Year: 1868

1
| life was sweet-would you not have cursed
| the cause of your misfortune-an prayed
to be saved from such an awful fate?
madly did both, needless of the contradic-
ton between them. But the danger was
drawing near, and I braced myself up to
meet it. I heard railway men say that the
safer plan was to turn the face and not the
back to passing train; so | now eagerly
peered into the darkness to discern the
first approach of the coming peril. Far
in the gloom through which l had come
thought I saw a speck Of light, fancied
myself mistaken, when on turning my
head the other way beheld a bright and
increasing light in the distance. Once
more looked stationwards, and found to
my horror that had not deceived myself,
for the light in that direction had grown
full and clear.


A train was coming either way, and all
hope left me. Isprang to my feet, but l
had no expectation that should be saved,
and for q moment thought of throwing
myself before the wheels and ending all.
Already seemed to feel myself caught by
the buffers or dashed to death by some pro-
jecting lamp-iron, and with calmness of
despair awaited my fate. How slowly it
came, though it travelled like lightning |!
And what tide of remembrances of home
and loved ones, and the sweetness of life,
rushed through my brain, as l stood on
that heap of earth! But it was not for
long The lights seemed suddenly to
spring forward. / saw the dark outlines
of the engines lighted up by the glowing
| fire. boxes, and the glare from their fur
naces. Instinctively Ipressdmy feet firmly
into the shingle, closed my eyes, drew my
breath as if to make myself smaller, and
uttered cry Of power for strength and
aid. There was thunder in my ears, a
shaking of the earth, and kissing chaos
all around me felt myself swaying from
| side to side, and in a moment more fell
heavily. But as l fell was safe, and red
| lights were Fastening from me either way
into the steamy gloom.


Then l suppose must have tainted, for
I next remember lying at the foot of the
heap of earth with my check pressed on
the cold rail. All was dark and quiet.
The rope had cease to move, and deli
cious sense of thankfulness and hope
crept over me. I knew that the stiffness
could not last long; so fastening to avail
myself Of it, / rose and crept forward as
quickly as my bruised limbs would allow.
l had travelled, as nearly as | could guess,
about a hundred yards, when again the
rope began to move, and l stood and
waited. But this time had not the same
chilling fear, for thought it unlikely that
two trains would again pass me at the
same time, and the danger had escaped
made me confident. Once more, the dis
tant light appeared and grew in size; but
now there was no light in the opposite di-
rection, and I crept down to the edge of
the safe rails, and watched the engine
dropping cinders, and the brightly-lit car
riages as they approached, dashed past,
and disappeared. When they were gone,
/ suddenly recollected my testing instru-
ment, and remembered the use it might
have been to me butin my cropping had
dropped it, and now only held the dark
lamp. Still grasping it, I pushed for
ward.


How long I played at this game of hide
and-seek with Death I cannot tell Train
after train came from the blocked-up lines
above and from the station below; and as
each approached, slid down to the oppo-
site rails, and watched it until it had van
ished. Then I resumed my weary, weary
walk.


At last the sickly daylight at the bottom
of the ventilating shaft came into view.
AS had come, l had been glad to see this
place; but now hailed it as haven of
rest and safety. The light was dim, but
it was daylight which L never hoped to see
again The walls were damp and dirty :;
but they were far from the rails and ropes,
and near them could be secure.


Again the wheels were changing in their
sockets, as the ropes sped over them but
now that could see, sprang over both,
and leaned myself against the sooty wall.
In minute or two, a heavy train shot out
into the light, and then again plunged into
the tunnel After that, there was long
pause. I expected that the ropes would
begin to run again, but they never stirred,
But although they were still, heard the
heavy painting of an engine slowly labor
ing up the incline, and making the arched
roof echo At length it crept out of the
gloom, and stopped before me. | was
saved


Eager faces were looking over the side,
and ere the wheels had ceased to revolve,
the burly station-master sprang to the
ground. I smiled as best l could and tried
to rise but my bruises had become stiff,
and I found it impossible.


"Don't STIR" exclaimed the station-mas-
ter. "For Gods sake don't stir!"


Then he lifted me up in his arms, and
| turned TO Jlc SIOker.


"Bill, knock the head off that bottle of
brandy, and give me some of it in your
tin"


Bill did as he was bid, and the generous
liquor quickly brought back my stagger-
ing energies. Refreshed and strengthen
ed, was able to use my limbs somewhat,
so that with the aid of my rescuers was
soon seated on the foot plate Of the engine.
As we moved off, heard the station-mas-
ter begin to tell me why had been lost,
and how / came to be found


He had waited for me until he imagined
I must either have left the tunnel by the
upper end, or have gone home through the
station unperceived. Then he had dis
patched his long delayed mail, and had
thought no more about me, until the guard
of the last down train had told him that
there was CHASTITY man at the ventilating
shaft. In moment the true state of the
case flashed upon him. He ran to the re-
freshment room, got bottle OF brandy,
unlocked the engine from a train ready
to start and came in search of me.


I heard him say all this, and in sort of
way understood him; but my thoughts
were busy, and as his voice was drowned
in the rattle of the wheels, | buried my
face in my hands, and poured out my
whole soul in thanksgiving.


When we reached the station, the cab
men and porters gave me a lusty cheer ;
and the folks in the train started at the
scared-looking man who was the object OF
their welcome Many willing hands help
ed me to descend, and supported me to a
cab, in which l was sent home under the