Milford chronicle., 1913-03-21

ter rose. rose. slowly. steadily, toucn'
ed the bottom Of the ledge. came to
their very feet-uud then stayed Ten
mina'es passed, during which Joyce
he'll bis light ont over the black. snlen
water again ANA again Then he re-
placed il ia his cap
ITS stopped he said We've got
a hghun chance
Ben tooS bis pick and began knock
ing against the wall back Of them
Then. lifting up his voice. he sang at
its full strength the Easter hymn that
had so stirred the anger of Simons a
few hours before. Simons said moth.
Ing now. and Jarvis eagerly caught up
the refrain in a rough bass
If they're searchin," he said. nd
likely they are. they might hear that
from the Old shaft. Anyhow. hymn
does no harm the way we are"
But no one heard The hours drag
ged on; the black water slept at their
feet, neither rising nor falling an inch
Whether it was night or morning they
/ did not know. At intervals Ben sang
I the hymns he knew best. tapping In
unison on the wall with bis pick. and
/ SimOns crouched silently beside him.
while Jarvis joined in. All at once the
latter clutched Ben. Listen. listenr
be cried. and far far away a sound as
" tap on the wall was heard and re-
peated distinctly as they listened.
They've heard US" said Jarvis ca
gerly.
But they're far away. Maybe the
old shaft is farther away than
thought"
Our lamps are goin' out" said 81
mons grimly. nd we've not been here
half day They can't reach us under
a week from that far away" Then he
said no more. relapsing into the same
heavy silence as if he had no hope and
cared nothing for the outcome.
Continued faroh tapping could now
be heard Evidently the pickmen OF
the rescuing party were at work The
lamps in the caps OF the three went
out for lack Of oil. and all was dark
Jarvis curled up closer and sank or to
sleep. snoring loudly Ben. uplifted
by the thought that friends were toll
ing to reach them. began to sing soft |
ly the hymn he loved best. Rock OF |
Ages" In the dark be felt hand laid |
trembling on his arm.
Don't sing that" said a shaken voice
-Simons' voice. Il can't stand 1t.
Joyce-I can't stand It,"
Ben stopped. astonished. The hand
remained on his arm, and the voice !!
went on. Il may as well tell you.
feel. since we've been shut up here
that I'm shut up here to die-to meet
my God. The rest OF you deserve to
live; don't Joyce. was once
Christian man. l had a good wife
I've sat with her nd sung that hymn
1t was her favorite-many a time
md meant every word OF It. But I fell
into temptation. nd broke Gods law
md broke her heart too. She died
while I was of among bad company.
They sang that hymn at her funeral,
but l hardened my heart against It.
against the memory OF her. against
God. I've been worse than an unbe
lever ever since. But now I'm face
10 face with the end-'nd with God
I'm not gOln' into eternity. Joyce. with
4 lie on my lips. What l told you to
lay wasn't so. do believe in a God
/ just God nd | want to say So"
"He is just" said Ben. HE is faith
'ul and just to forgive MS our sins.
simons"
Ben said no more. for Jarvis stirred
md woke The faraway picks work
d on: the slow hours dragged in the
oul smelling dark. They had no food
10 light no chance to move from their
ramped position Before another day .
assed Jarvis became half dellrious
rom fatigue and bad air. To soothr :
lis wanderings and to keep up his
wn courage Ben sang the old hymns
yer and over again. When in the
arkness he was singing the last verse
( Just as ! Am" a faltering voice
lined his and then broke down.
Il amt ft to sing it," said SimOns.
asping. "but it seems as If had TO. {
cant live TO show folks I'm Chris
an again. nd I'm no good-just a
yin sinner. Such as | am. Lord. be
lerciful to me. sinner But ef ! pl
My had chance to do somethin' for e
i'm. Joyce. I'd feel better
His chance came later when Ben :
70. grew light headed. With infinite =
ltience Simons tended the two other
en-. holding Jarvis in his arms ike a
lid to keep him from plunging into
e water and drowning himself in his
.lirium and wrapping his own coat
'ound Ben when he went from a fe 4
# into a chill of exhaustion. The
pping of the picks drew nearer ana
er nearer How long had it been
70 days two weeks. a month? 81
ons' mind. too. began to grow con
sed. He steadied it by repeating r
er to himself the hymns. the Bible =
rses he remembered. and he was
us whispering over the Twenty third
alm when the rescuers reached the
ct and strong arms lifted the three
irving. exhausted sufferers into light
d safety
L was broad daylight. and the bells
re ringing in the little church across
.f..s !