The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-10
4 STRANGE ADVENTURE.
- BY WALTER BYRNE.
[CoNCLUDED.1 |

CONCLUDED.
The hole into which I had crept
was somewhat in the simiitule of a
cavern, for it increased in.size as it
penetrated the rock. For half an
nour, however, I let this pass unob-
served, being entirely engrossed with
the grandeur of the storm. I never
saw snch Lightning or heard such
thunder before or since. The solid
adamant under me shook tremblingly;
the entire sea appeared covered with
blue flame, and can give no better
idea of the rain than by saying that
it literally roared on the rocks and the
Seaweed.
AS near as I can calculate, at the
expiration of the above time blind
ing flash drove me backwards, and
some minutes elapsed ere I recovered
my sight. When I did, I sat down
on boulder, and with feeling of
awe mingled with deep vexation
looked round the place which there
was every reason to think) might be
my habitation for the night. AS nv
eye began to penetrate its gloom, a
new sensation rose in my breast-one
OF interest, which rapidly gave place
to curiosity. AS I have stated, the
place grew larger as it penetrated the
rock, so that at about eight feet from
the entrance I could stand upright.
AS far as I could see anything, the
height appeared to have reached
about twenty feet. There, however,
the darkness became impenetrable,
and how far the cave extended was
left to conjecture Certain fissures in
the walls, too methodical to be
natural, next attracted my attention; !;
and I fairly started to my feet on
seeing what appeared to be ring
bolt, yellow with rust, imbedded in
the roof above me. That the place
had once been used for some purpose
or another I felt sure, and this con-
viction was strengthened by discover
ing, from evident tool marks, that
the orifice through which I had en-
tered was the work of man.
My whole nature was now excited.
Where was I? In some old hole
known to every clown in Shingletown?
or had [ made r discovery? What if
[ had found a hidden cave? perhaps
smuggler's haunt of old times? a
storehouse for treasure? magazine
of costly stpffs-real cognac, vintage
Is, chests of dollars and Spanish
doubloons, rolls of the Virginian
leaf Peugh [ fairly sank down, my
pulse beating ninety to the minute,
and wiped the perspiration from my
brow. L was Ill terrible state. With
unabated fierceness the storm roared
outside. My watch told me it was
nearly nine, and my conscience that
Mrs. T. would be locking anxiously
from the door of the Jolly Trawlers.
What was that to me now? Oh, for
a light Bitterly did I regret not
being smoker. Eagerly did search
the floor for flint, a piece of rotten
wood-anything from which fame
might be drawn In vain. I would
have to wait till tomorrow. To-mor-
row? How many people might find
it out by tomorrow?
With a heavy heart 1 was thinking
of casting myself down for the night,
when it struck me that the light in
the cave had increased; and fixing
my eye steadily on the black distance,
1 was conscious of faint glow in it's
centre. To this I Immediately ad-
vanced, cropping through, for all
around was blank darkness. The
light was no Will-o'-the-wisp, at all
events, for the nearer I got the larger
and brighter it became. At last I
saw what it was. 1t was no daylight;
it was the glare of a flame shed on
the ground through an aperture in
the wall. I stood still Perhaps few
who glance over this page would not
have done the same
I will not describe here the conflict
of my mind during the half hour that
ensued.s Several times I was on the
point of silently retracing my steps;
as often went forward. During all
this time the light burned steadily
and brightly; but the stiffness of the
grave was there. My intent even
to pain-caught nothing but the
beating of my own heart. At length
/ | made convulsive step forwards.
Would to Heaven I had not! for no
sooner did the dreadful scene open
upon me than felt powerless to
speak, move hand or fooS, almost to
breathe. The light came from a
large quaint horn lantern, suspended
from the roof of cavern, to which
the one I had just traversed was a
mora 1,ocSono Tn tho