The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-07-27
By RANDALL PARRISH
COPYRIGHT. 1909. BY A c MeCLURC & CO..

you with Jean. intending TO search this
tunnel. | had opened the fireplace and
was lighting the lantern when your
men came. and I stole back as far as
the head Of the stairs TO learn what was
happening. Then Jean came up with
your message. and | decided to escape
TO my own men as quickly as possible.
Having 10 longer any thought OF
search and knowing the way perfectly,
! blew out the light and came down
the ladder In the dark. have made
the trip in that manner a dozen times
and felt no fear | must have advanced
through the tunnel for a hundred feet
or more. one hand touching the wall
TO keep the direction. when something
struck me SO Unexpectedly that |
reeled back ward and fell. | have no
recollection of seeing anything: only
OF feeling the blow and realizing ] was
falling. The next | remember Is look
ing up into your face. wondering where
| was"
The man was far too weak and daZed
TO be questioned at any length; In his
present state II would be useless TO
describe the woman's face we had
seen or Miss Jeans effort to hold US
prisoners. Here was an explanation Of
why no attack had thus far been made
upon us from the rear; either no one
outside knew OF this passage, or else
Dunn, II he was present and In COM
mand. lacked the nerve necessary for
directing such an %assaulting party.
Whichever was the cause. ! desired to
satisfy myself must seal the tunnel.
or else dhe idea coming to me as an
inspiration lead n sortie through it.
and thus take the unconscious be
siegers in the rear.
How far are we from the entranceT'
| questioned.
Not over fifty feet, | should say.
You pass out through a trap door into
a log storehouse."
Gould you manage to walk that
far?"
He held on to O'Brien and the wall.
thus succeeding In lifting himself until
he stood crest. but his movements were
so uncertain that | grasped him also
In this manner we advanced slowly
along the passage. Twice we permit
red him TO lie back on the packed earth
floor to rest. He was swaying dizzily
when we finally attained the foot of "A
short ladder leading upward. The trap
was closed. yet as ! held the lantern
higher | could perceive the outlines OF
the door.
lis the trap lockedT"
His eyes opened slightly. staring
deeply NJ the lantern fame.
NO: all you need do is push against
it,"
1 climbed the few steps OF the lad
der. leaving the light below. and with
out great effort lifted the door. turning
IL silently back until 1t rested securely
arainst some obstacle. could per
ceive little outside the narrow zoue OF
light radiating from below. yet the
small room into which my head pro-
iected appeared unoccupied. SatlSneu
rs 10 this. returned below. consid-
orabl puzzled as to how Donald was
IN I've cot up the ladder. Water from
the canteen applied externally, Win
The last dregs of the brandy nnsR as
inward stimulant. brought the lnJureh
man once again to his feet | buckled
tbe sling strap of the carbine beneath
his arms and led the way. OBrien
boosting sturdily from below. and thus.
aided n little by his W efforts we
succeeded in dragging his almost inert
body IN the short reach of ladder and
out upon the floor above. The man
tainted as his head fell back upon the
nlonks. and be lay limp and scarcely
breathing.
NV own exhaustion. complete as II
was temporarily. was not lasting. !
held the lantern before Donald's face
bending down To make certain he stii'
breathed. and then began searching
for the door of the cabin. We were al
rectIy 10 the rear of the house. another
small cabin standing between us II
tho kitchen ell. Some ten or nfteen
feet away | made out the black u