Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

A SEVERE THREAT. 159 locked on the outside. Groping onward, a short distance, he found that the wall of the place was solid masonry, and the floor was earth. Beginning at the bed he moved onward, intending to pass around the room, back to the point of starting. He had gone, perhaps, half way around the apartment, which was evidently a cellar, when all at once his foot siipped (he could never exactly understand how), and he fell down—down, it seemed to Lloyd Vernon in that moment of horror, as though he would never stop; then there was a sudden splash, and the cold, dark water closed over him. For a moment he gave himself up for lost ; but as he arose to the surface, all at once he had come in contact with some- thing like a stone wall. : ‘‘Tt is a well!” he said, quickly, ‘‘and I have found the side. Oh, Heaven! jf I can only contrive to climb to the top !” He was an expert swimmer, or it would have been difficult to keep from sinking. He moved his hand over the object before him, which he believed to be a wall, keeping himself dextrously afloat; but to his astonishment, not unmixed with consterna- tion, the supposed wall moved readily at his touch, and half be- lieving himself in the dungeon of an enchanted castle, such as his boyhood’s fancy had often pictured, he saw before him a faint olimmer of light. ‘‘ Heaven !” he panted, eagerly, ‘‘ grant me hope of escape!” He peered through the opening with wildly dilated eyes. It grew gradually more distinct before him, and then he beheld a wide black stream of water, leading, he knew not whither ; but, at least, it was out in the blessed daylight. Without a mo- ment’s hesitation he sprang through the opening—on, on down the stream, until he saw, with wonder and astonishment, a green sloping bank. Turning in its direction he battled manfully with the waves, determined, though his strength was fast failing him, to reach the shore if possible. He was so weak that the exertion was a fearful one; but on he swam—nearer, nearer, thank Heaven ! he is there at last ! Eomichooks (E(@)