Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-05-02

So saying he plunged into the moutt
of one OF The caverns. He had not pro
ceeded many yards before he was seiz
ed by invisible hands, and in a momen
dirested of all his clothing and pushed
forward into darkness His first i'm
pulse was to return Immediately; but a
moments reflection dispelled the idea
and he pressed on. Shortly afterwards
he beheld TO the right hand and to the
left a glimmering light, indicating an ex-
il from the cavern; but he remembered
that his predecessors had been deluded
BY tina: light, and therefore he groped
along resolulely. In a little while a
glimmering ray fell across the cavern
from some aperture in the roof, and he
experienced less Inconvenience from his
naked and unprotected state. The
glimmer gradually frightened into full
daylight, and he emerged from the cav
erned avenues, and stood upon a spa
cious and enamelled plain. TO his
great surprise, he discovered that thin
bu. convenient garments had come upon
him in his progress. si''oH sls'i
He had now to decide upon his future
steps. Hesperceived that the sward he
was now upon encircled an inner circle
of groves and grottoes. and considering
that the abode of the Princess was prob
ably in the centre of the mount, he
struck across the plain directly towards
the centre, and entered one Of the grot.
Toes. Here he was entangled for nearly
a day nall manner Of mazy ,yindings;
but taking "he who dares" for his mot
to, he scorned all danger, and threaded
perseveriagly on until he reached se-
ries OF corridors. In these were seated
venerable men of his own people, who
were surprised and delighted to see one
from the outer world visit them. They
crowded round him aud perplexed him
with questions, and then. in answer to
his enquiries, told him they led a life Of
calm study in those corridors, and they
knew mysteries unknown in the outer
world. and urged him to stay and study
with them. But the youth thought
"what is the end and use of these mems
study! Their brethren without are the
same as ever: they are not benefitted.-
No; must see the Princess. | must
press on, and do something higher than
yc do, or perish" Accordingly he left
them, and entered vestibule, which f.
nally deposited him ip the open air a.
gain, at the fooi'of huge and precipil-
Gus mountain. During all these wind
ngs and wanderings, his garments had
been growing in quantity and elegance:
and he now stood at the base of the
mountain, well apareled and well equip
ed for the adventure. Tightening his
bell. and cutting the bough of a tree for
a staff, he commenced his arduous as
We shall not pause to narrate partic-
ularly the horrors and the dangers OF
his ascent. How he got entangIed in
impenetrable forests; how he sunk and
had nigh perished in waste swamps;
how all manner of beasts and reptiles
roared and hissed around him; how, "a
bove them all, he heard the song of the
Princess promising HIM even loftier
things; and how, cheered and inspired
with her notes, he pressed upward thro'
all difficulties, and suddenly surmounting
a small ridge he found himself face To-
face with the Princess
Yes; there she stood. She for whom
ne had dared all, stood meek. serene, in
virgin loveliness, unabashed before his
enrapiured awe-stricken gaze. She ga.
zed at him fixedly; she smiled divine
smile of approval. In an ecsiacy of
delight he was about to spring and en-
brace her, when she swiftly retired few
PAGES, and a frowning and terrific chasm
opened in the earth between them. Sur
Prised, he drew back and looked to
the Princess for explanation and advice.
She only pointed Significantly into the
chasm. He understood her meaning;
he was 10 dare all in the bitterest sense.
For short space only he hesita,ed,
and then, closing his eyes; he leaped in
to the abyss. HI aB He,4sQ g. as,fss ans
Instead Of being dashed TO pieces on
the crags and pinnacles Of a rock that
formed The bottom Of the chasm, he felt
himself upheld and transported to the
very foot.stool of the Princess. "a 49,
She rose and falling into his arms, dis
solved in his grasp, and was seen no
more. But at that moment a glorious
effulgence burst over all the scene; a
thin yapor curled around him; delicious
music lulled his senses to pleasant
trance; and when he regained his full
consciousness he was standing on a gras-
sy knoll, with all the islanders assem-
bled around him. at- F.s..,..
But oh! how differeut, how noble
seemed they and all around them. He
looked at the sun, and it seemed to have
voice and speak to him. he glanced
over the mead, and it too, sang melo-
dy for him; he gazed into the attentive
faces of his friends, and there shone
forth a nobility aud capacity he had
never dreamed of before. All was bet
ter, nobler, holier. oa hA 1a sd
He raised his voice to speak TO them,
and they drew round. spell l-constrained.
with eager eyes and eager ears. He
told them of his adventures in the Mys-
tic Mount; how he marched on resolute-
ly in strengtb: what he had learned by