The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-06-29

1 founu the ring. ana TO II tied the
rope. tested the security of the knots
at least half dozen times before
let the rope go. II swung out TO its
length with Jerk ] fastened the
sword tightly round me. and then
stood for a moment II was shnri
prayer I muttered- short. perharS
for the great matter WIS enierin'
upon but It was an earnest one Thu
I sat upon the edge Of the slip n'H,
grasping the rope with both hands t.
myself go. dropping to my full lrng;i
It was the way that only dead mel
took, yet |. living one, was about 10
take 1t.
1t had seemed pitch dark In the dun
geon. yet hung in n greater blackness
and could discern the opening above
my head. / wasted no time now had
begun my journey. II was simply a
matter of sliding down the slip and
steadying myself by the rope This
was easy enough.
must have traversed nearly the
fifty feet of rope, yet my feet had al,
ways met the wall had come to no
other hole. no other slip joining the
main shaft. Hand over hand ! went
down. first feeling the rope with my
feet to make certain that I was not at
the end of It. then feeling the wall, not
to miss the opening sought for,
Hand over hand. then my feet dan.
| Cling below me-there was no more
rope. For an instant felt inclined 10
| let go and fall to death. so ending my
| troubles. Then I went up hand over
hand In desperate haste. and. having
got the rope between my knees again,
| I hung, swinging. and steadied myself
to think. Either had missed the hole
or Organ was mistaken; the rope was
not long enough. Perhaps 1t was be-
cause the first solution was the most
acceptable that believed It to be the
correct one. took courage and
climbed upward. stretching my legs to
right and left searching for the hole.
7 might have missed 1t even then had
I not heard a sound that made me
listen intently. Yes; 1t was distiHrt
from the Kissing Of the water below
| me. the murmur of mans voice
Was II above me in the dungeon had
escaped from? II so. I had only to wait
few moments. I should feel the rope
jerked. or else 1t would be cut. and so
an end to me, I hung, waiting. and
still in dull monotone the voice went
on Suddenly little below me and to
my left the rocky wall seemed to grow
luminous. fickering light that shone
for moment. then died, then shone
again.
''Is that good way out of life?"
The voice sounded low. yet the
words were distinct The light flicker
ed and then slowly went out | low
cred myself TO the level where Il had
been and then, holding the rope with
one hand, worked my way along The
face of the wall with the other
made slow progress. but presently
grasped the side of the slip. Cautiously
] felt for the door of it with my foot
After some minutes succeeded II
finding 1t, but it was, II anything. n
sharper angle than the slip from my
dungeon. How TO get footing upon
1t was matter for consideration. Al
It was. had to hold on to the side OF
the slip to prevent the rope swinging
back with me. for instead of being
directly under my dungeon, as O'RyaI
had led me TO suppose, this opening
was good ten feet to one side Of
it. Fortunately the walls of II were
rough hewn. and, clinging to the rope
with my knees and feet. managed L
drag myself inward with my hands
my nails and fingers suffering In thu
operation By letting the rope slid'
between my knees gradually as | ad
vanced | brought myself to the foo
some feet from the edge Of the slip
chose the spot and then dropped
forward on my hands and knees. Thu
released rope swung back and wal
gone. There was no return now.
had dropped very cautiously, and al
my energy had been conferred on wha
was doing. Now | was aware tina
above me. at the top of the steep as
: cent. there was a light Organ ha,
not deceived me. The trap In the dun
geon was open.
There was pillar In the middle o
! the dungeon. supporting the low vault
ed roof. and in ring In the pillar
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