Part 21 (2/2)
He could visualize it because he had seen it happen. It would rise to his ankles, his knees, his armpits, then cover him, and he would go to his final punishment by the last route he ever had pictured!
Rufus got on his knees in an att.i.tude of prayer and supplication. The cracked remnants of his stentorian voice he used to the utmost advantage. No Methodist exhorter ever prayed with more pa.s.sionate fervour, and he could not in a lifetime have kept the promises he made to his Maker if only He would release him from the trap into which he had gotten himself through his own evil doing.
”Lord, it was wrong for me to take that $150, but Canby tempted me. I needed the money or I don't know as I would have done it. If You'll jest get me out of this, Lord, all the rest of my life I'll do what I can for You! I'll go to church--I'll give to the heathen--I'll stop takin' Your name in vain, and say my prayers reg'lar! Oh, Lord! Once I stole a halter and I ask Your forgiveness. And I left a neighbour's gate open on purpose so the stock got into his cornfield, but I ain't a bad man naturally, and this is the first real crookedness I ever done intentionally. Lord,” he pleaded, ”hear my humble prayer and send somebody!”
At the top of the well Wallie had his suspicions verified. So Canby had laid one more straw on the camel's back to break it!
Any compunctions of conscience he might have had for putting Rufus through such mental anguish vanished.
Leaning over the edge of the well, he called down cheerily:
”How you making it?”
Wallie's voice sounded like the voice of an angel to the prisoner.
Relief and joy beyond description filled him. Hoa.r.s.e as a bullfrog, he quavered:
”In Mercy's name let me out of here, Macpherson!”
”You're all right where you are, Rufus,” Wallie answered. ”When you're down there you are out of mischief.”
”I'm hungry--I'm starvin'----”
”I don't know when I've eaten such a ham, tender, a delicious flavour, and just enough fat on it--I thought of you all through dinner, Rufus.”
”We've struck water--a big flow--I can hear it--it'll break through any minute!”
”That's fine! Splendid!”
”You don't understand!” Rufus cried, desperately. ”I'm liable to be drowned before you can h'ist me out of here. I can heard it roar--like a cloudburst!”
”Tell me about that deal between you and Canby,” Wallie suggested.
”Let down the bucket!” Rufus chattered.
”Couldn't think of it. My eyeteeth are coming through and I don't like to interrupt 'em.”
”I'll make a clean breast of it.”
”I don't want to pollute my well unless I have to, but that's the only way you'll get out of there,” Wallie told him, grimly.
”Canby's out to break you in one way and another. He thought there was no water over here and he paid me to talk you into diggin' for it. He seen me and my boys eat one day in the mess house and he said 'twould break the Bank of England to board us, so he wanted that clause in the contract, and after sixty-eight feet he paid us, besides a hundred and fifty dollars bonus. I done wrong, Mr. Macpherson, and I freely admit it!”
”And you like my cooking, Rufus? You like your food highly seasoned with plenty of soda in the pancakes and dough-goods?”
”Yes, Mr. Macpherson,” whined Rufus. ”I never complained about your cookin', I've nothin' against you personal, and I'll knock off somethin'
on the bill for bringin' in water if you'll jest let down that----” A screech finished the sentence. Then:
”C-r-rr-ripes! She's busted through! She's comin' like a river!”
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