Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-11

stood. OF the way thus opened they
took advantage. and under cover of
second volley they entered. Well, 1t
was all up. All could do was to leap
upon them as they rose. and
But at that moment the solid rock
beneath my feet began to sway. It
was as II ] had been instantly trans
lated TO the deck of & tossing ship. I
stood rooted to the spot trying to main
tain a balance, Pimball had lifted
himself upon one knee and was almost
clear OF the entrance. but he. too, stop,
ped appalled,. a sickening feeling of
apprehension that all the savages on
earth could not inspire came over me.
My mistress screamed family. The ma
tives outside broke into terror stricken
shouts and cries; on oath burst from.
the lips of the leader of the mutineers.
The. next moment. with crash like
thousand thunder peals. the earth
was rent in twain.
The earthquake shook that rocky
island like baby's cradle. A great
mass OF rock over the entrance fell.
With another roar like the FIRST the cliff
was riven in every direction. The
noise outside eased. The men with
PimbaH were ground to death. Upon
. his legs lay fifty feet Of broken rock
Darkness, total and absolute, sue
ceeded the dim light. / remember real
izing that the attack had failed anG
then something struck me. Down upor
tho wat still ot,iyari,,r Sopd folI ~
knew no more.
Water. icy cold. trickling upon me
from some spring, opened in the wal
by the earthquake presently brought
me to myself. | lay for moment lis
tening. l could hear nothing at first
but in little while n deep groan and
then faint whispered prayer came tc
me.
l strove desperately to collect my
senses. and finally realized where ]
was-the cave. the battle. the earth.
quake. Pimball and the woman.
Mistress Lucy"' cried
"Oh, thank ,God.' her voice came
through the darkness Historically. #
thought you were killed"
NO" I answered, slowly rising to
my knee and stretching my members
to see If / had control of them, which,
fortunately. soon discovered / had.
II was stunned but otherwise be
heve l am not much hurt. How is II
with you?"
Il am we'll and unframed"
THANK Godr'
For heavens sake, water" inter
rupted trembling hoarse, anguishcd
voice.
who speaks?" asked.
Il. Pimball. / am pinned to the
ground. my legs are crushed. my back
is broken. am dying"
There should be a lantern here" l
said. II placed it-let me think
where did place it:'
ut was just TO the left Of the open
ing" answered my little mistress.
was turned around and giddy. but
] managed to Ak the direction of the
entrance by PimbaIfs groans and by
good fortune presently found the Ian
tern. 1t would burn but few hours,
but we never needed a light az we
did then. My flint and steel carried
ever In my pocket. and TO kIndle
Pickering fame was but the work Of
a moment. II had not possessed IT
! would have given years Of my life
for that light which threw a faint
illumination about the place.
There. opposite me. where I had sta
toned her. protected by a niche in the
cave from the rain Of rocks which had
beaten me down. was my mistress.
safe ana unframed. / stepped toward
her and with a low cry of thankful
ness she fell into my arms soofiIed
her for n moment and then turned to
the other occupant OF the chamber.
The entrance was blocked up. the rock
had settled down. Pimba legs were
broken and his back as well. Itfwas
Impossible to release him-what Law
upon him weighed tons and tons.
You numbering honnd?' ! cried.
you have brought this upon US" But
ne would only plead for water. disre-
garding my reproaches.
! was for killing him with my cut-
lass, which picked up. but she would
not have it SO. She filed a half cocoa.
nut shell with water and brought IL
TO him She bathed his brow and gave
him some to drink. IL gave him tenn
Forary relief. but bis minutes were
numbered His life was going cut by
seconds.