A prisoner in the vault--The headless miller--I continue my
explorations--My perilous position--My further attempts at escape--The
recess--An unexpected shower-bath--A glimpse of light--I escape from
the vault, but not from prison--A lower chamber in Old Grime's mill--
The result of my further endeavours to escape--My signal of distress--
The Revenue-men--My rescue--The search for the smugglers' goods--My
hunger relieved--On guard--Meeting with my father--The last of old
Grime's mill.
Strange as it may seem, I fell asleep. How long my eyes had been closed
I could not tell. I fancied I heard the voices of people coming down
through the roof. A door directly opposite to me opened, through which
a pale light streamed, when what was my amazement to see "Old Grimes"
the miller dressed in his short frock, his iron-grey hair streaming over
his shoulders, and holding on his head with both hands, proving that it
could not retain its position without such assistance. He glared at me
with his saucer-eyes; his lips moved, but what he said I could not make
out. Had he approached I thought I would have spoken to him and asked
what he wanted, but he did not advance beyond the doorway. Presently he
faded from my sight. The light grew dimmer and dimmer. I thought that
I got up and tried to make a straight course for the door; but when I
reached the wall opposite I could not find it, and so groped my way back
to my seat.
It was not until fully a minute after I was awake that I became aware
that I had been dreaming. I was soon convinced that the vision of Old
Grimes was a mere dream, but I was not quite so well satisfied about the
voices I had heard. I listened, expecting to hear them again, but all
was silent as before. I now got up, resolving to try and make my way
out. Though I had not previously experienced any inconvenience from the
want of breakfast, I began to feel excessively hungry; and if I had come
across a package of hams or tongues, or a cask of salted herrings, I
should have eaten them raw with considerable satisfaction. The more
hungry I felt the more desperate I became. I at last fixed on a place
for commencing operations. There appeared to be more woodwork there
than anywhere else, or else the chests were piled upon each other. At
all events they would afford me a foothold. That I might have less
chance of slipping I had kicked off my boots, supposing that I could
easily find them again. I climbed up and up. Of course I had to move
very cautiously, not leaving go with one hand until I had a firm grasp
of some fixed object with the other. I got up a considerable distance,
and pressing against a board, it gave way, and a tremendous crash
followed, as if a number of boxes filled with bottles had fallen to the
ground. Putting up my hand, I felt a beam above my head; could it be
one of the rafters, or the roof? I was for some time afraid to move,
lest I should fall headlong down. I passed my hand along the beam, but
could not reach the floor it supported. I now tried to crawl cautiously
along on the top of the woodwork or the pile of chests, for I could not
determine which they were. Every now and then I stopped and stretched
out my hand, but could feel nothing above me.
I must again beg my readers to try and picture to themselves my
unpleasant position. The only wonder to myself is that I kept up my
spirits. I did not forget that any moment something might give way
below me, and that I might pitch down to the floor of the vault on my
head. I had gone on some way, when, stretching out my hand, I
discovered nothing beyond me. I was on the very edge of the erection.
The only thing I could do was to go back the way I had come, or to
descend to the floor. Fearing that I should be unable to pass the spot
where I had thrown over the cases, I resolved to adopt the latter
alternative.
I bethought me that if I had had a pole it would have assisted me
greatly to discover the trap-door leading to the vault. It was easier
to climb up than to climb down, as I could not feel with my feet as I
could with my hands. The attempt, however, must be made. Having got to
the edge of the plank and ascertained that it was secure, I gradually
let myself down, when I found myself resting on another plank or the
edge of a chest, I could not tell which. Let any one try in the dark to
do what I was attempting to do, and it will be found no easy matter.
Could I have stood securely, I might have crouched down till I could
have got hold of the plank on which my foot rested, but there was
scarcely room for that, and if I let go the plank above me I might
tumble over on my back; yet there was no other way of descent, so
holding on with my left hand I tried to find something which I might
grasp with my right lower down.
My satisfaction was considerable when my hand came in contact with the
rope-handle of a large chest. It appeared to be secure, and holding it
I was able to stoop down and fix my other hand on the ledge on which my
feet rested. One stage of my descent was thus accomplished. I now held
the ledge tight with both hands, let my legs slip off, and felt about
with my feet for another resting-place. For some seconds I was swinging
about, holding on by my hands. There might be another ledge not half an
inch below my feet. I stretched down my toes to the utmost. I could
not discover it. Should I let go I might have a serious fall. I worked
my way on, hoping to be more fortunate. At last my feet struck against
the end of a chest, and after making a little further exertion I found
that it was secure, and that I could venture to stand upon it.
