Year: 1866

self 1hls question was difficult of So
luton. If went to work with shovel
and pick to clear away the dirt that had
fallen, it was extremely likely that all
which l should be able to remove would
be Immediately roplacedlby that which
would fall from above. This was pleas
ant racked my brain to devise some
means ofliberating myself, but without
ell,sct. Leaning against the wall in utter
dependency, l was about TO throw my>
sell on the gronnd and wait my fate,
when | observed quite current OF wat
ter, on small scale, was making its
way down the side Of the cave, At first
! was alarmed, as thought 1t might
loosen the dut above and bling down
another mass on my head. The next
moment, the thought struck me that 1t
might be tutned to my advantage.
Why could | not so direct it that it
would wash away sufficient earth in its
progress to the outlet Of the cave TO ad-
nit the air, aud perhaps make an open
ing large enough to allow me to crawl
out through it! Even if | only sue
ceedod in making an air hole, 1t would
enable me to exist till my partners could
come to my assistance. Carefully ex-
amlning the course of the water, l
succeeded in finding the spot where it
entersd the cave, ard to my great joy
ascertalned that | could easily direct it,
by cutting a channel out of the side OF
my prison to the mass Of earth that
blocked up the entrance to the tunnel.
The air at this time was quite close and
sitting, and became aware that whats
ever was TO be done must be done quicly
or | should perish for want Of oxygen,
AtterI had cut channel for the water
to flow toward the entrance, enlarged
the opening by which the stream entered
the cave, and was delighted to observe
that it flowed with redoubled force
Taking my shovel, l pushed it through
.the mostened earth as far as | was able
and then awaited further action of the
water. In a few minutes | was enabled
to push it still farther, till at last it was
out of my reach. Then placing my
pickhandlc against it, I pushed both as
far as | could, With what eagerness
did watch to see the first opening
made by the water! At first | was
swallowed up by the earth, but | was
soon gratilicd by observing that 1t flows
ed in a steady stream in the direction in
which l had pushed the pick and shov.
el.


In few minutes | observed a fhint
glimmcring in the distance, which might
be an opening or the effect Of on excited
imagination, | scarcely knew which
But the doubt soon resolved Itself into
certainty, and an opening some five
inches IN diameter speedily disclosed
itself, larger and larger, grew the
opening lump after lump OF earth was
washed away by the stream, till the
channel became large enough for me to
place my head in it and halloo Justify for
assistance. Just as l was drawing my
head back, ! caught sight of buckskin
bag. Hastily sclzing it, found it was
the one we had been i'll search of, and
which, but for the accident, would
never have found.


Wishing to surprise my comrades
concealed it,ard redoubed my cries. In a
iew minutes they came running up the
hill, and soon liberated me from my un-
pleasant position.


"Well Ned" said Jact,~as ho shook
ne by the hand, "I'm glad your safe,
old fellow--the more so, as Bill and
have been decci, ing you little You
know we hayo been trying all the sung
mer to get you to 60 into the tunneline
operation, and you have only laugh, d at
us 2"


eyes," said I wondering what would
come next.


"Well, when you found that letter
Bill and made up our minds to go into
the job with you not in the hope o
finding any bag but we knew you wouIt
work twice as hard with such an induce
ment, intending meanwhile, to wash tn
excavated dirt. This we have done, anc
my boy, we have never made less thar
three hundred dollars any day since We
commenced"


| "Then you think the bag a humbug,d'
, you7'


, "Why, of COURSE" said he.
t "Well, l don't, and / intend to go O
= looking for it,"


y "Now what's the use ofbeing foolish,
Q quoth Bill Jennings. "We'vo got
' much dirt as we can wash for some tim