The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-07-03
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COPYRIGHT ev AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION, 1894
Continued from Last Week.)
After awhile Jack awoke, and when
we had breakfasted and played with
our friends we went again at our work.
We had now three good, movable pieces
of timber, which only needed to be cut
smooth at each end so that one might
stand on the top of another, to be ready
for the escalading of Curry's Window.
All that day the agitation of the water
continues and grew momentarily more
violent. Had we wished to do so it
would have been utterly impossible for
us to traverse the tunnel. In the after
noon the monotony was interrupted
somewhat by the temperance of No
Good minus his appendage. The blad-
der was gone. That being so, we per-
ceived how desirable it was that we
should return to the big cavern as soon
as possible. Our bladder might be pick
ed up at any moment; consequently at
any moment search party might de-
scend into the big cavern. What would
they think if they did not find us there?
They would never suspect the existence
of this second cave, the avenue to which
was at all times flooded. 1t was on that
very evening that Mr.. Watkins and his
nephews picked up our letter. AZ it was
certain death, however, in the present
condition of the water to attempt the
tunnel, we quietly worked on at the big
beam and spent the day smoothing the
ends Of those pieces which we had sep
arated. After a week or ten days the
outer storm had evidently abated, but
the agitation Of the water was still too
great to permit us to get through the
tunnel. At last, one morning, when we
awoke, we found that the agitation
had almost subsidized. This day we re-
solved to bring our logs through. We
rolled one of them to the waters edge,
and having made it fast with a cord
gently pushed it into the water. We
feared that it might sink. in which case
we intended to partly buoy it up by
turning our sheepskin into bladder
and fastening it to the log. The log, how
ever, swan, and our next task was to
cause it to sink just sufficiently to come
on level with the mouth of that SUBJ
marine tunnel, so that we might draw
1t through into the great cavern. This
task We accomplished by tying to it
small stones as sinkers. To make long
story short, we succeeded that day in
bringing all our short logs through and
rolled them up upon the shore of the
seals pool in the great cavern, but it
was very labo1ious job.
About half that work was accom-
plished when we made an important
discovery-viz, that a search party had
been in the cave during the time that
we were weather bound. In our pro-
vision Granny I found the hamper of
sandwiches and the flask of brandy. I
recognized at once Mr.. Watkins flask.
We did not know till afterward that he
and his men had been twice in the cave,
once the day after the disappearance of
No Goods appendage and asecond time
three days subsequently. Though we
thought it quite possible that they might
visit it again, we did not relax our ex-
ertions. Next day we rolled the logs
to Curry's Window. Though we rolled
them for greater convenience, we had
taken care to make most of them light
enough to be raised by our united
strength and some light enough to be
raised by one of us alone, the reason of
which will be apparent presently. The
sandwiches, some of ham and some of
beef, were very welcome, though the
bread was rather stale. The brandy,
too, though neither Of us cared in the
least for strong drink, was in our pres
emit exhausted condition very welcome.
In short, we ate, drank and were merry
that night, and sang songs, too, making
the echoes ring. We certainly did not
drink too much brandy and water, at
least hope not. It was the near ap-
proach of liberty which made US SO fes-
tive, though no doubt the strong drink,
to which we were almost quite unac-
customed, somewhat contributed. Jack
had not smoked since Joined him. He
had about an inch of Limerick twist
still left, which he often brought out
and gazed at affectionately, but did
not use. He said he was reserving it
till some time when he might really
need the stimulus of tobacco. was a
nonsmoker myself then. Would that
I could say the same nowl Indeed
have wretched pipe in my mouth as
write these lines.
Werose next morning early and break
tasted in high spirits. This day we
said that we would be free. We came
to Curry's Window. There, on the high
est OF the bowlder stones, which we had
already heaped there, we set up one Of
our big logs, making it quite firm about
the base by the insertion and even the
ramming home Of seaweed. We had to
be cautious, for if afterward our ladder
might happen to topple over the fall
would be fatal. Upon the top Of this
first log weput second in such man
ner that man might step from the
first to the second. This was effected by
inserting seaweed behind the first log,
causing it to stand out from the rocky
incline to the distance of about three
quarters Of foot. The base Of the Sec
ond log touched the rock, but its top in
q similar names we caused to stand
back by means Of seaweed. In this
way We proposed to make our ladder, or
rather our stairs. When completed, we
hoped to be able to step up to Curry's
Window almost as easily as one might
M ne. .%o ;ro l., a honeo Tho ,ooonoSk,,