Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-10-18

II
, will leave carriage and horses in charge
OF the servant, and hasten for shelter
John-(calin the servant)-obtain the
! best shelter you can find for the horses
! and be on the lookout for US, as intend tc
take the reins on our return, and let Mr.
! Clifford see the spirit and speed Of your
, greys, for they were really almost asIeeT
when they came up" i ''s -.'' i'''''
By this time all were ready, and by
quick walking soon come to the pool whose
bosom began 10 feel the coming gust by
Its dashing against the rugged rocks which
bound it on every side. The loud thunder
and quick flash that followed, with an oc.
casionaI drop Of rain, hurried them on to
witness sight Of the long-dreaded cave, on
seeing which, caused not only Frances,
but Clara to shudder, for around its dark,
deep and dreary looking entrance appear
ed footsteps, as if yet inhabited, and the
dismal, hollow sound of the waters break
ing at the foot ofthe cliffs, with the loud
thunder, caused the party to step back in
silent dread. But another clap more loud
er than the first, rafting over the dismal
scene accompanied with heavy rain COM
PEELED them 10 enter the mouth ofthc cave
for shelter from the fury of the storm /:
even Clara shrunk instincliyely closer to
the side of Clifford as the thunder rever-
berated through the rocky cliffs, and the
maddenlng torrents came rolling down
their rugged sides. A noise like some
thing heavy falling within the cave, and
a human groan, as they thought, coming
/ from great distance, caused them again
to retreat a step, George here gave
Charles look which was well understood.
Frances all this time stood leaning her
whole weight on Charles, almost TO falling.
Clara, observing it, said . Uegr..a Did
u''Come, Frances, cheer up--cheer up,
the storm will soon be over. See, the sun
is out again, and assure you none of your
evil predictions will be fulfilled, so cheer
up, cheer up, and do let us see what's
here" On saying which, she went in a
few feet farther. calling on them TO come If
Frances washable to follow. aa .91ouliN
al am ready" urepied Frances, sand
you may depend on my not leaving you
now.n p .ioaobp stI b@ad bIg g96uu5
''Well said, Frances, that's my heroine,"
exclaimed Clara " now my spirits are up
for any adventure--so, on we'll go.n HIgr
Again a faint noise was heard at some
distance within, and as Clifford observed
it was u fine place FOR murdererSas we'll as
demons, a long deep groan was heard close
to his hear, and all once more became, as
it we're, rooted TO the spot. .tlh % s12a"
0''For the love Of Heaven, Clara, let us
leave this dreadful place." whispered
Frances, at the same time taking her by
the arm. 'E" 's#s. "a le"
"Not yet, not yet. We shall make
some discovery yet, am sure, for il seems
fixed on my mind that something human
is here, )" said Clara. t.., "a. BOZ at. '.
3'"Il So" quickly replied Charles, swell
soon hunt them out" ~ -AF s-4 i.'' 4Ht
& 81 have found prize, at all events"
exclaimed Clifford, who was a few feet in
advance, holding up a penknife; "look,
Charles, your eyes are better than mine:
il has pearl handle with some engraving
on it," 'a D'a POI
Charles, taking It, moved towards the
Iightto examine It, cried out, "God of Hea-
ven! it was my fathers knJe-and his
name is here engraved" Another long
and deep groan was heard which appeared
to como from a greater distance than the
last. "By Heaven will find out this mys-
terry, or perish in the attempt" cried
Charles; and turning to Clifford, whisper
ed--"Your dream may not prove mere
phantom Of the brain,--and this mystery
we will and must solve"
"What say you, ladies'" said Clifford,
"shaIl we conduct you back to the carriage
and return home, or will you remain with
US in our further search?" ...... sY
81 have no woman's fear" observed
Clara, "my mind was made up ere | left
home, and il is as yet unchanged. Fran
ces can return if she is so disposed, as her
nerves may fail her" ..
''No," said Frances, 81 have said |
would not leave you, and with you ! will
remain till we are once more seated by
our dear father" ..,.... .aa.
swell, as our minds are made up, we
will lose no time but make another move"
said Clifford to Charles, who was still in
tent on examining the penknlfe. III
81 am ready, and may God guide U.S."
said Charles, shat some further token Of
my departed father may be found"
They had now proceeded about fly |
yards from the entrance, and found them
selves in large and irregular room; in
The centre stood table Of rough stone, on
il was a bottle which had been used for a
,andlestick; on Inc floor we're broken bot
les, rusty kniferblade, a broken conch
she'll, small powder-horn and pistol
tamrod, with few broken clay pipes;
rom the roof which was about twelve feet
lgh, was suspended, by rusty chain, q
ships lamp covered with dust and cob
vahs n small crevice made for some pur-