I was still uncertain how far I was off the ground; all the difficulty I
experienced arose from being in darkness. I could probably, I knew,
have scrambled over the whole of the building with perfect ease had
there been light. I might already be close to the ground, but at the
same time I might be many feet above it, and I therefore could not
venture to step down without going through the same process as before.
Leaning on my elbows, I stretched my arms along the top of the chest. I
slipped off, and unexpectedly found my feet touch the ground. I was too
eager to escape to allow myself time to rest after my exertions. I once
more began to search round the vault, hoping to find an oar, a boat's
mast or spar, or somewhat that might serve my purpose. I felt about in
vain; indeed it was not likely that the smugglers should have placed
such things in the vault.
I at last reached the part where the boxes or chests, as I supposed they
were, rested, and I began to stumble among them. The region in which I
had spent the last two or three hours was considerably disarranged. I
fancied that I knew every part, and now I was completely thrown out in
my calculations. One chest stood up on end on another. I feared,
should I move it, that I might bring others down on my head. I should
have liked to have put them all back in their places, but that was
impossible. By great care I made my way among them; when I at last
reached the walls, it was the part I had not before examined. How I
could have passed it I could not account for, unless I had been
prevented reaching it by the chests piled up in front, and which I had
displaced. As I was extending my arms my hands touched what felt like a
wooden latch. There was no doubt about it; it was the latch of a door.
I lifted it up and pulled it towards me. The door opened, but all was
dark within the recess. I felt sure that it must be the entrance to the
vault. I was going to step forward when it occurred to me that it might
lead to a lower vault and that I should be precipitated into an unknown
depth should I move without feeling my way. I knelt down, extending my
hands, when they touched the ground as far as I could reach. This
satisfied me that my first conjecture was correct.
Cautiously feeling my way, I stepped forward and explored the recess as
I had the larger vault. Contrary to my expectation, I could discover no
ladder. I was thus no nearer to my deliverance than before. I felt
round and round this smaller vault, without being able to decide as to
its object. That it was the entrance to the vault I thought very
likely. I wished that I could find out the height of the roof, and of
what it was composed. It seemed probable that it was lower than that of
the larger vault. I thought that I might drag in some of the smaller
chests and place one on another against the wall and climb up. I made
my way accordingly back to the large vault, in search of some which I
could move.
In going along my foot struck an object on the ground. It was a long
spar--the very thing I was in search of. I supposed it had fallen down
with the boxes, having either been placed upon them or assisting to
support them. It appeared, as far as I could judge, to be twelve or
fourteen feet long, and was thick enough to enable me to swarm up it,
and thus to serve the purpose of a ladder. I first tried to reach the
roof of the large vault with it, but it was not long enough, though I
lifted it as high as I could; and then carrying it in my hands went back
to the recess, and, eager to ascertain the height, I struck upwards. It
at once met with resistance, not as I supposed, from a beam or vaulted
roof, but from some soft object. That soft object must be removed.
I poked and poked again and again, now in one part, now in another, when
suddenly down came a shower of powder, which, before I could make my
escape, covered me from head to foot. I was certain that it was, from
the smell and feel, flour, though old and musty. The flour filled my
nose, eyes, and mouth, nearly suffocating me. I, however, willingly
endured this dry shower-bath, for as it fell a glimpse of light came
through a hole which I had burst in the upper part of the sack, which
had evidently been drawn across the trap leading to the vault for the
purpose of concealing it. I worked away with my pole until I had pretty
nearly emptied the sack of flour, and then, with a little more exertion,
I brought the whole down, and had a clear view upwards. For a minute or
so my eyes, long accustomed to darkness, were so dazzled with the light
that I could not make out anything distinctly. They were, besides, so
full of flour that it took me some time to clear them.
After this I did not delay in endeavouring to get out of the vault.
Having placed the upper end of the pole against the corner of the trap,
I tried to swarm up it. At first my exertions made the pole slip, and I
ran the risk of having a disagreeable fall; but descending, I placed the
half rotten sack with some of the flour round the foot, and then drew in
several pieces of wood, with which I further secured it.
