Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-04-07
.tbouohtf,lly .It Looks aA II man badneyer

thonghtfully. 'Tt looks as IL man hadneyer
before visited It,"
Sand no WONDER" returned Brydges,
"Since it's five miles of the route. What
could any man want here, unless he might
be in pursuit of buffaloes2" ~ 4
There being no answer to this question,
Hubert proceeded TO find an excellent graz
ing spot for his horse, ttthered him, and
flung himself on the ground in the shadow
OF the hill. The lieutenant and portion Of
the men followed his example.
Plenty OF low bushes were found dry
enongh to burn, and several fires were soon
kindled. The choicestportions Of the buffa-
loes were readily prepared for cooking, and
II WAS not long before the odor OF burning
flesh was difiused on the air; four or Ave
hungry soldiers serving as cooks.
II was a wild picnic scene on those lonely
wilds, and every man there enjoyed it with
rue gipsy zest.
Suddenly shout from one of the men who
Of the others.
''Hallo, boysl" he cried. "I'm blest IL here
isn't cave in the hill Come, see The hole
under these bushes. You never saw any
thing hidden neater in your lives" b. ~
Jones thinks nobody ever saw a caye be-
FORE" said one of the loungors. "FOr my
part, think moro Of something to eat, than
OF hole in the ground"
This sentiment was echoed by others, but
the inqusiive cave discoverer, nothing
daunted, approached the fire, took from it a
torch, returned to the butte, parted the
bushes, revealing dark aperture in the face
of the rock, and disappeared within it, his
light giving back yellew glare FOR a second
after he had ceased to be seen
The camp revelry went on, the cooking
progressed, the minutes passed, and Jones
did not reappear.
eff that fellow had found gold mine in
there he wouldn't call one of u.s." gr0wled
the Iounger who had before spoken. 81 Won
der what Jones has found. I'll jest tale a
look, as dinner isn't ready"
He arose azily, abstracted stick ofburn-
ing wood for o torch, proceeded to the cav.
ern entrance and disappeared from view.
"PrObably," :" said Hubert, "there's largo
cavern under that hill II VIC had time, It
might pay to explore IL. Under the present
circumstances, am like Brown, and prefer
my dinner TO scientific explorations"
The meal seemed to bo nearly ready, for
the rafting of tin cups and dishes began to
be heard; the lieutenant's small camp.chest
was unpacked, and the cooks shouted to tho
strollers to come to dinner.
Have Jones and Brown came back ?" ask
cd the lieutenant, as he rose to sitting po-
sition, and glanced towards the cavern.
The men replied in the negative.
"Go after them then, King and hurry them
up said the officer. "We must resume the
march after dinner, and cannot afford to
waste time here"
King, fine 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 ap
pCarance
"How singularl" calculated Bridges, tes-
tly and impatiently. "What can keep those
men King has been gone ten minutes. -
Here, Sergeant Halsey, hurry those men
up" ..
The sergeant, brown, strong man of mid
die age, hesitated, and ventured to stammer:
~ beg your pardon, Lieutenant, but
think there's something wrong inside the
cave. There's three men in there-all hungry
and knowiuy .h,t dinners roady. Surely
theya come back II they coaiu. PERHAPS
there's wild beasts, or some strange kind OF
gas that smothers 'om, Or"
Nonsense, sergeantl" interrupted the
lieutenant, frowning, u give you i've min
utes to bring those men back, Col"
The sergeant's lace paled, but, without
another word he took up torch and entered
the cave, disappearing from the gaze of his
friends.
The minutes passed, the lieutenant and
the men ate their dinner mechanically await
ing anxiously the expected return; yet none
Of the four came back.
The words of the sergeant had made a
deep impression on tho minds Of his hearers.
A general gloom fell upon the camp, and the
men cast frequent and fearful glances in the
direction of tue cavern. Even the lieuten-
ant and Hubert felt strange depression
creep over them, which neither could resist.
"What can be the matler2' at length de-
manded the 'ohicer. 'The sergeant 4 in
trouble, should judge, by this long alb
sence. There can't be gas in the cave, or il
so, he would probably have had time to cry
out. There can't be wild beasts, for those
four men were all well armed, aud 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. Eve
ry soldier was brave in al Indian fight, but
not one dared to lace mysterious and un-
known danger. No one wished to risk the
complete and total disappearance from earth
and human knowledge that had beiallen his
comrades. I'D.
''Whoever will venture in search of the
missing men shall receive from me hun
dred dollars in gold!" exclaimed Hubert, in
his clear, ringing tones. "Who speaks first
for the money!"
The offer was tempting; but it was not
accepted. Not word ofreply was made to
it.
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;
II will go in search OF tho men, Lieuten-
ant Brydges. Only, your party is now small,
and il / do not return In twenty minutes, you
may resume your journey"
"But, Earl, Oxpostulated 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 y
"They may need help" replied Hubert,
steadily. "Theymay have encountered well,
God knows what, can't imagine. II / fire
my rife, come to me. II / fail to return
within the time appointed, move onl"
He went up to the nearest fire, picked up
A blazing stick, arranged hisrihe for instant
uae, approached the mouth Of the cave,
peered into it cautiously, and listened in
tently for some sound Of life within.
No sound came. All was still as death
within the cavern.
The next instant Hubert had vanished
therein.
All WAS now DTbhtnlchh suhpeube.
Tho Lieutenant and hia men gathered
around to listen for the report of the rihe.-
The minutes passed, but It came not Five
minutes dragged by--ten- fifteen, and still
no sound reached their ears. They could seo
brief space into the cavern, by the hight of
their own torches, but nothing but rocky
walls and floor met their gaze.
Twenty minutes wore thus passed. The
time was up, and Hubert had not returned
, The men looked atIone another with palhd
faces. As If turned to stone, they stood an
awe-stricken group about tho ecavern's mouth,
until the minutes had more than made up an
hour and still they fingered, ItE
During this time they had cleared away tho
bushes from the mouth Of the cave. They
had tried again and again to peer into the
dark depths OF tho opening, but could not
The Lieutenant had called repeatedly to Hu-
bert butreceived no answer At length he
proposed to tic aropo around his waist and
descend into the sinister abyss, but his men
objected unanimously. ..
"What's tho use2" asked one. "There's
something here that no mortal man can con-
quer."
1--WE can't risk your life, Lieutenant said
another. Just think how few there are OF
ug'