CHAPTER XVIII.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1571, 29 July 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER XVIII.

Wearied nature now began to assert herself. The air was heavy, and sleep began to htiuggle with him. At first he j combatted the dull, heavy diowsmess that came upon him, because lie thought if ho slept it would be the sleep that knows Jio waking. Gradually, however, he found it impossible to resist. What if it Aveie death ? Was it not better to sleep into eternity than perish slowly in watchful mi&eiy ? And so thinking, he sank into a dead stupor of sleep. A sleep wherein consciousness was lost —a teniblc blank. Was this death coming upon him ? Was his spiiit in solemn inarch, stealing from life into the unknown regions of the land of shadow ? No ! A new and blessed light scorned to dawn, irradiating the gloomy cavern, filling its recesses with a golden radiance similar to that ho had seen on that eventful evening 1 when he had slopt on the hill of Grit. The pain, the weariness, the fears that had haunted him, passed away, and in their place came peace and joy unspeakable. Where waa the beautiful being who had come to him in the vision of tho shining reef ? Would she appear again ? It seemed to him as if, far away, there appeared tho semblance of his mother ; but not the distressed and stricken creature he had known. It was the figure of a being of a better world. But yofc in the gentle eyes there was a strange light that conveyed to him tho impression that there was a duty ho had unfulfilled Thero was a mild reproach that touched his heart. Tho vision faded, and again thero was nothing but tho golden light changing the subterranean chambers into a paiaco. But, just as years ago, he had seen the light in the east become concentrated, so it was now, and gradually theie arose the beautiful appearance that had seemed to propchsy to him a great future. The face, the dross, was the same. A gentle wave of tho queenly hand, and again the Shining Reef was revealed. There was the gigantic lode, snowy stono, intermingled with gold. A band of miners seemed to Bpring up from the earth, and began to work upon tho reef, the sounds of fclioir hammers filling tho vault. Jack fancied ho recognised several of them. Yes ! Thoro was William Brown, as " captain" of the " shift" — his handsome, wood-humored fuco gloaming with satisfaction as he surveyed tho golden quartz. Was this a droam ? It was. Like a mirage it passed away from his eyes when the shining vision moved her hand and darkness fell onco more. As the spirit was disappearing her eyes were fixed upon Jack with a glanco of compassion and encouragement ; and ere sho had faded from his sight, a low musical voice sounded in his ears, murmuring : " The Shining Reef !" But the knocking continued. Tho sgoctral minors were at work. He tried to wake himself, and succeeded. But, on returning to consciousness, he found his limbs cramped, his body sore, and so paralysed that he could not rise. He sank back in despair. But the striking of the drills was still heard, and at length the cavern revorberated with the tremendous shock of a blast. The helpers were at hand. In that hour Jack, for the first time for years prayed to God, and thanked Him for his great deliverance. It is in such a time that our heart if lifted up to the Beneficient Creator who rules our destinies. Again the drills were going, and hearty were the strokes of the men as they worked to save their companion. Silence followed, , then came the boom of the blast, and the mine, was shaken to its centre. , * He could hear voices. .They had broken through ! Presently the glare of light appeared. He was saved 1 Once more the drills, worked, this time, breaking clown the thin barriers, that /re- , mained. In a few piinutes a, ringing, cheer announced that tho wall had been J>attere<|.down: { „,'.%- t „" A few moments 1 more and he was in the^arma/pf^Wjlliam Browne <, V '' ;