The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-12-28
thoughts filled him with unutterable ag-

ony.
Wolfgang had now drawn near the
waters edge and soon coming to the
mouth of cave he entered it, followed
by the three ruffians who had charge OF
our hero. The bottom of the cave sloped
upward from its entrance tor some dis
tance, and then became almost level
The captive flor such Maurice Lester
now felt himself to Beg frequently hit his
feet against what he thought, with a
chill OF horror, we're human bones strewn
around the cavern, but he could not
clearly make them out in the di m light
He also noticed that the bottom of the
cave was very wet, as though it had re-
Gently been covered with water. The
wrecker chieftain stopped, at last, near
what seemed the end of the cave, and
making sign to his followers, they
clapped manacles on the wrists and an
kles of Maurice before he had time to
note tier intention.
"Now, Captain Lester" said Wolf
gang, "you must remain in this place for
short season. You are perfectly sa te
here. Silence! Say not word If
you attempt to leave this spot, you will
be slain the moment you set foot outside
the cave"
Thus speaking, the chieftan and his
followers silently but rapidly withdrew,
leaving Maurice nearly supplied with
astonishment' As they passed from the
mouth Of the cave, their feet were wet
by the rising waves The tide Das. fast
coming in.
After short time, the captive looked
about him with eyes somewhat accus-
toned to the dim light, and became sat
isfied that what he had supposed to be
human bones were really such. There
were many of them. And moving a.
mong them were hinge iats, seeking for
prey. The top of the cavern, in some
places, was but few feet above his head,
and in one place he discovered small
aperture, through which faint light
struggled, and on going underneath it,
ton and flowers.
On turning, from the contemplation
OF this aperture, towards the mouth Of
the cave, Captain Lester observed, with
alarm, that the water was creeping up
the sloping bottom. What il it should
fill the cavern? All now he could ac-
count for the pre-, ence there of those hui
man bones They were the sad memo
rails Of other hapless prisoners who had
been left in that cave to perish by drolcn-
ing!
Slowly but surely the waters crept a.
long. The vermin fed before them to
the elevated spot on which Maurice
stood. Slowly following, the incoming
water at length reached his feet !.
AT the end Of the cave, within few
feet OF the wall, and underneath the ap-
erture before spoken of, was large
piece of rock, some four feet high, that
might have fallen from above. To this
Maurice FASTENED as quickly as his man
acles would permit. After some exer-
ton he succeeded in climbing to the top
Of it, and stood erect, his head within i.
few inches of the ROOF of the cavern
But be was not allowed to occupy this
retreat alone. AS the water began to
circle around its base, the rats also
sought refuge on it in great numbers,
and in vain did Maurice try to dislodge
them with his manacied feet.
Soon las it seemed to the captive) the
water came ripping over the top of the
rock. He felt its moisture upon his
feet. And still it rose-slowly but re.
lentlessly it rose higher-higher and
as it rose, the rats climbed up bis limbs
for safety. 1t was in vain that he brush
ed them off with his fetteied hands,
They instantly returned. They clam
bered up his back-to his shoulders
over the back of his neck-to the crown
of his head their clammy bodies strik-
ing a chill to his very heart.
And still higher the waters rose, and
more thick y the foul vermin clustered
upon the devoted csptive's shoulders and
head, as their only place OF safety. Dri-
ven frantic at last by the horrors of his
situation, he was about to plunge into
the surging tide and seek watery grave,
when his attention was arrested by the
tread of rapid footsteps near the aper-
ture above his head, and the sound of a
harsh masculine voice. almost instantly
followed by noise as Of struggle, and a
piercing shrek which thrilled Maurice
Lester to the very soul. He could not be
mistaken it was CARRIES voice. Again
he heard it, but now in tones of entrea-
ty. Oh, it aoas her voice. She was not
dead She lived and was near him =
Gathering all his strength he shouted,
"Carrie Carrie ! CARRIB |"
A dead silence followed, broken only
by the fearful murmurs of the still rising
waters, and the splash of the rats as
they fell from the wretched captivss
head and shoulders, only to return again,
in their fierce struggles for a perch of
safety from the advancing tide, which