Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-02-05
CHAPTER x.-(Continued.)

ing To Psyche's eyes, she was slooH5
interested in the means of producing IL
and when | made her strike a natch she
gave A long-drawn exclamation or Won
der in seeing the light burst forth, and
continued TO hold il al arms length I'M
ill the fame approached her hngers,
when she dropped it with cry OF ter
ror for heat was as much new eNpe-
rience to her as light But tie crown
ing surprise came when I lrcw out my
watch. which had run down, wound II
ND. and set it TO what | thought might
he the hour. She bent over it in mute
establishment, pointing to the secohd
hand as it Travelled round, and repeating
softly the sound it made. think sue
looked upon it as a living thing, klhu
of "caw," for she murmcred that WORD
obviously among the strange muslcal
sounds she made when l ceased TO talk
to her and when | put it IL her mana
she smoothed it with her cheek, aud would
by no means allow it to lie on Its race
though the shining back drew forth coo
of admiration. | took it 10 her alcoVe
and mt il below the blanket Tat served
for her pillow, and she was content 10
lie down al once and keep IT company,
fancyiug, | imagine, that by my. keeping
II in NV pocket it was a delicate sort OF
creature. that must be kept warm and
comfortable. | heard her singing 10 IT
In n 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 l took the things
from the basket, "and the bucket IKE
wise if you want any water !"
"The bucket is down below, and the
pitchers broken | 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 qnuicky followed me,
offered. She put the watch with tender
est care into my hands. eft her to set
out our breakfast. which she instinctively
saw was her business rather than mine
and went to have peep at the blue sky
l found the water high in the hollow, and
after refreshing dip 7 peered down into
our pit to see if it was as We had left 1t.
saw that the rise and fall OF 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 | saw that we must
devise some means of snoring up the
sides before we could make more progress
Returning to the large cave, L bade
Psyche go and take her dip--an instruc-
ton which she readily understood and &C
cepted-whle | sat down to col slider the
subject of snoring up the pitt but some
how / could hit on 10 device until
PSYCHE having taken her bath, came
back and sat down by my side, and
told her what was on my mind, in the
hope that some idea would come to me.
For / began to see that 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 J, breaking
the loaf in half and giving her one por-
ton. 1--WE may have to go n good way
further down yet. and all the time we
are working below the level of high
water we shall be subject 20 continual
washing down and washing in of sand
and rubbish. If it were shored, the
water coming in would be an advantage,
for it would loosen the stuff, and we
could pull it up in the bucket that hangs
down the well. The only way l can
think of Is to wall it round below the
water level with chunks of chalk The
Job will be to bring them in from the
heap out there-and long job, too, car
rying them in one at a time. If we only
had a barrel that he could fill and roh
along now! Barrels there are enough
in French Peters cave-I saw some in
tact as if they were still full of spirits
And there's just about enough candles
to last us through. l wonder if we
might venture in there. It's worth try
ing-what do you think, my quiet, atten-
tive little friend?"
What she did think | cannot tell. but
taking her encouraging manner for APP
prevail of my idea, l determined to make
the attempt. That morning We climbed
the great slope. and happily with such
unexpected escape from accident that I
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 The cop, and
that my descent TO the bottom of the
inner side was less igniminious and ter
rifying then before. l saw no material
change in this cave.
A couple of barrels sheltered by an
m.
L knocked in the heads and found them
full of spirits. which l rulhlessly emp
tied away. The empty tubs we got up
the slope, and rolled down into the inner
cave, having first filed them with old
stavls, which might serve us in the
future for a light; and also we took a
crowbar and another AK from Psyche's
altar. The gold lay there in mockery
- h. of
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 20 the edge of
.hs pit. The water had now sbbed, and
In order TO see better what the face OF
the cliff looked like at the bottom |
chopped up a couple of slaves into thin
strips. and, having built them up in a
cone on the edge, set fire to them. And
this led to an unanticipated result which
/ hasten 10 tell. The fire bad not been
burning ten minutes when We heard old
Peter whistling furiously down the shaft.
What are you at nowf" he called.
when I answered his whistle from the
bottom of the shaft. Amt you got no
feelin' of respects for the sick that you
60 choking your poor grandfather with
this here smother of smoke? Do you
want me 70 come down and knock your
heads OFF, You're got to put that FIRE
out at once, do you understand that.
there?"
I'VE must have light" l answered.
Must have light DO you think
we're rollin' in riches that we can af-
ford to feed the both on you and keep
you in lights as well. Put out that there
fire. Your grandfSther's chokin', don't
you hear him?"
I'm put out the IRE wnen you send
me down candles"
He went away and returned with amaz.
Ing celebrity.
There's candles for a week, and you
shall have more when they're gone per
visins you put out that FIRE at once, and
don't light IL no more It's all fol-