The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-04-09
Probably, said Hub,rt there's a large

lut Unedl sceIleu 10 DC HthIy iVous Z,
for the rafting of tin cups and dishes be,
gan to be heard: the lleutenants small
camp-chest was unpacked, and the cooks
shouted TO the strollers to come TO Din
ner.
Have Jones and Brown come back?
asked the lieutenant, as he rose TO SIT
ting posture, and glanced at the cave.
The men replied In the negative.
Go after them, King, and hurry them mp
said the officer. We must resume the
march after dinner, and cannot afford to
waste time here.
King, young soldier, took torch, and
entered the cave.
The dinner was dealt out-hot savory
steaks and roasts-the coffee measured
and the meal commenced, but none of the
men who had entered the cave, made their
appearance.
How singular, calculated Bridges, tes-
tily and impatiently. What can keep
those men? King has been gone ten min
utes. Here Sergeant Halsey, hurry those
men up.
The sergeant, brown, strong man OF
middle age, hesltated, and ventured to
stammer:
| beg your pardon, lieutenant, but |
think there's something wrong inside the
cave. There's three men inside there
all hungry and knowing that dinner Is
ready. Surely they'd come back If they
could. Perhaps there's wild beasts, or
some kind of gas that smothers 'em,
or
Nonsense. Sergeant, interrupted the
Lieutenant, frowning. i give you five
minutes 10 bring them back. Go.
The sergeant's face paled, but, without
another word. he took up torch and en-
tered the cave, disappearing from the
gaze of his friends.
The minutes passed, the lieutenant and
the men ate their dinner mechanically,
awaiting anxiously the expected return !;
vet none of the four came back.
The words of the sergeant had made q
deep impression on the minds of his hear
ers. Ageneral gloom fell upon the camp
and the men cast frequent and fearful
chances In the direction of the cavern.
Even the lieutenant and Hubert felt a
strange depression creeping over them,
which neither could resist.
What can be the matter? ut length de-
manded the officer. THE sergeant's In
trouble / should Judge, by this long alb
sence. There can't be no gas I'm the cave,
or IL so, he would probably have had time
10 cry out. There can't be wild beasts,
for those four men were all well 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 u general shrinking back.
Every soldier was brave In an Indian
fight. but not one dared to face n mystcri-
Ons and unknown danger. Not one wish
cd To risk the complete and total disap-
pcarance from earth and human knowl-
cdgc that had befallen his comrades.
Whoever will venture In search of the
missing men shall receive from me hun
tred dollars in gold" exclaimed Hubert,
in his clear, ringing tones. Who speaks
first for the money!
The offer was tempting; but 1t was not
accepted. Not word of reply was made
to il.
Hubert hesitated, giving brief thought
to Miriam, his loved and waiting Miriam
His face then glowed with heroic light,
and he said, in tones that did not falter:
will 30 in search Of the men, Lieuten-
ant Bridges. Only, your party Is now
small, and IL l do not return In twen-
~ minutes, you may resume your jour
ney.
But, Earle, expostulatcd the lieutenant.
this Is positive madness. You must not
risk your life. We will wait while, and
If the men do not return, we will move
onl
They may need help. replied Hubert.
steadily. They may have encountered
well. God knows what, can't imagine.
III fire my rifle. come TO me. II fau to
return within the time appointed, move
on!
He went up to the nearest fire. picked
up blazing stick, arranged his rifle tor
instant use, approached the mouth OF the
cave. peered into Ii cautiously, and listen
ed intently for some sound Of life with
In.
No sound came. All was rs still as
death within the cavern. i,
The next instant Hubert had vanished
therein.
All was now breathless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gathered
around 10 listen for the report OF his rine.
The minutes passed, but came 1t not.
Five minutes dragged by-ten-Hfteen,
and still no sound reached their ears.
They could see brief space into the cav.
ern. 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 re-
turned.
The men looked Mt one another with pal
lid faces. AS IL turned to stone, they
stood an awcstricken group about the cav
ern's mouth. until the moments had more
than made up an hour-and still they lin
gercd.
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 re-
peatedly TO Hubert, but received no all
swer. At length he proposed 10 tie arope
around his waist. and descend into the
sinister abyss, but his men objected unan-
imOusly.
What's the use? asked one. There's
something here that no mortal man can
conquer.
We can't risk your life, lieutenant, said
another. Just think how few there are
ofus.
The time continued to drag on.
At last, when two full hours had pass
cd, Lieutenant Bridges staggered to his
feet, and said:
This Is Notwithstanding beyond express
sion! We have lost four of our comrades.
and this noble young stranger. whom
loved rs n brother. This fearful cave
must hold 4 secret of their fate, be 1t what
Il may. Let us go.
Without n word, but with white faces
In sort of mute terror, the men mount
ed their horses and resumed their journey.
The above Is all of this story that will be
published i'm our columns. The continue
ton of il from Where II leaves oil here,
can be found only In the New York Ledg.
err. which Is for sale ut all bookstores and
news depots. Ask for the number dated
April 10. 1869, and In 1t YOU can find the
continuation of this beautiful tale. The
Ledger Is mailed TO subscribers ut three
dollars year. The publication OF Rev.
DR.. Tyng's great story, which has been
written expressly for the Ledger, Is just
commenced in the Ledger, so that our
readers will get the whole OF these two
stories in Il. The Ledger has the best
s,nries nj any nappr I'm the world; and