University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE REDWOOD to hide must be found before the fog should entirely clear up and reveal him to the gaze of those who might even new be searching for him. Somewhere along this railroad, he re- membered, there was a tunnel. If he could make it before discovery, he could hide in it with practically no chance of discovery. The guards would never think of looking for him in a railway tunnel. But what was that sound? A shot! Blank stood still and listened intently. What did it mean, he thought, ' ' have they discovered my absence al- ready? Ah, no, it cannot be true. He was about to continue his stealthy stride, when another shot rang out, this time much nearer. Several shots rang out almost simultaneously with it. Blank hesitated. Evidently his es- cape had been discovered, and the guards were already on his trail. But hope was not yet dead, the tunnel was still ahead. His moment of hesitation over, he quickened his pace and hurried along the narrow path along the side of the tracks. At length, at a distance, the black, forbidding, gaping mouth of the tunnel appeared through the slowly- lightening fog. But it was not black and forbidding to Blank, in his anxi- ety, it was a haven of refuge. Quickly covering the remaining dis- tance, Blank edged furtively into the darkness of the tunnel which seemed to reach out helping hands to welcome him and enveloped him in a curtain of obscurity. As soon as he was a few yards within the darkness, he turned and throwing himself upon the floor of the tunnel, eagerly listened for sounds of pursuit. Nothing moved; no sound broke the deathly stillness. The fog was gradually lifting, and as the bright rays of the afternoon sun quickly dispersed the remaining banks of fog, the darkness of the tunnel light- ened. Blank quietly drew back farther into the tunnel, but not so far as not to be able to see clearly what was trans- piring without. As the fog lifted, it revealed in the distance several indistinct forms. Blank quickly arose from his crouching position, and screening his eyes, in- tently watched them. They were yet too far distant to make out clearly who they were, but something that thej were carrying in their hands which glistened when the sun shone upon it told him the answer. They must be carrying guns, and if so, who are they? The answer that involuntarily arose in his mind was ' guards ! ' ' Hastily abandoning his position, he scurried deeper into the dark recesses of the tunnel. What if the guards should search the tunnel and find him there? It would be all up with him then. Further and further into the darkness of the tunnel he crept, as the guards gradually drew closer and clos- er. He stopped a moment to watch them.

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THE REDWOOD Quietly sneaking down the side of the fill as the guard ' s attention was at- tracted to the other side of the car by a sudden commotion, his movements fortunately screened by the fog bank momentarily growing denser, Blank noiselessly parted the tules, and pass- ing through, allowed them to close be- hind him. Not wishing to make known his attempt by foolishly endeavoring to w allow through the mud without be- ing able to accurately gauge his direc- tion, he bent the tules over and formed a mattress to hold him, first finding a spot sufficiently hard to bear him up. Having succeeded in eluding the guards, he Avondered how long it would be before his absence would be discov- ered. Would they discover his absence before noon-time? If they did not, he would have some chance of getting away. Acting on this thought, he care- fully worked his way in the direction he thought was away from the fill, us- ing as his compass, the noise made by machinery and the emptying of the rock-cars. The fog was still heavy, though there were indications of its lightening. The smell of the tules and the stagnant water through which he was obliged to crawl, was not very pleasing to Blank as he laboriously made his way towards the shore. ' ' If I could only make that other shore before I am discovered, he mused, ' ' I could get to the railroad and then it would be easy going. If my luck holds out, and the fog does not lighten too much, my absence won ' t be discovered until it will be too late for the guards to catch up with me. Anyway, they won ' t know which way I ' ve gone. With these consoling thoughts, he continued his efforts to make the oppo- site shore, and, still using the clamor of the machinery as his invisible bea- con, at length began to feel the mud, as the tules grew thinner and sparser, give way to harder ground. With re- doubled caution he made his way out of the tules, and lay flat upon the edge of the marsh watching for signs of life. Nothing stirred, to send him scampering back into the marsh. Em- boldened by the lack of danger, he rais- ed himself, and bent over like a jack- knife, half-ran, half-walked away from the marsh. Using extreme caution, he made his way with unerring precision for the railway. The land over which he hur- ried, he knew, was uninhabited, and the probability of meeting anyone was very slight. But his life was in the balance, and the greatest care would not go amiss. He reached the railway at last, and turning, followed it towards the south. After a few minutes ' hurried walk, he made a momentary stop, and straight- ened up from his crouching position. Raising his arms towards the heavens, he took a deep breath, and thanked the Lord for his safe conduct thus far. But it was yet too soon for exultation. It was nearing noon, and a safe place

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THE REDWOOD As he moved again, his foot struck an object. Leaning over, he felt of it. A box. ' ' What was it doing here, he asked himself. He tried to move it but could not. ' ' If I could only strike a light, he thought, I could see what this means. But to strike a light now would be fatal. Stooping down once more, he groped for the edge of the cover. But no edge could he find, for there was no cover. It was an up- turned box fastened to one of the ties of the track. Two wires led from the box beneath the rails and stretched into the darkness of the tunnel. A slight noise in the box attracted Blank ' s attention, and bending for- ward, rested his ear against the side of the box, and listened. A light ticking like the noise of an alarm clock within the box was all he could distinguish. The truth suddenly dawned upon him. It is an infernal machine, placed here by some fanatic ! he cried. No, not by a fanatic, but by a deadly enemy of our country. The realization of the true meaning of the box, and why it had been placed in the tunnel created a horrible predic- ament for Blank. What miserable luck, he moaned, is mine. After everything progressing so wonderfully, with my escape almost assured, this beastly little box has to go and upset all my plans. I can ' t leave this box here to blow up the tun- nel, and perhaps mean the loss of many lives if a train should happen to pass through here at the same time. It is not possibl-ef that the miscreant who placed it here, has it timed for just some such purpose, or who knows but what it might go off any minute. But why should I risk everything after everybody has turned against me, and have been only too willing to let me work at the rock pile. Why should I now give up my precious chance of proving my innocence? Why should I strive to protect the property of the company who sent me up? I won ' t do it ! I ' 11 let the tunnel blow up, and pursuit will be impossible then. If I could get through before it should blow up, I would be safe. The decision half-heartedly made, he turned to pass deeper into the tunnel. The long dreary hours in the melan- choly prison, and the nagging of the guards while at work, had hardened his spirit and warped his judgment. No longer, it seemed, was the welfare and safety of the many the paramount feel- ing, but the selfish nature that had been ground into him in prison strug- gled to the fore. Hurriedly stumbling through the tunnel, he covered quite a distance. But then his steps began to lag, and finally he stopped. Passing his hand over his forehead, he brushed away the beads of perspiration that rolled down into his eyes, blinding him. The tor- ture of his spirit was making itself felt in his body. Sinking down upon the rail he gave himself up to his thoughts. I can ' t do it! I can ' t do it! he repeated over and over in a scarcely