The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-24

abundance -'' ''0"A' "-A Ao"ssS ~
While this order was being carried into effect,
Hubert and several others were engaged in
! surveying the scene.
thoughtfuLly. "It looks as if man had never
before visited it' '-''>' WV
"And 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 buffaloes."
There being no answer to this question, H1-
bert proceeded to find an excellent grazing
spot Tor his horse, tethered him, and flung him.
self on the ground in the shadow of the hill.
| The lieutenant and q portion of the men fol-
lowed his example.
Plenty OF low bushes we're found dry enough
to burn, and several fires were soon kindIed.
The choicest portions of the buffaloes we're
readily prepared for cooking and it was not
long before the odor OF burning flesh was diR-
fused on the air; four or five hungry soldiers
serving as cooks. >Fs
II was wild picnic scene on those lonely
wilds, and every man there enjoyed it with true
gypsy zest.
suddenly shout from one Of the men who
was stroling around, arrested the attention Of
some OF the others.
"Hallo, boysl" he cried. "I'm blest if here
isn't a.eave in the hill Come, see the hole
under these bushes. You never saw anything
hidden neater In youl lives"
Jones thinks nobody ever saw cave be-
fore, said one of the loungers. 'For my part,
! think more Of something to eat than Of q hole
This sentiment was echoed by the others
but the inquisitive cave discoverer. nothing
daunted, approached the fire, took from it q
torch. returned to the butte parted the bushes,
rock, and disappeared within it. his light Civ
ing back q yellow glare for a second after he
had ceased to be seen.
The camp revelry went on, the cooking pro-
crossed. the minutes passed. and Jones did not
'If that fellow had found gold mine in
there he wouldn't call one Of u.s." growled the
lounger who had before spoken. II wonder
dinner isn't ready"
He arose lazily, abstracted stick Of burn
ing wood for torch, proceeded to the cavern
and dsagpearea sagp from yiew
cavern under that hill. II We had time, it
might pay to explore it Under the present
circumstances. am like Brown, and prefer my
dinner to scientific explorations"
rattling of tin cups and dishes began to be
heard; the lieutenant's small camp. chest was
unpacked, and the cook shouted to the strollers
to come to dinner.
the lieutenant, as he rose to q sitting position,
and glanced towards the cavern.
The men replied in the negative.
"Go after them then, King, and hurry them
march after dinner, and cannot afford to waste
time here"
King, fine young soldier, took a torch, and
and roasts- the coffee measured, and the meal
commenced, but nOne Of the men who had en-
tered the cave made their appearance.
How S}soulated Brydses testily
King has been gone ten minutes. Here Ser
geant Halsey, hurry those mon upl"
>, Inc sergeant. brown, strong man of mid
die age, hesitated, and yentured to stammer:
there's something wrong inside the oayo. 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. sergeanti" interrupted the lieu
tenant. frowning. II give you five m inutes to
bring those men back. Col"
ther word, he took up torch and entered the
cave. disappearing from the gaze OF his friends.
The minutes passed, the lieutenant an the
men ate their dinner mechanically, awaiting
anxlousiy the expected return; yet none of the
four came back. GfIH
The words Of the sergeant had made deep
impression on the minds Of his hearers a
general gloom fell upon the camp, and the men
cast frequent and fearful glances in the direc-
ton of Che cavern. Even the lieutenant and
over them, which neither could resist, . e.
"What can be the matter2 2" at length de-
manded toe ofdoer.s "The sergeant's in trou-
Re h1a ss JUDGE Dy h this long ipsenos
would probably have had time to cry out.
There can't be wild beasts. for those four men
were all well armed, and would at least have
fred: Which Of all you men will go into the
cave and learn what the matter is ?". 4l
There was general shrinking back Every
soldier was brave in an Indian fight but not
one dared to face mysterious and unknown
danger. Not one wished to risk the complete
n a a ON0Y YNnn Fprv ls~
man knowledge that had befallen his COM
rades. b. "
'sWhoever will venture in search Of the miss
ing men shall receive from me hundred dol
ringing tones. "Who speaks first for the
money ~ -,gg .vs.,.t.rsa &'a.
The offer was tempting; but it was not ac-
cepteH. Not o word of reply was made to it.
Miriam, his loved and waiting Miriam His
face then glowed with heroic light and he
said, in tones that did not falter:
II will 60 in nsearch of the men, Lieutenant
i'll do not return in twenty minutes, you may
resume your Journey ga NEa
J "But. Earle" expostulated the lieutenant,
''this is posltivs madness. York must not risk
your life. We will wait awhile, ,sand If the men
do not return, we will move onl"
'sThey may need help" replied Hubert,
steadily. ssIhey may have encountered well,
aod &c knows what, cant imagine. r. fire my;
time appointed, move on l" g7,I3
He went up to the,nsarest fire., picked up O.
blazing stick, arranged his rifle for instant use,
approached the mouth of the cave, peered into
it cautiously, and listehed intenty for some
sound Of life within. '.
No sound came. All was as still as death
within the. cavern. ,s5 III, EI}I
/. The nextinstant Hubert had vanished ths1e-
in. 9t. ass. sgs.. ts s3.tgt{5.s s,st. ss,.;iSlS@
All was now breathless suspense. i.
T. The lieutenant and his men Yathel ed around
to isten for the report OF the rife. Three
minutes passed, but ii came not. Five min
utes dragged by-ten- fifteen, and still no
sound reached their ears. They could see
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 mon looked at one another with pallid
awe.stricken group about the cavern's mouth,
until the minutes had more than made tlp an