The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-03-26

hem up" said the officer. We
must resume the march after dinner,
and cannot afford TO waste time here"
King, a fine young soldier, took a
torch, and catered the cave.
The dinuer was dealt out - hot
5avory steaks and roasts-the coffee
and the meal commenced,
but none of the men who had entered
the cave made their appearance
How singular f" calculated
Bridges, testify and impatiently.
$ What can keep those men? King
has been gone ten minutes. Here,
Sergeant Halsey, hurry those men
up"
The sergeant, a brown, strong man
of middle age, hesitated, and ventured |
to stammer:
81 beg your pardon, Lieutenant,
but I think there's something wrong |
inside the cave. There's three men |
in there all hungry and knowing |
that dinners ready. Surely they'd |
come back if they could. Perhaps
there's wild beasts, or some strange
kind of gas that smothers 'em, or"
Nonsense, Sergeant interrupted
the lieutenant, froWning. give
IO0 AhC AAAAh 0AI1 W OAAn5 NAAOcO AnEu
back. Go! "
The seIgeant's face paled, but,
without another word, he took up a
torch and entered the cave, disap-
pearing from the gaze of his friends.
The minutes passed, the lieutenant
and the men ate their dinner mechan-
ically, awaiting anxiously the expect
ed return yet none of the four came
back.
The words Of the sergeant had
made q deep impression on the minds
Of his hearers. A general gloom fell
upon the camp; and the men east fire.
quent and fearful glances in the
direction of the cavern. Even the
lieutenant and Hubert felt strange
depression creeping over them. which
neither could resist.
What can be the mattcr?" at
length demanded the officer. The
Sergeant's in trouble, [ should judge,
by this long absence. There can't be
gas In the cave, or if SO, he would
probably have time to cry out. There
can't be wild beasts, for those four
men were all we'll armed, and would
at least have fired. Which of all you
men will go into the cave and learn
what the matter Is
There was a general shrinking back.
Every soldier was brave in an Indian
| fight, but not one dared to face a
mysterious and unknown danger. Not
one wished to risk the complete and
| total disappearance from earth and
| human knowledge that had befallen
his comrades.
Whoever will venture in search
| Of the missing men shall receive from
me a hundred dollars in gold" ex-
| claimed Hubert, in his clear, ringing
tones. Who speaks first fer the
money!"
The offer was tempting; but it was
not accepted. Not word of reply
was made TO it.
Hubert hesitated, giving a brief
thought to Miriam, his loved and
waiting Miriam His face then glow
ed with a heroic light, and he said, in
tones that did not falter:
= / will go in search of the men,
Lieutenant Bridges. Only your par
ty is now so small, and if do not re-
turn in twenty minutes, you may re-
sumo your journey.
But, Earle" expostulated the
Lieutenant, this is positive mad
ness. You must not risk your life.
We will wait a while, and If the men
do not return, we will move on"
They may need help" replied
Hubert, steadily. "They may have
encountered-well, God knows what,
can't imagine. If | fire my rifle.
come to me. IF l fail to return with
in the time appointed, move Onl'
He went up to the nearest fire,
picked up a blazing stick, arranged
his rifle for instant use, approached
the mouth of the cave, peeped into it
cautiously. and listened intently for
some sound of life within.
No sound came. All was as still as
death within the cavern.
The next instant Hubert had van
ished therein.
All was now breathless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gather
ed around to listen for the report of
the rife. The minutes passed, but
it came not. Five minutes dragged
! by-ten-ffteen, and still no sound
reached their ears. They could see a
| brief space into the cavern, by the
light Of their own torches, but nothing
| but rocky walls and floor met their
gaze.
Twenty minutes were thus passed.
The time was up, and Hubert had not
returned.
The men looked at one another
with pallid faces. As If turned to
stone, they stood an awe-stricken
! group about the caVern's mouth, IN
! til the minutes had more than made
up an hour-and still they fingered,
During this time they had cleared
away the bushes from the mouth of
! the cave. They had tried again and
/ again to peer into the dark depths of
| the opening, but could not. The
/ Lieutenant had called repeatedly to
| Hubert, but received no answer. At
/ length he proposed TO tie a rope
around his waist and descend into
| the sinister abyss, but his men OBJ
| jected unanimously.
=" What's the use?' asked one.
There's something here that no
mortal man can conquer"
We can't risk your life, lieuten-
ant, said another. Just think how
few there are Of US.
The time continued to drag on.
At last, when two full hours had
passed. Lieut. Bridges staggered to
his feet, and said:
This is horFible-terrible beyond
expressionl We have lost four of our
comrades and this noble young stran-
ger, whom | loved as a brother. This
fearful cave must hold the secret of
their fate, be it what it may. Let us
GO"
Without a word. but with white
faces-in a sort Of mute terror, the
men mounted their horses and re-
sumed their journey. The above is
all Of this story that will be published
in our columns. The continuation
of II from whore If laauns off hnro cor,