The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-03-25

chances 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 matter?" at length
demanded the officer 1.-THE sergeants in
trouble, I should judge, by this long alb
sence There can't be gas in the cave, or
if so, he would probably have had 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 myster-
ious and unknown danger. Not one wish
ed to risk the complete and total disap.
pearance from earth and human knowl~
edge that had befallen his comrades.
Whoever will venture in search of
the missing men shall receive from me q
hundred dollars in gold!'' exclaimed HUI
bert, in his clear, ringing tones "Who
speaks first for 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 beloved and waiting Mir.
lam His face then glowed with heroic
| light, and he said, in tones that'did not
| falter:
II will go in search of the men, Lieu
tenant Bridges. Only, your party is now
small, and it do not return in twenty
minutes, you may resume your journey"
but, Earle" expostulated the lieuten-
ant, "this is positive madness. You must
not risk your life. We will wait while
and if the men do not return, we will
move on p
"They may need help" replied Hubert.
steadily. "They may have encountered
WE'LL God knows what, / can't imagine.
If fire my rife, come to me. If fail
to return within the time appointed move
on Z"
He went up to the nearest fire, picked
up blazing stick, arranged his rifle for
instant use, approached the mouth of the
cave, peered into it cautiously, and listen
ed intently for some sound of life with
in au
No sound came All was still as death
within the cavern.
The next instant Hubert had vanished
therein. h
| All was now breathless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gathered
around to listen for the report of the rifle.
The minutes passed, but it camenot. Five
minutes dragged by-ten-fifteen, and
still no sound reached their ears. They
could see brief space in to 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 return
| ed
| 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, until the minutes had
more than made ZIP an hour-and stilb
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 an
swer. At length he proposed to tie rope.
around his waist and descend into the
sinister abyss, but his men objected unan--
imously.
whats the use 2" asked one. There's
something here that no mortal man can
conquer"
1--WE can't risk your life, lieutenant
said another. Just think how few there
are of us"
The time continued to drag on.
At last, when two full hours had passed
Lieutenant Bridges staggered to his feet,
and said m
"This is horrible terrible beyond ex-
preston We have lost four of our COM
rades and this noble young stranger, whom
| loved as brother. This fearful cave
must hold the secret of their fate, be it
what it may. Let US CO."
Without 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 continual
ton of it from where it leaves OF here
can be found only in the New York Led
ger, which is for sale at all the bookstores
and news depots. Ask for the number
dated April 10, 1869, and in it you Will
find the continuation of this beautiful
tale. The Ledger is mailed to subscribers
at three dollars year. The publication
of Rev. DR.. Tyng's great story, which has
been written expressly for the Ledger, is
inst commenced in the Ledger, So that our
readers will get the whole OF these two
stories in it. The Ledger has the best
stories of any paper in the world: and
Henry Ward Beecher, James Parton and
Fanny Fern, have articles in every num-
ber