, 1925-01-28
CHAPTER XV-Continued

q very serious one. for he had been
hung alive into n grave that offered
only a slight prospect of escape. He
was without food, effectually cut of
from the surface of the earth. and
none but those who had assaulted him
knew that he was buried.
h alternatives that lay before him
were plain. He might climb the lad
der again to the timber ledge and
keep calling for help, or he might at
tempt to dig n way over the cave-ln
with his hands and his pocket-knife,
trusting that the tunnel led to an
other shaft. The former was a chance
pure and simple. and n slender n at
that. 1t vas not likely that anybody
would pass the mouth Of n deserted
shat far up in the hills at this season
of the year. But 1t was quite within
the probabilities that the tunnel led to
some Of the workings of n live prop
erty. Many miles of underground
drifts were connected by in%tercepting
slopes OF adjoining mines. If he could
force a way through the cave-in there
might be safety beyond. To go moling
Into such a place without timbering
would be a dangerous business. but
h crisis was one that justified any
risk.
He took stock Of his assets. For
tunately he had bought at a lunch
counter a ham sandwich to stay his
appetite during the night trip. This
was still In his pocket, badly mashed
but still edible. Five cigars were in
the case he carried and upon his per-
o all told he found eleven matches.
A little trickle Of water ran through
the tunnel and gave assurance that he
would not die of thirst. His pocket
knife was a servlceable one and he
had plenty of physical strength.
Jack decided that he would eat hal
of the sandwich that day and reserve
the rest for the second one. His cigars
were precious luxuries to be INDUCED
In once every twenty-four hours after
he had knocked IF work.
He attacked the cavern with the
cool energy that characterized him.
Out of n piece of board he fashioned n
kind of shovel with his knife. Bits of
broken timbering lay at the foot of
the shaft. These he dragged into the
tunnel for fuel to feed a small fire
which he built to give light for the
work. All through the night and till
noon the following day he dug among
b fallen rocks and dirt. cleaning this
debris away after he had loosened 1t
with his bare hands.
h impact of the fall when he had
been thrown down the shaft had Jared
him greatly. With the slightest move
went of the body his back and Shout
6ers ached. sending shoots of pain In
protest to his brain. The spralned
enkie he had bound tightly in a wei
handkerchief. but every time his
weight rested on that leg he had to
grit his teeth. But 1t was not In him
60 quit. He stuck to his job till he
had done the shift set himself.
At noon he crawled back to the foot
of the shaft. He was tagged to ex-
baustion. For half an hour he lay
btretched on his back with every
muscle relaxed.
Presently he cut from his coat the
pocket that contained the sandwich
and divided fbe mash Of ham and
bread into two parts. One of these
he ate. The other he returned to the
coat
Favoring his Kicked ankle as best he
could. Jack climbed the wall ladder
40 the ledge upon which he had found
himself lying the previous night. Five
minutes examination OF the walls
showed him chat there was no chance
60 reach the top of the shaft unalded.
Eya taStaI Tho tonnpnal flpnhnrS 20
make sure they were secure before he
put his weight upon them. During the
mex six hours he called aloud every
few minutes to attract the attention
OF anyone who might chance to be
rIssing ear
Toward evening he treated himself
q his first cigar. making the most Of
The comfort that II ave him. When
abe stub grew short he held 1t on the
ANAL blade OF his knife so as not to
miss n pun. what was left he
wrapped In a pocket handkerchief for
later use.
As the stars began to come out in
the little patch of blue sky he could
s-e Just above hia prison Jack lowered
himself again to the foot OF the shaft.
Here he lay down a second time and
within Ave minutes had fallen into a
deep sleep. .
About midnight he awakened and
was aware mt once of a %ravenou hun
ger. He wns still resolute to win n
why out. though the knowledge
pressed on him that his chances were
slender at the best. TIL morning he
worked without a moments rest. The
fever In his ankle and the pain sf the
sprain had Increased. but he could not
afford to pay any attention to them.
Blood from his Scared. torn hands
ran down his wrists. Every muscle
I'm his abused body nched. Still he
-tohha1 ,,f,b bt, LpISa In,a ,ha o..,h