The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-04

for years has puzzled Boer and Kaffil
alike.
A view from the brink of the
chasm was even more awful than the
some hundred and more feet down.
was the black, shining surface, like
the face of jet looking-glass, of
what appeared to be still water. And
so far as man could tell that water
was bottomless, peopled by fish. of
great size which were known to be
blind.
| But is the water still?
| At first sight it would seem so.
There is not a ripple on the surface
to mar the jetty glaze; there is no
apparent movement; there is no rise
and fall Of level during rainy season
or drought. And yet in far corner,
where the rocky side has been sworn
into semi-circular cavern, thick
mat of debris is gathered. All that
| floats upon the shining surface is in
fallibly, yet imperceptibly drawn to-
| wards this spot It may take weeks
to accomplish the journey, but the
/ finish issinevitable.
Nor, as time goes on, does the mass
grow larger. Careful observation has
revealed the fact that each fragment,
having reached the bulk, slowly works
| its wayfto the centre, and finally dis
appears! Is the water still? No, a
circular motion is always in progress.
| The hole is an imperceptible whirl-
pool. /.
Elwood gave no pause for observa-
ton now. 1t was evident, from the
practical appliances lying ready for
operations close to the bank, that he
had been working here for some days
He was about to attempt what 9TH
ers, perhaps Boer farmers, had at
tempted years before in their rough.
simple fashion. He was going to take
soundings, and, by the vast piles of
heavy rope lying adjacent, he was
well prepared for the bottomless ma
ture of the water.
His preparations were simple. A
hand-winch was securely dashed to an
adjacent tree, and about the barrel
of this a rope was wound. This, in
its turn, was secured to chain
cradle embracing a boulder of about
one hundred pounds weight. The
latter was poised at the extreme edge
of the pit, and only required the re-
leasing Of the winch to send it on
its journey below.
Elwood went at once to the winch.
At word from him his servant, with
absurd trepidation and fearful g1ances
in the direction of the hole, prepared
to pay out the rope from the coils
All was in readiness. The white man
cautiously released the brake. The
stone toppled and slowly vanished
over the edge. Once launched he set
the winch going faster, and the rope
paid merrily out.
But he was soon to learn that Dame
Natures moods are not for every
body's reading. Her riddles are OBJ
scure, and often unsolvable. And
doubtless she enjoys many laugh
at the expense of the Wanting human
who seeks to probe them. She serv-
ed him unkindly now.
Six hundred feet of rope had al
ready passed over the winch.
There was no bottom yet, and the
descent continued. Then suddenly, |
without any sort of warning, terrific |
strain took the rope; a strain that
set it creaking and the winch grind |
ing. The bonds that held the latter |
to the tree groaned and cracked; the
tree swayed as though caught in a |
wind-storm. And as his master jam
med down the brake, Saturday, in an
access of terror, flung himself face |
downwards upon the ground.
The strain increased, the rope was
swept out of it's direct course against |
a jutting rock. There was a fearful |
pause, then a sharp splitting almost |
like the report Of several guns. The
brake handle flew from the white
mans hand, the tree Strengthened with
a bound, and rope, winch and all,
shot over the pecipice. With a dull
splash it vanished into the depths be-
meath.
'An underground river-fowing. A
torrent" he murmured, Five hundred
feet below the surface. Yes" he went
on in the judicial tone of a simple in
cts worth knowing; worth
the price of the rope and winch"
Then he turned as the grey-green
face looked up into his preoccupied
eyes, and shaking hand convulsive-
ly clutched his shirt-sleeve.
"Him mighty angry Saturday
walled, indicating the water below
them. "Baas, you come home now?"
you're rank coward, Saturday.
and his master said indulgently go
o<11, he T10 1