The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-01-29
CHAPTER vIII-Continued

search for him. lie WASN'T sure Dut
she would be glad of his disappear
ance.
"a nice pickle I've got myself into
he muttered. They'll leave me here
until they're through with their
scheme, then likely as not sail away
without me. I'll be worse off than
Robinson Crusoe'
The agony he was suffering made
him restless. Unable to sit up quiet
ay and endure the pain, he began roll
ing his body around, turning over and
over until he reached the nearest wall.
So far as he could see 1t offered no
way of. escape even if he could free
himself.
He rolled slowly and painfully to
the opposite wall. 1t was the same
as the other, with no break in it..
Then hack to the farthest corner Of
his prison he made his agonizing way.
Here, too, the wall of the cave met
the bottom and shelyed upward grad
ually to meet the roof.
He groaned in despair, and lay
ating torture of his wound. In this
limp attitude, he remained for some
time, fighting back the weakness that
swept across him in waves.
1t was cold and damp down there,
and for some time Dick was uncon-
scious Of any change in the atmos-
phere of the place; but gradually 1t
came to him that very faint sea air
was blowing upon his forehead when
ever his head was placed in certain
position. He shifted at it. and moved
his head back The salty odor of the
air lost its strength.
Returning his head to its former
position. he shifted again. There was
an unmistakable draft of sea air fan
ming his face. very faint and indefinite.
but enough to arouse his curiosity.
''Wlere does 1t come from?" he
; muttered.
He followed his nose until he came
to point where the draft was the
strongest. BY thrusting his face d.
rectly in it. and using his tongue in
place of his hands, he made discov-
cry that thrilled him.
The salt air was coming through an
aperture in the rocks no bigger than
his fist BY holding his face close to
it. he could get the strong salty
flavor
'This opens into one of the sea
caves under the cliff" he muttered. 4.
But an aperture the size of mans
fist offered little consolation. He
could not crawl through it. But the
very fact that it was there, a narrow
entrance to one of the sea caves.
aroused his spirits.
Il might enlarge it," he added, after
IA long pause. ''if | had the use Of
my hands,"
It was forlorn hope, but Dick
realized that his position was desper
ate, and he had to take advantage Of
any chance. MCGEE. watching out
side, would not visit him often. Sc
cure in the thought that his prisoner
could not escape except through the
main entrance, his vigilance would
naturally relax.
Dick had to free his hands to make
the experiment Of enlarging the hole Z.
Unfortunately McGee's training had
taught him to tie knot that was not
easily loosened. A sailors knot is
about the most difficult to unfasten.
and the harder Dick strained the
tighter the rope seemed to draw.
II can't do it that way" he NUT
tered after long futile struggle.
'9icGee's seaman. and I know sail
ors' knots" He lay back and breathed
hard, but his mind was working ac-
lively. If he was to free himself 1t
had to be through some trick. He
looked around for sharp rock which
might serve to saw the rope in half.
but most of them seemed to have their
edges worn smooth and round.
Again he despaired and dropped
back exhausted with the pain of his
efforts. He thought of his box of
matches. If he could get at them he
might burn the rope!
He began wriggling his hands
around to reach his pocket, but with
out avail. Then another idea oc-
Cured to him. The box of matches
was in his trousers pocket. BY ele-
waiting his feet In the air, and shak-
ing them at the same time he wrlggled
his body. there was chance he might
work the precious box out.
He began this experiment as soon
as 1t occurred to him. He rolled his
body up to the side of the nearest
wall. and then began shifting his po-
sition until he had his feet elevated
far above his head. Almost standing
/. on his head. with his shoulders on
the bottom of the cave, he began a
process of shimmying that would
hayNubeen the envy of the most sue
exponent of that art.
q long time nothing happened.
Ne felt the box work upt bward
buth of his pocket. Ave re-
4