The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-06-19


lest should lose my way in the dark
ness. The day after slid down from
Curry's Window I had had in the great
cavern horrible experience of that
kind which was a lesson to me. The
sound of the water, however, reached.
great way here, owing to the rever-
beration Of the hollow roof. To any
one else, no doubt, the huge. sucking
noises, as Of some great monster drink
ing, and the sullen dismal echoes of the
flux and reflux Of the water, would have
been very horrible and impressive. But
was now too steeled to suffering and
horrors to take more than unitarian
view of those noises. I kept to that sid.
OF the pocket by which had first enter
ed 1t and penetrated some 20 yards with
out coming to the end or meeting with
anything more noteworthy than dry sea-
weed and good deal of rotten drift
timber. II know where to get fuel, ]
said to myself, "should my storehouse
in the big cavern ever give out" All
this time I kept listening for the flop
ping sound which my seals would make
If this were their avenue to the sea.
Hearing nothing Of the kind, my hope
that this might be the tunnel subsidized.
Nevertheless determined on some fu-
ture occasion to explore this pocket or
whatever it might be more thoroughly.
Returning to its entrance, slid into the
water, taking my clew with me, swan
to the point where, on the occasion of
my last visit, seemed to have found
the continuation of the tunnel, and
Owed. went straight down, but in
front of me and on my left hand found
nothing but rock; then, turning to the
right, discovered what seemed to be the
tunnel, certainly some opening of con-
siderable dimensions. At this moment
something soft, yet solid and seemingly
alive, pushed against my breast and
throat. I was SO frightened that in my
terror I dropped the clew and sucked in
quantity of water. Recovering my self
control, got to the surface as quickly
as could. fortunately was only at
the mouth of the tunnel. Had been in
the interior when this happened, I would
almost certainty have been drowned.
SO frightened was l by this mysteri-
GUS collision. Hardly had I gained the
surface when guessed the cause of my
alarm. It>was certainly one of my seals.
Presently I heard the well known cry,
and the poor beast pressed up against
me in the dark. It was female seal
who was very much attached to me.
used to call her the Plaintiff. Though
my terror was allayed, l felt myself
unequal to the task of any further ex.
ploration of the tunnel just then. Ac.
cordingly, feeling my way round the
cave till came to the ledge, which was
near the entrance of the first portion Of
the tunnel, I dived and got home with
out further accident and succeeded in
drawing back my clew, which feared
might have stuck fast somewhere. Here
l may add that, owing, suppose, to the
original heat of my temperament or per-
haps to the possession of fair share of
fat, for l might be described as stout
rather than thin, could remain in wa
ter longer than any other swimmer Of
my acquaintance. On the present &C.
casion was dispirited and out of sorts,
but not cold. Yet, having dined, l felt
brisk and vigorous again. This day
dined on steaks of turbot. mention it
because it was the only flat fish that
my seals brought me during the whole
term of my imprisonment. 1t now &C.
Cured to me that if could make fire
in the cave off the first blowhole it would
be of great service to me in my next at
Spf To <por %11.. "a
the tunnel there. But how to bring fire
thither was certainly a difficulty. I
could not bring a burning brand with
me swimming under water q distance
of 16 yards. That was plain. I now
re-examined that pocket Of my coat in
which I had found the loose powde,
originally, though I knew that there
could be little or none there. After
making that piece Of finder or touch.
cloth by which I kindled my first fire
had turned the pocket inside out that
the loose grains might fall upon it and
30 help toward the ignition. On exam.
lining this pocket now by the light oil
my fire noticed that the bottom of il
was quite black. I guessed the cause al
once. Some time last winter my jacket
had got thoroughly soaked with rain
and the bottom of the pocket was steep.
ed in solution of gunpowder. touched
the black lining with the tip of my
tongue and recognized the acrid taste.
now saw my way clearly toward the
making of second fire. cut out the
black part of the lining and bestowed i,
in my purse. 1t was the first leather1l
purse ever owned, bought since went
to college, for my schoolboy purse was
netted one with steel rings and LITTLE
bunch of steel pendants at each end
My father, remember, never gave il.
to the leathern clasp purse-he used {:
Melted one, with rings, as long as h.
lived. Then took piece of my line.
and having doubled the purse bound
round strongly with the cord and mad,
it perfectly water tight. Next day.
some two hours before low water,
stripped, took my knife and the rolled
up purse in my teeth, the clew also. 81.
usual, in my hand, and dived through
the tunnel, came up in the blowhoh
and clambered into the dry part of thai
i cavern. Iplaced the purse and knit,
in spot where could easily find them
again, and having first dried my HAND,
in the crisp seaweed, which was abun-
dant here, proceeded to select the brit.
tlest and most crum milling timber. Suc'.
was imbedded everywhere in the sec.
weed. Then kept moving about, strik.
ing sparks from the rocks with my