The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-11-04

mltted me little time for exploration.
Grasping me firmly by the arm, and
feeling his way along the wall, he
CROPPED across to the other side.
There's mighty big stone chimbly
comes down yere, Cap" he whispered.
AN Their openin' ter take out SCOT an
ashes is up thar, jist blow Their
fluer. It's a sheet-iron pan, reckon,
Their way it feels; an it must be thar
they put niger in ter clean Their
chimbly whin it gifts stuffed up.
could git up thar alone, but couldn't
do no work, but tibet thar pan ought
ter cum out all right. Dew We think
ye cud hoP me up. Cap? I'm purity
durn heavy"
smiled In the darkness at the lit,
tie fellows egotism, and lifting him as
I might child, poised him lightly
upon my shoulder. He struggled a
moment to steady himself against the
wall, and then I could feel him tug
ging eagerly at something which ap-
naared to yield slowly to his efforts
AS he worked, dense shower Of dust
and SCOT caused me to close my eyes.
"She's comm all right" he said,
cheerfully, putting with his exertions,
"but I reckon as how this climbly
amt bin cleaned out since Their war
begun. Hold up yer right han, Cap,
an git blame good grip on her, fer
she's almighty full, anil wanter go
down sorter easy like"
did as he suggested, bracing my
self to meet his movements, as he
stood straining on my shoulders, and
in another moment had succeeded
in lowering the large sheet-iron pan
silently to the floor.
Room 'nough yere fer two men ter
oncet," chuckled my companion, in
rare delight "'The chief in silence
strobe BEFORE Yere goes"
His weight left my shoulders; there
was slight scramble, another shower
of dirt, then the sound of his voice
once more.
Lift up yer hans, Cap; dig in yer
toes on ther stones, an we'll begin
our VICE."
He grasped my wrists with a
strength which I had no conception
the little fellow possessed. There was
a moments GREATNESS struggle, and
l squirmed through the opening, and
lay painting on the flat slabs which
composed the foot of the great funnel.
To afford me more room Bungay had
gone up little, finding foot-lodgment
upon the uneven stones of which the
ment we rested thus motionless, both
breathing heavily and listening to the
music and shuffling of feet now almost
upon level with our heads.
The noise. which was strong and
continuous, rendered discovery from
any misstep highly improbable, and as
delay was dangerous neither Of us was
disposed to linger long.
BE ye all ready, Cap?" questioned
Bungay, bending his head down. Fer
If ye be, I'm a goin' up"
"All right" I answered, struggling
to my knees in the narrow space;
"only take it slow, Jed. I'm trifle
bigger man than you, and this il
rather close quarters"
wal, yes, maybe a matter of Z
poun' er two" he retorted, and the next
moment I could hear him scrapine
his way upward, feeling for foothold
upon the irregular layers of stone.
followed, pressing my knees firmly
against the rough wall, and trusting
more to my hands than feet fo~ Sc
curity against falling. There was
evidently fireplace of some kind on
the first floor, with a considerable
opening leading from it into the chin
ney we were scaling, for as Jed slow
ly passed, could perceive a sudden
CLEAN Of light streaming across his
face from the glare of the lamps with
in. He glanced anxiously that way
but did not pause in his steady climb
upward.
A moment later I came opposite
that same beam of radiance, and
cautiously peered down the sloped
opening that led to tho disused fire
place. All I could perceive was g
pair of legs, evidently those of cav
airy officer, judging from the broad
yellow stripe down the seam of the
light-blue trousers, and the high boots
ornamented with rowel spurs. He
stood leaning care'essly against the
mantel, talking with some one just
beyond the range Of my vision.
At that moment the music ceased
suddenly, and afraid to proceed unit
1t should strike Up again, braced
myself securely on projecting stone
and bent my head over the orifice un
til could catch a portion of the con
versation being carried on by my I'm
conscious neighbors.
NO." said the cavalryman, gruffly
and apparently in ,ply to some previ
GUS question, "the fellow was mos
devilish obstinate; wouldn't tell the
first thing; even a threat of treat