Year: 1867

halfway down, hanging in cage, or I had


been working at the traps and doors in the
most dangerous parts, where you might


hear the gas Kissing through between tho
seams Of black slaty shale, but never before
knew so hideous sense of fear as cam,
over me, when, rising to the surface of the
water, struck out, as if by instinct, for the
side, and then, clinging to the roughcned


wall with one hand, and with the other


thrust into sort of hole, I remained for a


few seconds, painting and half mad, up to


my neck in the cold water, while tho dark


ness was terrible.


1t is impossible to describe the horrible
thoughts that came hurrying through my


mind as if to unncrve mc,-thoughts of foul
checking gases, Of fearful things swimming
about in the black water, or Of horrid mon


sters lurking about in its terrible depths
ready to drag me under and drown me; but,
worse still, as began to recover myself a
little, were the calmcr thoughts of the
length of time | could hold on there without


becoming numbcd, and then slipping off and
drowning. shouted, and the sound went
cchoing up the shaft with horrible unearth-
ly tone that made me trcmblc. l cried
again and again till l was hoarsc, but l
knew all the while that it was useless, for
there was not q cottage for at least milc
and then terror seemed to got the better of
me, as felt that there, in the midst of that
fearful darkness, | must drown and then
sink to the bottom of this old, old, worn-out
coal-pit; while no one, not even my poor
wife, would know Of my fate.


With the thoughts of my wife, came
thoughts of the pleasant scene had SO
lately gazcd upon, when something almost
like a sob seemed to come from my heart,
and then came weak despairing tears, but |
reused up and shouted again and again,
throwing my head back to try and see the
mouth Of the pit, but, though imagination
peopled the darkness with horrors, there was
nothing around but the intense blackncss
while, to add to my despair and terror,
could feel that my hands were slowly slip
ping from their hold.


| swan slowly along, striking my right
hand against the side at every stroke, but
after few strokes, it did not touch anything
and then, striking out more boldly, l swan
on, turning to the right with ray of hope
in my heart, for knew that l was on the
level Of one of the old veins, and, though
swimming farther into the bowels Of the
earth, yet had not the horrible de;th o.
the shaft under me, while | knew thqi, oe-
fore long, Ishould find bottom for my feet.


All at once my hand touched tho side,
then I raised one up, and could touch the
roof; and then, after few more strokes, l
let my feet down slowly, and found the bot.
tom, but the water was to my lip still, by
swimming and wading, soon stood where
it was only to my middle: and now, paus-
ing to rest for while, | leaned up against
the side, and, in the reaction that came on
again, cried weakly and like the despairing
wretch | was.


BY degrees, the heavy painting Of my heart
grew less painful, while heated with the ex-
ertion, | did not feel the cold, but soon an
icy chill crept over me as 1 stood there
listening to the low echoing drip, drip,
drip Of the water far away to my right
Hacking thoughts, too, oppressed me, and
| felt that there was no chance
Of my being discovered, since, to keep alive
l must penetrate farther into the mine,
though even from where I was then, it was,
doubtful whether my voice cou'd be heard.


knew very well where I was, AMI taat
very little traffic lay by the old pit mouth
while the next day being Christmas made
the chances less. But would not my wife
give the alarm, and would not there be a
search? Surely, l thought, there must be
hope yet; and then in disconnected, half
wild way, l tried to offer up a prayer for
succor. Not standing-not with my hand
resting upon the wall-but kneeling, with
the water rising to my neck; and l rose
again stronger, and better able to think.


And now | began to look within, and to
think of the dangers l had to encounter. As
to there being things swimming about, or
terrible to attack me, my common
sense told me that there was no cause for
fear in that direction; but the next thought
was terrible one, and my breath came
thicker and shorter as Iscemcd to feel the
effect of it already,-"Was there any foul
yas?' But | found that could still breathe
freely, and by degrees this fear went off ;
while, sunlmoning up my courage, l waded
'n ''splash-splash' in the echoing darkness,
arther and farther into the mine, always
with the water growing shallower and shal.
over as receded from the shaft and at
asst stood upon the dry bottom, but with |
;he water streaming off me.


The place did not feel cold, while as sat
lown l could not but wish that my clothes
we're dry. for they clung to me till I stripped
part of them off and wrung out the water,
when l felt on putting them on again COM
warm. But what position
Trembling there in thu midst of tbot th;cL