| signaled that we were not going to use
it again.
but there will be plenty OF work for
you by and by, you helpful little friend"
said |. only what we have to settle
now is which way we are TO employ our
selves to the best advantage, and not
rush into a hopeless task as we did in
our despair Just stand quietly by my
side while | think it out. Now, there's
that mass of fallen cliff thai stands be-
tween US and freedom, and there's the
sand and shingle on which it rests.
Where's the best place to scoop out tun-
mel and creep under the cliff? At first
sight it would seem that nature had done
good deal for us in making a great
cavity down there for us to start from.
But | now begin to think Snat The idea is
very misleading. l think that must be
the most difficult part to begin upon, lust
because there is a cavity there For if
the mass did not descend q great way
there, and present a great obstacle. it
would have been filled up before now by
the sand sitting up every cine the water
rises. Where the sand is highest, Psyche.
there the fallen cliff must have opposed
the least resistance to the inwash of the
tide. Now there's little wafer at the
notion there; WEI scoop It o,I:. aad -han
see on which side the water flows IN most
quickly. Run and fetch me the crock.
Psyche-crock."
She looked at me an instant. and then
remembering the words l had taught her,
ran off swiftly, and returned with he
crock, hugely delighted. l descended in
to the hollow and baled out the water.
and watched what followed keenlv.
There" said | in triumph. LOOK at
the little thread of water glis.euins i'll
the light. That comes from the right
hand, and there exactly as it should 10
the shinglc and sand are highest"
Acting upon this theory, | founi he
highest point of ground, and digging
down with the ak against the rsce of tie
fallen cliff, made beginning Of this .eng
job. As soon as Psyche perceive. wha,
was about, she fell on her knees and
dug out the loose sGaG, using her nanes
for tool
wait bit, little one" sad I. "you
have blisters on your hands; come with
me. and let us see if we cant find some
thing in the shape of gloves to cover
them"
Among the things she had hung shoue
her alcove we're some pairs of thick knit
ted stockings, for whicu SHE had found
no use. made her slip her rms inlo
pair, and the feet covering her hands,
served as a very good protection TO them.
They excited her mirth Immensely. and
though they seemed at first 20 tickle ko-
arms and produce discomfort. she ~ss
well content to wear them when | sig
nided my approval OF their csc.
Digging in the sand WIS far less labo-
rious than cutting elf, ani we worked
on without feeling fatigue un.il | qe-
cided that we should take our dinner
hour. By that time we were standing in
a hole as high as my sTmpits, but we had
not yet reached water. though the tide
had risen its highest. as one could see
| by the pool in the hollow. ! was very
| we'll satisfied. however, with the pro-
greSs We had made. and, standing on the
/ edge when l nodded approvingly to
/ Psyche, she looked down and rodded APP
/ provingly TO me.
After our meal we set TO work again,
and kept on till the light fsded. only
passing for half an hour in The afternoon
TO rest and refresh ourselves With some
/ bread and water. How We rsiished this
simple fare no one can imagine who has
not suffered privation and dcre long
spell of good hard work.
We had made less progress ~ the af-
ternoon than in the morning. for aot only
was the sand and shingle more compact
! and difficult to work as we sof lower,
| but the labor of throwing il up out Of
the pit was far greater; and Tor that