Carlsbad was 28 miles away and, of course, travel was very slow with horse and wagon. I knew Brown wouldn't get back before the next day.
I called to Sam: "I'm sending Brown to Carlsbad to get enough rope for a ship's ladder. You'll be able to climb that all right and get out."
"How long do I have to stay down here?" was Sam's retort.
"Until he gets back with the rope," I answered. "Probably tomorrow."
"You mean I have to stay down here all night?" Sam's voice quivered with fear.
"Unless you have some idea of how to get out," I replied.
I brought my wagons and mules over to the hole and proceeded to get ready to spend the night there. In spite of Sam's anxiety he said he was hungry so I got some food from one of the wagons and lowered it down to him on the end of a piece of fishline. He still had the lantern with him. I don't know how much he relished his meal, but of course he had no choice; so, by the light of the lantern he ate his supper, such as it was.
Above, I fared somewhat better.
Sam was quite scared, and he remained squarely below the opening, which, by the way, was not over two feet in diameter. He had no desire whatsoever to take the lantern and go exploring by himself. I really do believe he meant it when he said he thought he was in there for good.
I didn't sleep much that night, and I don't think Sam slept at all. No matter how much I kept reassuring him that as soon as Brown returned from Carlsbad we would get him out, he still thought he'd never see the light of day again.