The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-04-01
The sergeant, n brown stronr m a

I'VE minutes TO DrlDS bnOSe men
back. Cor
The sergeant's face paled, but,
without another word, he took up q
torch and entered !he cave, disap-
peared from the gaze of his friends.
The minutes passed, the lieute ant
and the men ate their dinner mechan.
ically, awaiting anxiously the expec-
ted return; yet none of the four came
back.
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
direction Of the cavern. Even the
lieutenant and Hubert felt q strange
depression creeping over them, which
neither could resist.
what can ethe matterY at length
demanded the officer. THE serg't is
in trouble, 1 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 beasts, for those four
men were all we'll armed, and would
at least have fred. Which of all
you men will go into the cave and
learn what the matter Isl?
There was a general shrinking
back. Every soldier was brave in an
Indian fight, but not one dared to
face mysterious and unknown dan
ger. Not one wished to risk the
complete and total disappearance
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!' ex.
claimed Hubert, 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 q briei
thought to Miriam, his loved and
waiting Miriam His face thon
glowcd with a hereoic light, and he
said, in tones that did not falter:
4 will 90 in search of the men,
Lieutenant Bridges. 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 on!'
They may need help replied HUI.
bert, steadily. They may have en-
countercd-wcll, God knows what, l
! cant imagine. fl fire my rife,
come to me. II fail to return with
in the time appointed, move on!'
He went up to the nearest fire,
picked up a blazing stick, arranged
his rifle tor 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 as still
as death within the cavern.
Tho next instant Hubert had van
ished therein.
All was now breathless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gath-
cred around to listen for the report
of the rife. The minutes passed,
but it came not. Five minutes drag.
ged by--ten-6fteen, and still no
sound reached their ears. They
could see a brief space into the cav
ern, by the light Of their own torch
es, but nothing but rocky walls and
floor, met their gaze.
Twenty minutes thus passed. The
time was up and Hubert had not re.
turned.
The men looked at one another
with pallid faces. As if turned to
stone, they stood an awc-stricken
group about the cavern's mouth, I'M
til 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 opening, but could not The lieu.
tenant had called repeatedly to HUI.
bert, but received no ans wer. AT
length he proposed to tie rope
around his waist and descend into
the sinister abyss, but his men OBJ
jected unanimously.
What's the use p asked one.-
There's something here that TO NOR.
tai man can conquer
We can't risk your life, lieuten.
ant, said another. Just think hew
fewthere are of u.s.
The time continued to drag on.
This is horrible-terrble beyond
expression! We have lost four OF
ourlcomrudes and this noble young
stranger, whom l loved as brother.
This fearful cave must hold the Sc
cret of their fate, be it what it may.
Let us CO.
Without q word, but with white
faces-in sort of mute terror, the
men mounted their horses and re-
sumed their journey. The above is
all of this story that will be publish
ed in our columns. The continue
ton OF it from where it leaves off
here can only be found 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 con-
tinuation Of this beautiful tale. 1.-THE
Ledger is mailed to subscribers at So
ayear. The publication of Rev. DIR.
Tyng's great story, which has been
written expressly for the Ledger,
is just commenced in the Ledger,
so that orr readers will get the
whole of those two stories in in it.
The Ledger has the best stories of
any paper in the world; and Henry
Ward Beecher, James Partan and
Fanny Fern, have articles in every
number.
Blank Deeds, Mortgages, and JUS
tees Blanks Of every description,
kept constantly on hand, and for sale
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