I now made another determined effort to climb up it by twining my arms
and legs round it. With considerable effort I succeeded in catching
hold of the edge or sill of the trap, and then getting up my knees I was
out of the vault, but not out of prison. I was, however, far better off
than before. Instead of darkness, I had light--instead of a close
vault, an airy chamber, on the lower floor of which sacks of flour had
evidently been kept. There were no regular windows, but only a few
slits high up above my head to admit light and air. The door was
securely closed. The room was in much better order than I should have
supposed from the generally ruinous appearance of the building from the
outside.
Of course, having thus far freed myself, I did not despair of getting
out by some means or other. I was in a hurry to do so lest the
smugglers should come back, and thrust me back into my prison, or treat
me even worse. Looking round the room I observed an opening on one side
opposite the windows. It struck me that if I could get to it I might
make my way into the main part of the building. Once there, there could
be no difficulty in escaping. In the last few minutes I had forgotten
my hunger, but it again came upon me; and as I had no other food, I
thought I would try some of the flour, which would stay my appetite,
even though eaten raw. I believe that a person eating nothing else for
several days would make himself ill, if he did not die. I made a hole
in one of several sacks leaning against the wall, and which had been
there probably since the occupant's death. It was excessively musty,
but hunger prevented me from being particular, and rolling it up into
little balls I swallowed several in rapid succession. Having eaten on
till I had sated my appetite, I hauled up the pole with which I had made
my escape from the vault below.
I then placed it against the foot of the small door high up in the wall.
It was sufficiently long. But then the thought occurred to me, will
the door be closed so that I shall be unable to open it? That point
must be settled by experiment; so having assured myself that the upper
end would not slip, I began to ascend. It was not at all an easy task,
and I did not feel satisfied that it would not give way. Up and up I
went, remembering what my father often used to say, that "fortune
favours the brave." I gained the top, and holding on to the sill
beneath the door, pressed against it. It moved, and, contrary to my
expectation, opened. It was a difficult matter notwithstanding to get
in; but I managed at last to get my knee on the sill, and then creeping
forward I found myself in a gallery in the main part of the mill, in the
centre of which was the shaft and the machinery for working the
grindstones beneath. I ran round the gallery till I came to a ladder
leading to the floor below, expecting that I should find the main door
open. It was firmly closed and locked, so that I could not get out.
This was a disappointment.
Having in vain tried to find any other outlet, I ran up the steps again
to the gallery, looked out of one of several windows to ascertain if I
could reach the ground by any of the woodwork; but the height was too
great to allow me to drop out without danger of breaking my legs. I
observed several people in the distance passing along by a path which
led by the foot of a hill on which the mill was situated. My first
thought was that they were smugglers; but then I recollected that such
characters were not likely to be abroad in a body during daylight, and
the glitter of the gold lace round the cap of one of them convinced me
that they were the revenue-men. I shouted at the top of my voice.
Hungry and faint as I was, it did not sound as loud as usual. They did
not hear me. I was afraid they would go on. Again and again I shouted.
One of the men turned his head. Having no handkerchief, in a moment I
stripped off my shirt, and waved it wildly out of the window. The men
saw it, and came hurrying up the hill.
"Who are you, youngster?" shouted one of the men as they came near.
"Master Cheveley, son of the Vicar of Sandgate," I answered.
"Why, he looks more like the ghost of a miller," said one of the men.
"How did you get up there?" inquired the first speaker a head boatman in
charge of the party.
"I got up out of a vault where the smugglers put me," I answered. "Make
haste and come in, for I'm almost starved."
"Here's a door," cried the head boatman; "but I say, mates, it's locked.
Is there no other way in?" he shouted.
"None that I know of," I answered. "I have been trying to open the
door, but could not."
"We'll see what we can do," said the man.
And he with two others placing their shoulders to it quickly sent it
flying inward shattered into fragments, the rotten wood giving way
before their sturdy shoves.
I ran down to meet them. The head boatman, a strong seamanlike-looking
man, at once began to question me as to what had happened. I told him
as briefly as I could adding--
"But, I say, I'm desperately hungry, as I've only had some lumps of
musty flour to eat for several hours, and thirsty too. I shall faint if
I don't have some food."
