Inglis Collection of printed music > Printed text > Martin Craghan

Martin Craglum. 9
What was it that made him pause and
hesitate again, on the very threshold of safety 1
What made a sudden smile break through the
pallor of his face, as he stood and listened'?
Only that out of the far, dim distance, that
he was leaving behind him, with swift steps,
tli ere came the faint echo of a song.
Before him, a little circle of light shone out,
like Hope through the gathering gloom. Be-
hind, the darkness fell, like a pall, between
him and those distant voices.
With no thought of his own imperilled
safety ; with only one cry for his father — that
his father never heard — he turned back,
"There is more than an inch of water/' he
heard some one cry out, suddenly, behind
him ; but he did not stop to think what the
words meant. He plodded up the long, de-
serted tunnel, groping his way through the
blinding darkness, with no thought save that
of warning those unconscious men of their
danger— for nearly ten minutes, staggering,
faltering, struggling, over all obstacles to
his unshod feet. Then, suddenly, he spread
out his hands before him, with a cry that
echoed and re-echoed down the lonely path —
he had lost his way !
Nearly wild with terror and dismay, he
tried to struggle back to the dim rays of
light at the entrance — but in vain. Dark-