1 1 o AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



be wrong. Mr. Allen explained that doubtless the 

 well was completed, as they were bringing their 

 windlass with them, and I wondered what kind of 

 a well two men could dig in a day ! Later, I found 

 out that the well was only fifteen feet deep with 

 four feet of water in it; the soil was porous at the 

 surface, with a layer of sand lower down which 

 began to fill with water at a depth of twelve feet. 

 Even at a depth of six to seven feet there was 

 danger of cave-ins and therefore the well was 

 curbed in the following manner. 



A ring perhaps thirty inches inside diameter and 

 four inches wide on its face, was made out of two 

 layers of one inch boards nailed together. Upon 

 this ring when placed in the well, were laid well- 

 bricks about fourteen to the circle until the 

 surface of the ground was reached. The digging 

 could then go on safely and, as the sand was re- 

 moved, the brick wall settled and more bricks were 

 added at the top. As soon as the water began to 

 come in the sand was scooped out with a curious 

 dipper which had its handle attached at an acute 

 angle. When the water rose to the arm-pits of 

 the digger, or rather, when the digger sank into 

 the water by reason of the removal of the quick- 

 sand, the well was considered finished. If the 



