Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-01-04
VOL. 7---N0. 6.

| out in the dim light lie also noticed that
! the bottom of the cave was veri vet. as too
| il had recently been covered with water
| The wrecker chieftain stopped, at last, near
what seemed the end OF the cave, and ma
! king a sign to his followers. they clarped
mafacles On the wrists and the ankles OF
Maurice before be had time 10 note their IN
tention
Now, Captain Lester said Wolfgang,
you must remain in this place for short sea-
son You are perfectly safe heTe.-Silence
Say not a word! IF you attempt 10 leave this
spot, you will be slain the moment goa set
foot outside the cave.
Thus speaking, the chieftain and his fci-
lowers silently but rapidly withdrew. leaving
Maurice nearly stupe6ed with astonishment.
As they passed from the mouth OF the cave,
their feet were wet by the rising waves
The tide ,cas fast coming IN
After a short time. the captive iocksd a
bout him with eyes somewhat aceus3elas5 10
the dim light, and became satisfied iLai wilat
he had supposed to be human bones Heie re-
aily such There were many Of them And
moving among them were huge rats. seeking
for prey. The top of the cavern, ia scale
places, was but few feet above bis head.
and in one place be discovered small aper-
ture, through which faint light struggled.
and on going underneath it, he thought he
smelt the oder of Vegetation and flowers.
On turning, from the contemplation OF this
aperture, towards the mouth of the Gaze,
Captain Lester observed with alarm. thai the
water was creeping up the slepiDg bottom
What if it should fl! the cavern Z All now
be could account for the presence there ofthuse
human bones. They were the sad memorials
r.. L.. rha h,4 f1--a fzrs
10 that cave to perish by drO'saiRg
Slowly but surely the waters crep: along
The vermiu fed before them to the elevated
spot on which Maurice stood. Slowly follow
ing the incoming waters at length reached
bis feet
At the end of the cave. within few feet
of the wall, and underneath the aperture be-
fore spoken of. was large piece CT rock,
some four feet high. that might have fallen
from above To this Maurice FASTENED rs
quickly as bis manacles would permit. Af-
ter some exerton he succeeded 10 climbing
to the TOP of il, and stood erect, his head
wilhiu few inches of the roof of the cavern.
But be was not allowed to occupy this retreat
alone As the water began TO circle round
IFS base. the rats also sought refuge Oh it IN
great numbers, aud in vain did Maurice
try to disiodge them with his manacled
feet
Soon Gas it seemed to the csptive) the va
ter came rippling over the TOP Of the rock
lie felt its moisture upon his feet. And still
it rcse-slowly but releutlessly it rose. high
er-higher; aud as 1t rose, the rats climbed
up his limbs for safety. 1t was IN vain that
he brushed them off with his fettered hands.
Theyinstantiy returned. They ciammered
up his back-to his shoulders-over the back
of his ueck-to the crown or his head; their
clammy bodies stricking a chill to his veTy
heart.
And still higher the waters rose, and more
thickly the foul vernon clustered upon the
devoted captiye's shoulders and head, as their
only places of safety. Driven franr;c at last
by the horrors of his situation, he was about
to plunge Ento the surging tide and seek
watery grave, when bis attention was arrest
ed by the tread of rapid footsteps near the
aperture above his head, and the sound Of =
harsh masculine voice, almost instantly fol-
lowed by noise as of a s.-uggle, and
piercing Shrek which thrilled Maurice Les
ter to The very soul. He could no. be m ista-
ken; it was CARRIE's voice. Again be heard
it, but now in tones of entreaty. Oh, it .ros
her vnice. She was not dead She lived
aud was uear him, Gathering all his strength
he shouted; Carrie, Carrie CARRIE,'
A dead silence followed, broken only By
the fearful murmurs of the still rising wat r.,
ami the splash of the rats as they fell from the
VIZ etched csptive's head and shoulders, only
u return again. in their fierce struggles for
perch Of safety from the advauriug tide,
which had now nearly reached our bero's
shoulders.
The above is all # this story that vii be
published 10 our columns We give this as
u sample. The continuation OF It from where
It leaves of hero eau be found only 10 the
New York Ledger, the great family paper, to
which the most popular writer's iu the coun-
try contribute. and which Is for sale n all the
stores throughout the city and country, whele
papers are sold. Rememl e. and ask for the
New York Ledger of January II. and in j:
you will End the continuation of the story
from where j, leaves of here. IF you can
not get copy at any book store, the pub
Usher of the Ledger will mail you copy If
you send him five cents il a letter.
The ledger is mailed to subscribers at 81
a year. or two copies for S3. Address your
Letters to Robert Bonner. publisher, 4s Ann
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best family paper in the country, elegantly
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evidences we can give of its merits.
eF During the exciting times in this
country previous to ths declaration of the war
of -unfortunately for the British pa
tional horror a member of the Rhode Island
Legislature. Mr. Rhodes, bad quarrel with
United StIes Senator abcut Ro1. This
candidate was opp,s. to The war-he lost
his election by a single vote-Mr Rhodes