Bob Younger's Fate — page 125: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ey 116 BOB YOUNGER’S FATE. ‘“‘Now for liberty!’’ he cried, edging around so as to face the opening, and then began digging in the earth like a fiend. At each lunge the mass of earth thus loosened fell into the water with a splash, and he laughingly calculated how many splashes it would be necessary to make before he could find his way out. As he ascended, the atmosphere about him grew dense and heavy until his brain became so _ be- numbed that he found it impossible to work longer just then. He accordingly descended to the bottom of the opening, and secured a fresh breath, after which he went at his task with the same vehe- mence. | ‘Upward and onward!” he exclaimed, in fury; but he was again and again compelled to leave his work for the precious boon’ of a little oxygen, al- though he returned as often with just the same de- termination. He knew not how long he worked with the same untiring energy that had marked his initial efforts, but when he felt that soon he must cease in order to recuperate his strength, his knife struck against a stone. “All for naught!’’ he cried, in despair, almost tempted to cast his weapon aside, but on sober sec- ond thought he continued his work. A broad surface of rock was exposed, completely covering the hole in which he was standing. “IT must be confounded near the top,’’ he mut- tered. “‘Anyhow, let us see whether it is movable or otherwise.”’ Placing his head against it he pushed upward with what force he was able to use under the circum- stances. It moved! , ‘‘Heaven be praised!’’ he exclaimed, in thankful- ness. “‘l am saved again!”’ Raising one end he found that he had reached the - surface of the ground, and was thus able to breathe freely without changing his position. Listening intently, while he drank in the grateful - draughts, for any sound that might indicate the _ presence of a foe, he concluded that he was the only GEomicbooks.co