Detective Bob Bridger — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. 229 would be impossible, for they commanded every inch of its space. He must then endeavor to get above them. Feeling his way along the rear wall to the corner opposite the panel door through which he had plunged, he tried to climb the wall. The stones composing it were large and rough, frequently protruding far enough to afford a foothold. The mortar between them was softened by the damp alr, ene he found little difficulty in cutting it with his pocket nife. Availing himself of the projecting stones, and cutting holes in the mortar, the sleuth-hound succeeded, after some hard work, in ascending ten feet from the floor with his boots on. Finding he could climb the wall above the holes, he ~ hastily descended to the bottom of the trap, and disrobed himself of everything save his night-shirt, drawers, and socks. Bridger’s exertions had caused him to perspire freely. He completely saturated his handkerchief in wiping his face, neck, and hands in his endeavors to stanch the per- spiration. At length it dawned upon the trapped sleuth-hound that pee he had considered perspiration was for the most part lood. Removing his hat he for the first time placed his hand to the wound on his head. He found that it was bleeding freely, and that his hair was one mass of clotted blood. Tying the handkerchief tightly about his head and jaws so as to inclose the wound, he knelt upon the earth and continued his work. He was fortunately possessed of a bachelor’s pin-card, filled with pins. Pinning his trousers outside of his boot-legs, he filled the trousers and boots full of the loose earth. Then pinning shut his overshirt at the bottom he filled it with the same commodity. Tearing the lining from his overcoat he tied in it the pieces of mortar which he had cut from the wall. The bundle snugly fitted his hat, and he jammed it to place in its crown. He then placed the several parts of the ‘‘dummy” to- gether on the earth, soas to represent a man of his size lying upon his face. GEomichbooks.co ml