The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-03-25
cooks ,bouted to the strollers to come to

| "HaYe Jones anu DIOHu SOlno OaOn
asked the lieutenant, as he rose to a
sitting position, and glanced towards
the ca Tern.
The men replied in the negative.
$50 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 q
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!
Chow singularp calculated Bridges,
testify aud impatiently. "What can
keep those meni King has been gone
ten minutes. Here, Sergeant Halsey,
hurry those men upp
The sergeant, brown, strong man OF
middle age, hesitated, and ventnred TO
stammer:
/ II beg your pardon, Lieutenant, but l
think there's something wrong inside
the cave. There's three men in there
all hungry and knswing that dinners
ready. Surely they'd como back if they
could Perhaps there's wild beasts or
some strange kind of gas that smotherS
'em, or"
Nonsense, Sergeant p interrupted
the lieutenant, frowning 81 give you
FIVE minutes to bring those men back.
! Cop
The sergeant's face paled, but, with
out another word, he took up q torch
and entered the cave, disappearing from
the gaze of his friends.
The minutes passed, the lieutenant
and the men ate their dinner mechani
cally, awaiting anxiously the expected
return; yet none of the four came back.
The words of the sergeant had made a
deep impression on the minds of his
hearers. A Ageneral gloom fell upon the
camp, and the men cast frequent and
fearful glances in the direction of the
cavern. Even the lieutenant and HUI
bert felt a strange depression creeping
over them, which neither could resist.
What can be the matterp at length
demanded the officer. "The sergeant's
in trouble, should judge, by this long
absence. 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
armed, and would at least have fired,
Which of all you men will go into the
cave and learn what the matter isW
There was a general shrinking back.
Every soldier was brave in an Indian
fight, but not one dared to face mys-
terious and unknown danger. Not one
wished to risk the complete and to-
tai disappearance from earth and hu
man knowledge that had befallen his
comrades.
Whoever will venture in search of
the missing men shall receive from me
hundred dollars in goldp exclaimed
Hubert, in his clear, ringing tones.
"Whs speaks first for the moneyp
The offer was tempting; but it was
not accepted. Not a word of reply was
made to it..
Hubert hesitated, giving a brief
thought to Miriam, his loved and wait
ing Miriam! His face then glowed with
heroic light, and he said, in tones that
did not falter:
tenant Brydges. Only, your party is
now small, and if | DO not return in
twenty minutes, you may resume your
Journey"
"But, Earle" expostulated the lieu.
tenant, "this is positive madness. You
must not risk your life. We will wait
a while, and if the men do not return,
we will move onW
I'They may need help" replied HUI
bert, steadily. "They may have en-
countered-w God knows what, /
can't imagine. If l fire my rifle, come
to me. If fail to return within the
time appointed, move onw
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
listened intently for some sound of life
within.
No sound came. All was still as death
within the cavern.
The next instant Hubert had vanish
ed therein.
All was now breathless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gathered
around to listen for the report of the
rifle. The minute passed, but it came
not. Five minutes 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 men looked at one another with
Aa f,,r 70 or
stood an awe.stricken group about the
cavern's mouth, until the minutes had
more than made up an hOur-and still
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 open
ing, but could not. The lieutenant had
called repeatedly TO Hubert, but re-
ceived no answer At length he pro-
posed to tie rope around his waist and
descend into the sinister abyss, but his
men objected unanimously.
whats the useW asked one. There's
something here that no mortal man can
conquer"
"We can't risk your life, lieutenant"
Sdlu duObhCl' buob Nv" ~"
there are of u.s."
The time continued to drag on.
At last, when two full hours had pass
ed, Lieutenant Brydges staggered 20 his
feet, and said:
"This is horrible-terrible beyond ex-
preston We have lost four of our
comrades and this noble young stranger,
whom | loved as a brother. This fear
full cave must hold the secret of their
fate, be it what it may. Let us CO.
Without word, but with white faces
in a 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 it from where 1t
leaves off here can be found only in the
New York Ledger, 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 mail
ed to subscribers at three dollars year
The publication of Rev. DR.. Tyng's
great story, which has been written ex-
pressly for the Ledger, is just COM
menced in the Ledger, so that our read
/ - -. ;ll r.at tba 1vhnla Of thaSa two stO-