CHAPTER LXIV.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1592, 16 September 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER LXIV.

A fearful explosion ; a blast as of a great furnace ; a sharp and terrible pain — and then followed unconsciousness. When Obadiah" woke to life again, it was to find himself cold and damp, surrounded by a thick darkness, the air having a thick sulphureous smell. ,No sound broke on the ear ; there was a terrible stillness. At first the man gazed helplessly into the gloom, as if expeoting to see there the awful spectres of another world, and the flames of torment. But gradually his senses awoke to the real situation, and it was with a thrilling joy that he found himself once more in the land of the living. How he had escaped in that tremendous convulsion he could not think ; it was sufficient for him to know that he was saved at least from immediate death. Perhaps, after all, an outlet had been left ; and and even if there was an opening, the miners might be able to save him, as they had saved Jack. God might be merciful to him. He would be brought to light again, ana then he would visit with swift vengeance the man who had betrayed him. In the prospect of life the fears that had preyed upon him when he had become conscious, died away, and once more hope, on her golden pinions, hovered around his hqad. What wealth*and power would be his if he' once more breathed the'air of heaven ! He would never more risk his life again in a mine. But who could imagine that Sniggle^ Snickers, whom he had taken out of the dirt* and raised to the position of manager of the Hesperus Extended, would have turned upon him? In this delirium of hope, he thought he heard the miners picking away at the rock to release him ; but in a few minutes he became convinced it was all imagination. A still more profound and fearful silence followed. The slightest sound would have been a relief, but none was heard. , He now tried to raise himself, so that he might search for an opening whereby to escape.' But the slight movement he made, caused him to shreik, and the hollow cavern resounded with cries like those of the tormented in-" the abode of doom. His legs and arms were broken ! . Terror now mastered this wretched being. He uttered cry after cry, scream after scream ; he called and called; he implored mercy, assistance ; he prayed in his-agony to heaven, and vowed that if his life were saved he would devote it to the service of the Great Being, whom he had despised. But there was no answer" save the ecfloes .which mocked and jeered him. On every side arose the spectres of those he had ruined and wronged, gibing and mocking at him. Could his face have been 'seen in that thick gloom what a picture it would have made of that of one of 'the Ibst 'ones'in (r tii6 Hall of/Eblis. But no eye could see nim, no eatfieould hear his cries. f M Se' was' soon j unable to cry or move; the , loss of 16lobd*had completely exhausted him. C J?or a/fime, inaeea;'lie r gasped out, incoherent sapf)'ealSjio 5 apf)'ealSjio 'heaven, to fnen, to dJem'ons; pray?ing^an"diblaspheming by turns. ' Then Nature ? f|£usMnf oTaSsist him further,' and he shrank 'tfi'e gutter, where he wasJyingi a %StpleWcib^4 >,-■'■; • :