JIM.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2543, 22 June 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

JIM.

.He was an illogical irrelevant sort of man —inconsistent of course, but not merely inconsistent. That would be ordinary. Jim never failed to carry his inconsistency to the pitch of unnecessary reason.

We were mates in ’B4 and had bottomed five holes without luck. We were at work on the sixth; and funds were nearly exhausted.

Another day’s work would decide our fortune, and wo sat outside the tent in the dusk and speculated on probabilities. Jim seemed more than ordinarily sanguine ; while I felt anxious—for if no luck this time, what next ? I lowered him down the shaft next morning, and he worked for two whole hours, and then came up for a few minutes’ blow. He said he thought we were close on it—talked of the trips we would have together to Melbourne. Sydney, Tasmania —anywhere and everywhere. Then ho wont below again and worked for another hour—l meanwhile grafting steadily at the windlass. Presently came a short spell on his part, aud a consequent cessation of windlass work. 1 sat on the handle in the sun aud built imaginary palaces of delight until called back to stern reality by his call—“ Haul up I" I wound away at the windless with blissful energy—for surely his voice had a ring of gladness in it—and when the coils of rope on the barrel told me ho was near the top, I called out “ At last, Jim !" He did not answer, so I peered down the shaft as I wound him up. . . . My God 1 what was this ! He was on the rope, it was true, but from his upturned, quivering face, the starting, glaring eyeballs seemed to shoot through me. The windlass refused to turn : I strained and strained until he came clear of the shaft, and then, horror stricken and panting with fear, looked, as I held the handle against my chest. Jim had fastened the rope round his neck : I had hauled up a strangled man. We had bottomed on another duffer. D.M. in the Bulletin.