Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-01-07


ihree ruihans who had charge OF our hero
The bottom Of the cave sloped upward from
tta entrance for some distance, and then
became almost level The captive (for
such Maurice Lester now felt himself to be, J
frequently hit his feet against what he
thDnRht, with a chill Of horror we're human
homes strewn around the cavern, but he
could not clearly make them out IN the dim
light. He also noticed that the bottom Of
the cave was very wet. as though II had re.
Gently been covered with water The wreck
Or chieftain stopped, at last, near what
seemed the end Of the cave, and making
sigh to bis followers, they clapped mana
clea on the wrists and ankles Of Maurice
before be had time to note their intention.
Now, Captain Lester, said Wolfgang,
you must remain in this place for short
season. You are Psrfcctty safe here. e.--Si-
lence Say not word IL you attempt
to leave this spot, you viii be slain the mo-
ment you set foot outside the cave"
Thus speaking, the chieftan and his fol-
lowers silently but rapidly withdrew, leav.
ing Maurice nearly Supplied with astonsh-
mens. As they past from the mouth of
the cave, their feet we're wet by the rising
waves. The tide t0as fast coming IN.
After short time, The captive looked
about him with eyes somewhat accustomed
to the dim light, and became satisfied that
what he had supposed to be human bones
were really such. There were many Of
them. And among them were huge rats,
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 1t, he
thought be smelt the odor OF vegetation
and flowers.
, On turning, from the contemplation of
the cave, Captain Lester observed, with
alarm, that the water was creeping up the
sloping bottom. What if it should fill the
cavern 7 All now he could account for
the presence there OF those human bones
They we're the sad memorials of other hap
less prisoners who had been left in that
cave TO perish By drot0ning !
Slowly but surely the waters crept along.
The vermin fed before them to the eleva-
ted spot on which Maurice stood. Slowly
following, the in-comiDg-water at length
reached bis feet |
At the end Of the cave, within few feet
Of the wall, and underneath the aperture
before spoken Of, was large piece Of
rock, some four feet high, that might have
fallen from above. To this Maurice hast
ened as quickly as his manacles would per-
NIT. After some exertion he succeeded in
climbing to the top Of it, and stood erect,
his head within few inches Of the roof Of
the cavern. But he was not allowed to
occupy this retreat alone As the water
began to circle around its base, the rats al.
so sought refuge on it in great numbers, and
in vain did Maurice try to dislodge them
with bis mauacled 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 relentlessly it
rose higher-higher and as it rose, the
rats climbed up his limbs for safety. 1t
was in vain that he brushed them off with
his fettered hands. They instantly return
ed. They clamered up his back-to his
shoulders-over the back of his neck-to
the crown of his head their clammy bod
les striking chill to his very heart.
And still higher the waters rose, and
more thickIy the foul vermin clustered up
on the devoted captive's shoulders and
head, as their only places of safeay. Driv-
en- frantic at last by the horrors of his sit
uation, he was about to plunge into the
surging tide and seek a watery grave, when
bis attention was arrested nv the tread Of
rapid footsteps near the aperture above his
head, and the sound Of harsh masculine
Oio olp lu f,li a,,o
as Of struggle, and q piercing shrek
which thrilled Maurice Lester 10 the very
soul He could not be mistaken IL was
CARRIE's voice. Again he heard it, but
now in tones of entreaty. Oh, it 1aS her
voice. She was not dead She lived and
was near him ! Gathering all his strength
he shouted, Carrie Carrie CARRIE 7"
A dead silence followed, broken only by
the fearful murmurs OF the still rising wa
ters, and the splash Of the rats as they
fell from the wretched captive's head and
shoulders, only to return again, in their
fierce struggles for perch of safety from
the advancing tide, which had now nearly
reached our hero's shoulders.
The above is all of this story that will
be published in our columns. We give this
as sample. The continuation of it from
where il leaves off here can only be found
IN the New York Ledger, the great family
paper, to which the most popular writers
in the country contribute, and which is for
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and country, where papers are sold. Re-
member and ask for the New York Ledger
of January I, aud in it yOa will find the
continuation Of the story from where it
leaves of here. If you caunot get copy
at any book store, the publisher of the
Ledger will mail you copy if you will
send him FIVE cents in a letter
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