Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-01-06

auently hit his ieet against what he thought,
with chill Oi horror. were human homes
strewn around the cavern, but he could not
clearly make them out IN tho din light. lie
aso noticed that tho bottom oi the cave was
very wet. As though u had recently been
covered with water. The wreckcr chieliain
stopped. ut last. near what seemed 'hc end
Of the cave. and making slgn to his lol-
lowers. they clapped manaclcs on the wrists
and ankles Of Maurice before he bad time
to note their intention.
\ Nov, Captain Lester" aid wolfgang,
=, YOU must remain in this place Tor short
season. You are nrrf,cfly safe herr-Silsncs'
Say not word II YOU attempt to leave
thi. spot. ynu will he slain the moment you
set 100, outside the cave.
/ Thus speaking. the ehieltain and hi. fol'
lower. silently but rapidly withdrew. leav.
ins Maurice nearly siupriiei with asioni-h.
ment. A. they passed frnm the mouth OF
the cave, their irvl were wet by tie risin.
waves. Tie hde rGs fad tomiag an.
AlIer short time. the captive looked
about him with eve. somsv hat accustomed
to the din light. ani became satisfied tina,
what he had supposed 60 he human bone'
were really such There were many OF
them. Aud moving among them we're huge
rats. ,rekine iu prey. The top 81 the cav.
crn. ia slmc placss.v hut n lew feet above
, his head, aud In one place he discovered a
small aperture, through which FAINT light
struggled. and on going underneath II, he
thought be -mclt the odOr Of vegetation and
growing a,Wers.
On Turning. from the contemplation OF
this aperture. towards the mouth of the
cave, Captain Lester observed, with alarm,
that tbs water Nas creeping up the slopng
hottom. What II u should GU the cavern
An nov be- could account tor the presence
there ol those human hunr- They we're
the sad memorial. uf other hapless PRISON.
ers who had hccn lCli IN that cave 10 Pri'h
~ drsrEmg'
Slowly bat surely the waters crepi along.
The ,ermin ilei before them 90 the elevated
spot on which M.urice stood. slowly iol-
lowing he incoming water a, length reach
ed his lee,
At tie end Or the cave, within Few feet
~ the wall. and underneath the aperture
before spoken II. va. large piece 81 rock,
some four ley, high. thu, might have fallen
irum above. 10 this Maurice fastened ~
quickly ~ his manaclc. would permit. AZ
ter some cxer,ion he succeeded IN climbing
to tie TOP Il H., and stood erect. his head
within a lev niche. at the rOOi ul the cav
ern. lidt ho was not allowed io occupy
this retreat alone. A. the water began %
circle rnund u. base, the rats also sought
refuge on Il IN great numbers. aud IN VAN
dii Maurice Try to di,lodss them With lie
manaolsd feet.
soon (a' u seemed 10 th" capuSe) the
water came tipplin: over tie top ct the
rock. H. ir,t ~, moisture Upon h,' ieot.
And .,ill d. ru.e-.luvly hut rrlsnll'''ly II
ruse. hichet-hieher and Ne n ruse, tho
rats climN,d up his limbs for safety. IL
w.. m vain that be- lrush,d them 81 with
hi. frtiercd hands. They Instantly return.
81. They cinmhrr-d OF hi. hack-'u lee.
.houlIer--o,sr the hack Of his ncck-,o
the srpvn Of no. head their clammy bod.
ie, striking a chill o. his Nery heart.
Aud It'll higher tie waters ru'c. and
more lhl,ky the foul ,crmin clustered up
on the devoted cspive'- shoulders and head
"a. their only place %: refuge. Driven i'an'
tic 1t l,.t hy tic horrors Ot his situation, he
was about % plunge iaio the 'urg'us tide
and SEX a watfry grave. when hi-niicniion
va. arrested rs the tread ui rapid inni-
steps near the aperture alo'c his head,
aud tho sound II q hash masculine voice.
almost instantly flluw,d ~ = noise a. OF a
struggle. aud piercing shrek which thru.
lei Maurcc Letter o. the very soul lie
could not De mistaken u Was CAHEiG =
voice. Again De heard lt hut now IN tones
at ,utrraty. 90. d, ua' her voice. She
VI. not dead Size lived and was near
him Gathering AL hl, strength be shout
81. " Carlo Carrie C,Eur ~
4 dead silence followed. broken only by
the f.arIul murmurs ct the It'll risinG va.
ter, and tbc ,pl,sh 81 the rats 10 they fell
irrm the Wrrtcuci captive. head ana shoul.
iyr.. uuly O. rytutn again. m their hsree
struggles iur u p-rrh of .iiriy from tho adj
uuying tide. which h,d now n'arly reach.
cd uur her,. sh1uiiefs
The aii,c i. al 90; tie story that will he
puhlIsh,d m our coluun.. We give Thu.
a. sample rhs continuation oi u from
where o., l,a,.. III here can be- found only
IN tie New York Ledger. the great family
PAPER, % when the most InPu"I NI'''''
~ The country cOntrihUtr. and which u Tor
s,lc ~ AL tic stores throughout the city
aud country, where pap@r' are sn'd. Re-
member aud ask lur iro New York Ledger
Of january ~. and IN u YOU will find The
continuation of the story from where II
leave. "a here. II YOU cannot get copy
at any book siorr. tie puhli'hcr Of tie
Ledger will mail you u copy II you will
.end him Eve cents in a letter.
The L.dger !, maie,i 90 Subscribers at 81
a wear. or two cop,e. Tor 50. address your
lrtters o. Rphert Bonner. ruhl,sucr. Is Ann
street. New York. IL u the abandonment
aud b,.t family paper in the country. els-
gantly illustrated. and characterized 10y a
high moral tone. IL. present. circulation IL
over four hundred thousand copies, which -
the beet evidence We can give Of Us merits.