The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-25

pay 70 explore IL. Under the present circums
Stances, 1 am like Brown. and prefer my dinner to
The meal seemed % be nearly ready, for the
rafting OF tin cups and dishes began to be
heard the lieutensnt's small camp chest was IN.
packed, and the cooks shouted to the strollers 10
/" Have Jones and Brown came bsck,n asked
the lieutenant, ss be Rose to sitting position. and
glanced towards the cavern. u. $3.50 -.
The men replied 10 The negative. s,-r.
go after them then. King, and hurry them
after dinner, and csanot afford to waste tine
here" .
King, q fine young soldier, took torch, and
entered the cavn.
and roass-tbe coffee measured, and the meal
commenced, but none OF the men who had en-
tered the cave made their appearance
How singular! y calculated Bridges. testify
and impatestly. "What can keep those men,
King has been gone ten minutes. Here, Sergeant
Hslsey, hurry those men mp
/ The sergeant, brown, strong man Of middle
age, hesitated. and vehtured to stammer;
81 beg your pardon, lieutenant, but 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 II they
could. Perhaps there's wild beasts or some strange
kind Of gas that smothers 'em, or"
Nonsense, serge :" interrupted the lieuten-
~~-~~~~~ - 80
those men back. Go! /"
I The sergeant's face psled, but without another
word he took up storch aud entered the cave, dis
appearing from the gaze OF his friends. f-.r
The lieutenant and the men ate their dinner me-
chemically. awaiting anxiously the expected re-
turn, yet none of the four came back.
I The words of the sergeant made deep impress
sion on the minds of bis hearers. A general gloom
fell upon the camp, and the men cast frequent and
fearful glances IN the direction Of the cavern.
Even rne ncutcusnt sud Hubcrt felt strange do
preston creeping over them, which neither could
resist. trrrr-t lfs.g f-f ...u ~ ...... M
"Whst can be the matter ~ atlepgth demanded
the officer. THE sergeant's in trouble, l should
judge, by this long absence. There can't be gas
in the cave, or II 50, he would probably have had
time 10 cry out. There can't be wild beasts, for
those -four men were all well armed, and woaid at
least have fred. Which Of all you men will go
into the cave and learn what the matter Is ?"
There was general shrinking back. Every
soldier was brave In en- Indian fight, but nos one
dared to face mysterious and unknown danger.
Not one wished TO risk the complete and total dis
appearance from earth and human knowledge that
had befallen his comrades.
whoever will venture in search OF the missing
men shall receive from me hundred dollars in
gold !" exclaimed Hubert, In his clear, ringing
tonee. "Who speaks first for the money! D
The offer was tempting but twas not accepted.
Not word OF reply was made to 1t.
Miriam, his loved ana waiting Miriam His face
then glowed with heroic light, and he said, in
tones that did not fater:
:" will go in search of the men. Lieutenant
Bridges. Only, your party is now small. and II
DO not return in twenty minutes, you may re-
tume your journey"
But Earle.n expossulated the lieutenant.
" this is positive madness. You must not risk
your life. We will wait while. and il the men
do not return. we will move on ~
They may need help" replied Hubert stead
by. They may have encountered-well, God
knows what, can't imagine. II fire my rifle,
come to me. II fail to return within the time
appointed, move on J" 49,. -i..fl
He went up to the nearest fire, picked up a
blazing stick, arranged his rifle for instant use,
approached the mouth of the cave, peered into it
cautiously, and listened inientiy for some sound
Of life within.
No sound Games All was as still as death within
The next instant Hubert had vanished therein.
All was now breathless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gathered 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 q brief space into the
cavern, by the light Of their own torches, but
nothing but rocky walls and floor met their
gaze Eill sl.Tarenef 90 900
Twenty minutes were thus passed. The time
was up, and Hubert had not returned.
The men looked at one another with palid
faces. As II turned to stone, they stood an ave-
stricken group about the cavern's mouth. untl
the minutes had more than made up an hour
and still they fingered. Irnf E u
During this time they had cleared away the
bushes from the mouth Of the cave. Thew had
tried again and sgsin 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 10 tie rope
around his waist and descend into the sinister
abyss. but his men objected unanimously.
Whats the use y asked one. There's
something here that no mortal man can con-
quer." a M -t I'M.
We can't risk your life, lieutenant" said
another. Just think how few there are OF us.n
The time continued TO drag on. lr u f.anrs
At last, when two full hours had passed, Lieut..
Bridges staggered to bis feet, and said
This Is horrible-terribe beyond expressiont
We have lost four of our comrades and this noble
young stranger. whom loved as brother. This
fearful cave must hold the secret of their fate,
be IL what II may. Let rs go.n L8h ~
Without a word, but with white faces-in sort
Of mute terror, the men mounted their horses and
resumed their journey. The above is all Of this
story that will be published In our columns. The
continuation OF 1t from where IL leaves of here can
be found only IN the New York Ledger which il
Ask for the number dated April 10, 1862 and In
tale. The Ledger is mailed TO subscribers at three
dollars q year. The publication of Rev. Dr.
Tyng's great story, which has been written ex-
pressly for the Ledger, is just commenced in the
Ledger, 30 that our readers will get the whole of
the two stories In il. The Ledger has the best
stories OF any paper In the world; and Henry
Ward Beecher, James Parton and Fanny Fern,
have articles 10 every number.