"We'll get you that, youngster; and then you must try and show us the
way into the vault," said the speaker. "We may get a better haul than
we've had for many a day if it should prove one of the smugglers'
hiding-places."
He then directed one of the men to run down to the next farmhouse and
bring up some bread and cheese, or anything else he could obtain, and a
jug of milk, or if that was not to be procured, some water.
I thanked him, begging the man to make haste, for now that the
excitement was over I could scarcely stand.
"Do you know you are whitened all over?" he asked. "You look as if you
had come out of a flour-bin!"
I had for the moment forgotten how I must have looked. The man
good-naturedly began to brush the flour off my clothes and hair, and one
of them lent me his handkerchief to wipe my face. They inquired what
had become of my jacket and waistcoat. I told them how the smugglers
had taken them from me.
"Perhaps the fellows may have hidden them somewhere about here. They
wouldn't like to have the things found on them. Jenkins and Brown, do
you go and search all round. Maybe we'll come upon another opening into
the vault."
The two men hurried off to obey the orders they had received, while the
others examined the mill; and the chief boatman sat by me fanning my
face, for he evidently thought me in a bad way. The time appeared very
long since the man had started for the provisions, but I believe he was
not absent many minutes. I was thankful when he returned, bringing a
basket with some eggs, and ham, and cheese, and some delicious bread,
and a bottle of milk. I fell to immediately like a hungry wolf, and
felt very much better by the time I had finished.
"We'll keep the remainder in case you want any more, my lad. And now we
must get you to show us the way into the vault," said the officer.
I was quite ready to do this, for I confess that I had a bitter feeling
against the smugglers on account of the treatment I had received. We
soon reached the trap which had been covered over by the sacks of flour.
The men looked down, not quite liking to descend into the darkness.
The spar by which I had got up was still in its place. I offered to go
down first, but this the chief boatman would not allow, and he and
another man at once lowered themselves to the bottom. It was, however,
so dark beyond the smaller vault, that they declared they could see
nothing, and they had to wait until a man was sent to the farm for a
lantern. We then too descended, but as the lantern only dimly lighted
up the vault, I could scarcely believe that it was the same place in
which I had spent so many hours. I had fancied that it was of immense
size and height, and crowded with piles of boxes, and bales, and casks.
Instead of this there were only a few old packing-cases, in one of which
I found I had been shut up. There were besides about a dozen bales,
most of them apparently damaged, and what the revenue-men considered of
more value, nearly half-a-hundred small casks of spirits, and some boxes
of tobacco. These had been covered over with planks. I had not felt
them on my exploring expeditions in the dark. The revenue-men were well
satisfied with their haul, as they called it, though they had thought
that it was possible they might find some articles of value.
As I was anxious to return home to relieve the anxiety of my father and
mother, I begged the chief boatman to let me do so at once.
"We cannot let you go alone; some of these smugglers might meet you and
give you a clout on the head for having shown us their hiding-place.
Wait a bit until I can send one of the men with you. We must first get
these casks up. We can't spare a hand at present, as one of the men
must go on to the station to give information of our find, and to
procure some carts for carrying the things away."
In hunting about the men had discovered a coil of rope and some blocks,
which had evidently been used for lowering the casks into the vault.
The seamen were not long in fitting up a tackle to hoist them out.
While one of the men was sent off as proposed, the rest worked away with
a will. In a short time the chief contents of the vault were hoisted up
and rolled outside.
"Here's a job for you, my lad," said the chief boatman. "You stay by
these things, and give us notice if you see any suspicious characters
coming, while we get up the remainder."
This task I gladly undertook, for I was heartily sick of the vault where
I had spent so many unpleasant hours, and glad to breathe the fresh air
outside. I sat down on the cask, nibbling away at some of the contents
of the basket, for my appetite had returned. At last a drowsiness stole
over me, and slipping off the cask, against which I placed my back, I
fell fast asleep. I was awakened by hearing some one shouting, and
looking up I saw a person running towards me. I sprang to my feet, when
what was my surprise to see my father, who rushed forward, and at the
joy of seeing him I leaped into his arms.
"Why, Dick, my boy," he exclaimed, "we have been in fearful anxiety
about you. How have you got into this plight? Where have you been?
What has happened?"