The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-09-17

ening smoke swirl about me in dense
clouds. l gasped for breath, and drew
bit of cloth about nose and mouth II
slight protection. was panic-strick
en-, overcome by sudden horror, we
some nature within compelled me tt
struggle on. Suddenly came to bod.
lying lengthwise of the passage, til
head to the south This new discover,
was shock, yet seemed to affect me
little. l was too intent on my own es
cape to be halted by dead man; tt
even think what it meant, or how tht
fellow came to be there. To me, a;
that instant, he was but an obstacle,
blocking my progress.
l crawled over him, as though he
was no more than a stone in the path
yet as one hand came down in the
| dark on the upturned face, l expert
enced a sudden thrill-the flesh was
| warm. the man lived. Barely had my
numbed mind grasped this helplessly,
| when my rife barrel, thrust before me,
struck the end of the passage, the faint
sound of contact signifying wood. Not
three feet extended between the mans
head and this barrier which blocked
us from the outside air. Desperate
half crazed indeed, not only by my
own situation. but also by the memory
of those bodies behind in the dark tun-
nel l found scant knee-room in the
small space, and fumbled madly about
for some latch. The surface was Of
wood, roughly faced, but smooth. save
for what might be handle in the mid
die, mere strip, bevelled to give fin
| ger-hold. I pulled at this in vain; then
pushed with my shoulder against the
| oak, but the wood held firm. Weak as
| was, and in so crumpled position, |
| could bring to bear but small strength
To batter the door down was the only
hope left; no matter what noise re.
suited, or the possibility of capture by
the savages, l could not lie there and
choke to death in that place of horror.
Better any danger than such fate.
drew back and struck, the power OF
fear giving strength to my arms. Again
and again drove the iron-bound rifle
stock against the hard oak l left the
center and attacked the sides, feeling
the wood give slightly. Encouraged
by this I redoubled my efforts, central
izing my blows on one spot, until GER
tain the tightly damned door was be-
ing driven from the groove. 1t was
hot and sitting: the perspiration
streamed from me; the smoke was sui
locating, deadly. gasped and choked,
rr,itH G1Jt
my strength ebbing away; despair
clutched me. Yet l struck-no longer
with clear intent, but automatically
driving the heavy gun butt against the
slowly yielding wood, with every pound
of strength had left. 1t seemed as If
had struck my last blow-I believe
now had; believe my body fell with
tt cannot remember clearly-only |
know the wood gave way, and l fell
forward into light and air, my face
without, my body still in the tunnel.
Merciful mother! How l gulped in
those first refreshing breaths; how the
clogged lungs rejoiced. 1t seemed as
,if l could never get enough. l coult
hardly detect objects, although l lift
ed my head, and sought to gaze about
for my eyes were blinded by so sud
denly emerging into the bright light
after those hours of darkness. Cloude
of smoke swept over me, and poured
out through the open door of the Gel
lar. AS strength and purpose came
back | sat up, and began to perceive
my surroundings. A glimpse of blue
sky, and, sounding far away, medley
of discordant cries came thread-like
to my ears. These served to restore
my wandering senses. The Indians
were still on the island; some might
be close enough at hand to observe
that column of smoke pouring forth
from the cellar door, and wonder how
it came there. Yet there was nothina
| could do but remain hidden; to ven
ture into the open would only expose
me to greater danger. l glanced bach
into the tunnel, suddenly remembering
the man who still lived. If he were
out, the door might be forced back into
place again, that volume of smoke sup
pressed.
l refastened the cloth across my
face. and crept back into the TUNE
until l was able to grip the fellows
arms He was large man, clothed az
a white; even thought 1 felt braid or
his sleeves; and, as l drew him TOWARD
me by mighty effort. the light stream
ing in revealed a red jacket
CHAPTER XIV.
Meet My Double.