Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-07-24
WHOLE NUMBER 81.

with great difficulty, constantly bruising
my back on the sharp points of the rock
above me, some five or six yards Leigh
calls it eight; but think it is not so
much. We we're now able TO stand up
again in stopping posture, the ceiling be-
ing little over four feet high, and thus
advanced eight or ten yards further, un-
I'll We reached the chamber Of which Mr..
Leigh speaks.
am Of the opinion that We had now
arrived just under the bed of the torrent
| have spoken of and that the entire
cavern which / afterwards explored is a
natural fissure in the rock running under
this point of meeting of two hills, and
following the line OF the valley between
them. This is, Of course, conjecture,
rs did not take compass with me to
determine the course.
This chamber was n small, irregular,
cavernous room, the floor of which was
covered with shapeless masses Of stone
that had fallen from the roof Over
these we stepped with great difficulty. l
need not remark that the darkness was
profound, and the air already became so
close that our candles burned but dimly,
so that each man was obliged to hold his
own Mt his feet to determine where TO
set them. Crossing the room, we step
ped over u chasm between a mass OF
rock and the wall Of the chamber, to
point in the wall which presented rug
gcd edge, and from this into a narrow
doorway, about four feet high. call it
a doorway, for it resembles one, though
| could find no signs Of artificial origin
about it. 1t was almost square and
opened into sort of gallery, the floor OF
which was covered with broken rock, and
interrupted by huge deep assures. A
ledge at the side afforded tolerable walk
ing for some distance, in a STOPPING post
ure; and then We again lay down on our
faces and crawled through a passage
twenty feet in length, entering the lar
gest chamber in the pit.
1t was very irregular chasm, perhaps
seventy OF hundred feet in diameter.
Entrance to it was almost forbidden by
clouds of bats that met me in the mar
row passage through which l was crawl
ing, dashing into my face, wounding my
forehead and cheeks, clinging by scores
to my hair and beard, like so many thou
sand devils disputing the entrance TO hell.
| can give no adequate idea Of this cham
Der of horrors in which now found my
self Profoundly silent, we had crawled
along, each man having q fast beating
heart and listening to its throbs; and now,
as l emerged into this room, the loud
whirr of the myrads Of bats was like
the sounds of another world into which
/ had penetrated. staggered forward
to rock, and sat down, when piercing
yell started me to my feet. 1t rang
through the cavern as if the arch fend
himself were there tormenting some poor
soul. But it was only one Of my poor
friends who were making their first en-
trance to an Egyptian catacomb, and had
never before encountered the bats, with
whom was thoroughly familiar. The
one who was in advance was overwhelm-
ed by the army that met him as he ap-
preached the room.
"What is iiY'' shouted
n "These bats; they are devouring me- -
"Push on; they'll not harm you"
MY light is gone, and can see moth
ing"
Here is my light-come toward it. "
'n; / had reliI my candle, which had been
put out as his was, and was now seated
in the centre Of the cavern, on n black
Sc rock, holding it up before my face. At
he emerged into the room, and caught
.- sight Of me, he uttered howl Of mingled
n astonishment and terror
@Pluto or Sathanas, by All the Gods ?
f said his friend, coming up behind him
m. aud looked at me. BY appearance mus
lud have been picturesque, IN my primitive
r & costume, now begrimmed with dirt, an'
seven bats (hey counted them,) hang
bv ing on my beard, with perfect network
one and Medusa-ooil Of them in my hair.
90 : was very little disturbed BY the Harmless
soa little fellows, although, before coming t
ber Egypt, scarcely knew Of an animal il
,er. the world so disgusting to my mind.
-an But the atmosphere, if it may be s
We called, Of this chamber, was beyord a
for description horrible. 1t was not an al
and to faint ial there was too much ammoni
cad for that. Il was foul, yile, terrible.
pal eonfeab that as | found myself pantin
1ld- for bnlath, and drawing long. deep il
! to spirations, 10 very choking, withot