Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-06-20

oplEirg W. clear ir Tie Circulation
of air. There had eli two plallis-
ti.ck sGG al lard Tood-c1mposing
the entrance to the t-lnrel, but found
it Impossible to dielodge the second,
ard was compelled 10 squeeze my
way through the narrow tWelvo-inch
opening. This was difficult task, as
| was man Of some weight, but once
accomplished I found myself in con-
tracted passageway, not to exceed
three feet in width, and perhaps five
from floor to roof Here it was appar-
emily as well preserved as when first
constructed, probably hundred years
or more ago, the sidnwalls faced with
stone, the roof supported by roughly
hewn oak beams. | was convinced
there was no great weight Of earth
resting upon these, and the tunnel,
which l followed without difficulty, or
the discovery Of any serious obstruc-
ton, for fifty feet, inclined steadily
upward, until, in my judgment, it must
the surface. Here there occurred a
sharp turn to the right, and the eXca-
walton advanced almost upon a level.
Knowing nothing Of the conforma-
ton above, or of the location of build
ings, WIS obliged to press forward
blindly, conserving the faint light Of
the candle, and praying for free pas
sage. 1t was an experience TO test the
nerves, the intense stiffness, the bare,
gray walls, cold to the touch, the,
beams grazing my head, and uphold
ing that mass OF earth above, the i'm
tense darkness before and behind, with
only the Pickering radius of yellow
light barely Illuminating where trod.
Occasionally the wood crealied omi-
nously, and bits Of earth, Jared by
my passage, fell upon me in clods. Al
together it was an experience / have
no desire to repeat, although | was in
no actual danger for some distance.
Old Mortimer had built his tunnel well,
and through all the years it had held
safely, except where water had soaked
through, rotting the timbers. The
candle was sputtering with a final eff.
fort to remain alight when | came to
the first serious obstruction. I had
barely time in which to mark the nq.
ture OF the obstacle before the fame
died in the socket, leaving me in
blaclIness so profound it was like
weight. For the moment | was prac.
tically pnralyzed by fear, my muscles
limp, my limbs trembling. Yet to EN-.
deavor to push forward was no more
to be dreaded than to attempt retrac.
ing my steps. In one way there was
hope; in the other none.
With cropping fingers I verified the
situation, as that brief glance ere the
candle failed had revealed 1t. A beam
had fallen, letting down a mass Of
earth, but was wedged in such a way
as to leave a small opening above the
floor, barely sufficient for a man to
wiggle through. How far even this
slight passage extended, or what worse
obstruction lay hidden beyond was all
conjecture. 1t was mere chance in
which I must risk life in hope Of saw.
go tt might become Gelplessly
wedged beneath the timboys, or any
movement might precipitate upon me
I mass Of loosened earth. 1t was a
horrid thought, the death Of burrow'
ing rat; and l dare not let my mind
dwell upon the dread possibility. Slow
ly, barely advancing an inch at time,
began the venture, my hands blindly
cropping for the passage, the cold per.
spiration bathing my body. fhe far
Their penetrated amid the debris, Tho
greater became the terror dominating
me, yet to draw back was next 10 i'm
possible. The opening grew more con.
htracted; could scarcely force mysel
forward. digging fingers and toes int
the hard earth floor, the obshuctini
timber scraping my body. Il was al
awful, hcartrendlng struggle, street.-the
out Fat like snake in the d-rMeS
The loose earth showeilng NE Will
each movement There was more thu
one support down; had TO doUbi
about to find opening; again and aG4i
| seemed TO be against an unsurTas
sable barrier; twice l dug through
mass OF fallen dirt, once for three col
i'd feet, throwing the loosened cart
either slde-6f me, aud pushing It bao
with my feet. thus utterly blocking q
chance of retreat. Scarcely was tai
accomplished when another fall fr3
above came, half burymg head CT
shoulders, and compelling me to d
the work over. The air grew foul az
sluggish, but was toiling for life, an
lug at the debris madly, reckless Q
Mat might fall from above. Bette
% be crushed than to die Of suiioc;
ion, and the very desperation Wit
which | strove proved my salvation
.gor what remained Of the root he!t
and struggled through into the grmo
gallery beyond, faint from exhaustion
yet as quickly reylyng in the freeho
air. | had reachel the end CT the pa
sage before comprehendod the ttvu
. It opened in the side OF q gulley, con
, Ing out between the roots OF a greG
tree,
, (Coptinund nnvt walk \