The Raymer enterprise., 1921-07-07


where above him, he forced the block
upward, back into Its place, jamming
1t there with all his strength. until a
sharp click convinced him the punch
con again was securely held. They
were alone, isolated, In the black
depths, underneath the burning cabin,
buried deep in the protecting earth.
He reached blindly out through the
darkness until he touched her, his fin.
gers closing convulsIvely on a fold Of
her dress. In the sudden reaction he
felt as weak as child, unable even
to control his speech.
ut was God who helped u.s." he said
humbly, mo one else could. You are
sure, Olga, you are unhurt?
II must be bruised, l suppose: 1t
was an ugly fall, and-and I really
think lost consciousness at first.
Then I seemed to hear you call me a
long ways off. Is the cabin afire?"
"Yes; those devils started It at the
rear You can hear the wood crackle
even down here. and we must get far
ther back out Of the way. When the
roof falls this part Of the floor may
cave in also"
In spite Of the increasing volume of
flames above. scarcely gllmmer of
red light succeeded In penetrating to
where they were hidden. A very
slight glow found entrance through a
narrow crack above them, yet Shelby
was compelled to learn their immedl.
ate surroundings more by sense Of
touch than sight.
They were In a mere hole scooped
out from the soft earth, hardly wider
than the trap door which led to 1t, the
other puncheons Of the cabin floor
resting soidly upon the ground. Shell.
by leading the way, feeling his pas.
sage along inch by inch, was suddenly
halted by an earth barrier which
seemingly blocked all further progress.
He could feel that II did not wholly
reach the top. leaving a space there
through which 1t might be possible to
crawl. Yet what would there be be-
yond3 Why should they venture fur
ther at PRESENT. Laud was outside
with his Indians, the whole scene lit
up with the glare Of flames. They
dare not venture to expose them.
selves. Here they were beyond reach,
protected from both flames and saw.
ages. Unless some among those as.
sailants knew the existence of this
tunnel. or accidentally stumbled upon
Its outer entrance, they could scarcely
be exposed. Even II one or two found
their way In, this barrier of earth
would block them, and, II necessary,
form the best possible defense. Con.
fident that they had perished, and that
their charred bodies were lying In the
midst of the still smoking embers Of
the cabin. there would be no guard
watching for an attempt at escape. He
reached out and grasped her hand,
drawing her down beside him.
what Is III" she asked In a whis-
per.
"A fall Of earth nearly blocking the
passage" he explained. ~ have nc
idea where the tunnel leads to, and,
II I did. we would never dare creep
out into the open at present"
"You-you think we had better re.
main here?" doubtfully.
Until the fire dies down; perhaps
even longer. Let them believe we died
in the cabin; then there may be some
chance for US to get away"
But they will search the ruinsT
mot for some time; those logs will
be glowing embers for hours. That
sounded like the roof falling in then,
1t was-see! 1t has crushed Its way
down through the floor. There Is
caldron Of fire In that hole we just
left, but It can't reach US here-only
the smoke"
"Wlll It not show them where we
have gomez"
II hope not; probably the smoking,
blazing timbers will choke up the
onsning. leaving 1t 50 filled with part.
" burned wood as to conceal It entire.
ly. Anyhow. this Is our one chance.
We would be shot down mercilessly
outside"
The glare from the burning rubbish
revealed their faces, and the smoke
began to swirl past them in clouds,
yet did not choke the tunnel, showing
there must be an opening somewhere
beyond to the outside. Shelby fast.
ened his neckerchief over the girls
nose and mouth, and protected her. as
well as himself. by means Of his coat.
Scarcely conscious Of the action they
sat thus, their hands clasped, gazing
at the leaping figures Of fame. and
listening to the variety Of noises
reaching their ears. The position,
while one Of brooding horror. did not
apparently involve immediate peril.
The flames could not reach them. and
1t was already evident that those
dense volumes Of smoke, while dis
agreeable and suffocating, could still
be endured. But being cooped up
there, In that hole underground, un.
able to venture forth. choked by the
fumes, their faces smarting from the
heat, the earth walls holding them In
prison. death waiting for them which
ever way they turned, brought a