New Nick Carter Weekly, No. 8 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

station,’’ he said to himself, with grim humor, ‘“*for itis more than I can do to away the next stopping place is?”’ He kicked his feet out in every direc- tion, hoping to find a support for them. In front there was nothing, and at the PLS yy at % of the well. Back of him, however, his feet came against a shelf or pyojection of some kind, and against this he immedi- ately rested his weight, so that it was somewhat easier to keep himself froin fall- ing further. Even then it was nota pleseeat situa- tion. He still had to cling to the floor edge and his feet were resting on some- z thing, he could not tell what, at least a yard behind him.. The candle had been blown out by the current of air caused by the sudden_fall- ing of the trap. Trim had plenty of matches in his pockets, as well asa small dark lantern _that he had bought since his return from _ the interior, It was not so perfect a lantern as the : kind used by his father, Nick Carter, and Patsy, but it was the best that the mar- ket afforded. . ~ He might just as well have been with- out it at that moment, for it was impos- sible to let go his hold and reach for either match or laintern. _ “This is just a little bit of an improve- , ment,”* thou ht the boy, ‘“‘for it gives “ine time to think and breathe. “Now let’s see if we can make out _what this thing is. } . ‘‘T started in here on the theory that this well isa means of escape for Schruggs and his highness. Ii that is true, it must hang on very long. I wonder how far WEW NICK CARTER WEEKLY. *‘Now I don’t think they’d go that way. Idon’t think that either Schruggs or his highness is the kind of a fellow to take a drop when he might just as well have steps. ‘“Therefore I’m obliged to believe that my feet are now resting on one of those sides he could feel simply the bare. walls. steps. “Tf there is one there must be others, and if I could get my hands on them I should be all right. That’s what I shall have to try for.”’ His body was stretched out alimost straight. Having made up his mind to the des- perate attempt that he must make,_ he. lowered his head as far below his shoul- ders as it would go, then threw it up sud- denly, pushed with his hands and let go, bringing every muscle in his body into play in order to make his rise as far possible from the edge of the floor. At the same time he kicked out as well as he could from the spot upon which his feet rested. ‘This movement in the dark was fol- lowed by a trick that only a well-trained athlete like Trim could attempt. He whirled completely around in the air and threw his hands out in the oppo- ‘site direction. Of course he began to fall at once, but his movements were so quick that before he had any sort of headway his hands had caught an edge upon the opposite side of the well; similar to that upon which his feet had been resting. It was not easy to cling to it, but it was easier than it had been to cling edge of the floor, and besides, ther the advantage that his feet wer follow that there are steps or a ladder Pe Ge! gage Be similar edge. = some kitid by which togo down. - | » He could feel against his. OSES: : : a “7 can understand one thing, ind that | projections, ; and Bt Picts iS 3 — is that either Schriiggs or his highness |he were ¢ upon a ladder ormpona _in'working that lever could stand inside | Mgnt of steps. Bg oS the room and reach up to it, so that| Neve S —. i. cs when Bs trap fell they wouldn’t come | strai tas ae, ae = a, ‘After seks have been Meena