Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-03-08
CHAPTER xIIl.-continued.

CHAPTER xIII.-continued.
That he meant every word he spoke
/ felt convinced, and his enthusiasm
was contagious. My blood leaped
within me at this call to action; all
lethargy fled, and with 1t every dead
ening thought OF her who had so sud.
denly rover about me the meshes Of
her power. False or true, maid, wife,
or widow, my duty as a soldier to my
commander and the army to which I
belonged, blotted out all else. Even
as this new rush of determination
swept over me, above US there
sounded clearly the dashing music Of
Q military band in the strains of a
Strauss waltz, and we could dis
tinguish the muffled shuffling of many
feet on the oaken floo- overhead.
Caton's chance remark about the great
ball to be given that evening by Off
cers Of the headquarters staff recur-
red to my memory.
THAT dancing up there will help us.
Jed" l said quickly. my mind now
active to grasp ever detail. you
say there is a chance for escape from
your cell? Then give me your hand,
and help mo to crawl through that
hole"
It was q narrow squeeze for a man
Of my size. yet I crept through with
out great difficulty. al. found myself
IL the dense darkness Of a
which. as I judged hastily from feel
ing about me, vas similar IN shape
and extent to the one l. which l had
been confined. Bungay, however. per-
mitted me little time for exploration.
tGrasping me firmly by the arm, and
feeling his way along the wall, he
Uroped across to the other side.
There's a mighty big stone chfmbly
ome down yere, Cap" he whispered.
AN Their openin' ter take out soot an
ashes Is up thar, jist blow Their
fluer. It's a sheet-iron pan, 1 reckon,
her way 1t feels: an 1t must be thar
they put a niger in ter clean ther
chimbly whin it gifts stuffed up. 1
could git up thar alone. but l couldn't
% no work. but thet thar pan ought
ter cum out all right. Dew We think
ye cud hol' me up, Cap? I'm purity
durn heavy"
smiled In the darkness at the lit.
Ito fellows egotism, and lifting him as
I might a 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-
peared to yield slowly to his efforts
As he worked. a dense shower Of dust
and unnf roYrcnA me RI .o1NcA ~orv $685.
she's a comm all right" he said,
cheerfully. putting with his exertions,
'sbut I reckon as how this chimbly
ain't bin cleaned out since ther war
begun. Hold up yer right han, Cap,
an git q blame good grip on her, fer
she's almighty full, anil wanter go
down sorter easy like"
I did as he suggested, bracing my
self to meet his movements, as he
stood straining on my shoulders, and
In another moment l had succeeded
In lowering the large sheet-iron pan
silently to the floor.
Room 'nough we're fer two men ter
oncet," chuckled my companion, in
rare delight. 1.-THE chief in silence
strobe before Yere goes"
His weight left M 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
U VICE."
He grasped my wrists with q
strength which I had no conception
the little fellow possessed. There was
. moments GREATNESS struggle. and
I 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 a little. finding foot-lodgment
upon the Uneven s.ones Of which the
chimney was constructed. For q mo-
ment we rested thus motionless, both
breathing heavily and listening to the
music and shuffling Of feet now almost
uron . level with our heads.
The noise. which was strong and
continuous, rendered discovery from
any misstep highly improbable. and ~
delay was dangerous neither Of us was
4isposed to linger long
Ne - all ready, Capr' questioned
D1ngay. bending his head down. Fer
Z - b, I'm . goin' up"
IAN right" I answered. struggling
= my knees In the narrow space:
only take Il slow. Jed. I'm . trifls
baoxer man than you. and this u
rather Close Quartsrs.s
Wal, yes, maybe Z matter Of .
pouAf q two" he rstortsd. and the next
mnmant I could hear him scraping