Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-07-25

you WIN jean, lntendlnS TO search this
tunnel. had opened the fireplace and
was lighting the lantern when your
men came. and | 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 no 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 Il hundred feet
or more. one hand touching the wall
to keep the direction. when something
struck me SO unexpectedly that
reeled backward 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
present state it 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. If 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 the idea coming to me as an
inspiration, lead sortie through it.
and thus take. the unconscious be
siegers in the rear.
How far are we from the entrance?"
l questioned.
Not over fifty feet. should say.
You pass out through trap door into
a log storehouse.'
could 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
ted 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 locked?"
His eyes opened slightly. staring
deeply at the lantern fame.
NO; all you need do is push against
it,"
climbed the few steps of the lad
der. leaving the light below. and with
out great effort lifted the door. turning
it silently back until it rested securely
against some obstacle. could per
ceive little outside the narrow zone of
light radiating from below. yet the
small room into which my head pro-
jected appeared unoccupied. Satisfied
as to this. | returned below. consid
to be got up the ladder. Water from
the canteen applied externally. with
the last dregs OF the brandy flask as
inward stimulant. brought the injured
man once again to his feet | buckled
the sling strap of the carhine beneath
his arms and LED the way. O'Brien
boosting s!urdily from below. and thus.
aided II little by his own efforts. we
succeeded in dragging his almost inert
body up the short reach of ladder and
out upon the floor above. The man
tainted as his head fell back upon the
planks. and he lay limp and scarcely
breathing.
My own exhaustion. complete as 1t
was temporarily. was not lasting.
held the lantern before Donald's face.
bending down to make certain he still
breathed. and then began searching
for the door of the abin. We were di-
rectly to the rear OF the house. another
small cabin standing between us and
the kitchen ell. Some ten or fifteen
feet away made out the black OUT