Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-24

!, | kindled. The choicest portions OF th
8 buffaloes were readily prepared for cook
ing, and il was not long before the odo
9 of burning flesh was diffused on the air
, four or I've hungry soldiers serving a
{ cooks. ~
: twas a wild picnic scene on those lone
: | ly wilde, and every man there enjoyed i
with true gypsy zest.
Suddenly shout from one of the mel
who were strolling around, arrested tn
attention of the others.
"Hallo, boys y he cried. Pm blsst i
here isn't a cave in the hill ] Come, SCI
the hole under these bushes. You never
saw anything hidden neater in your lives. :
"Jones thinks nobody ever saw a cave
before" said one of the loupgers. Fol
my part, | think more Of something to
eat, than of hole in the ground"
| This sentiment was echoed by the Others,
but the inquisitive cave discoverer, moth.
ing daunted, approached the fire, took from
il a torch, returned to the butte, parted the
bushes, revealing the aperture in the face
of the rock, and disappeared within it, his
light giving back a yellow glare for a
second after he had ceased to be seen.
The camp revelry went on, the cookin g
progressed, the minutes passed, and Jones
did not reappear.
aft that fellow had found gold mine in
there he wouldn't call one of US" growled
the lounger who had before spoken. 81
wonder what Jones has found. III jest
take look, as dinner isn't ready"
He arose lazily, distracted stick of
burning wood for a torch, proceeded to
the cavern entrance, and disappeared from
| view.
| Probably" said Hubert, there's large
cavern under that hill. II we had time, il
might pay to explore it. Under the pres-
ent circumstances. | am like Brown, and
prefer my dinner to scientific explorations"
The meal seemed to be nearly ready, for
the rattling of tin cups and dishes began
to be heard the lieutenant's small camp
chest was unpacked, and the cooks shouted
to the strOllers to come TO dinner.
Have Jones and Brown came back ~
| asked the lieutenant, as he rose to sitting
position, and glanced towards the cavern.
The men replied in the negative.
go after them then, King, and hurry
them up" said the officer. owe must re-
sumo the march after dinner, and cannot
afford to waste time here"
King, fine young soldier, took a torch
and entered the cave.
The dinner was dealt out-hOt ssvory
steaks and rOasts-the coffee measured, and
the meal commenced, but none Of the men
who had entered the cave made their APP
pearance!
How singular r. CALCULATED Bridges,
testify and impatientIy. "What can keep
those men? King has been gone ten min
Hal5av hnrry fhoga
men up~
The Sergeant, a brown, strong man of
middle age, hesitated, aud ventured TO
stammer:
al beg your pardon, Lieutenant, but
think there's something wrong inside the
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 smothsrs EN-, Ir-"
Nonsense, Sergeant p interrupted the
lieutenant, frowning. al give you five
minutes TO bring those men back. Col"
The sergeant's face paled, but, without
another word, he took up torch and en-
tered the cave, disappearing from the gaze
of his friends.
The minutes passed, the lieutenant and
the men ate their dinner mechanically,
awaiting anxiously the expected return /;
yet none of the four came back.
The words Of the sergeant had made 4
deep impression on the minds of his hear
ers. A general gloom fell upon the camp,
and the men cast frequent and fearful
chances in the direction of the cavern.
Even the lieutenant and Hubert felt a
strange depression creeping over them,
which neither could resist.
"What can be the matter ?' at length
demanded the officer. "The sergeants in
trouble, | should judge, by this long alb
sence. There can't be gas in the cave, or
if go, he 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 fired. Which of all
you men will go into the cave and learn
what the matter is "
There was a general shrinking back.
Every colder was brave in an Indian fight,
but not one dared to face mysterious and
unknown danger. Not one wished to risk
the complete and total disappearance from
earth and human knowledge that had be-
fallen his comrades.
"Whoeyer will venture in search of the
missing men shall receive from NE hun
bred dollars in goldp exclaimed Hubert,
in his clear, ringing tones. "Who speaks
first for the money :"
The offer was tempting; but it was not
accepted. Not a word of reply was made
to it.
Hubert hositated, giving a brief thought
TO Miriam, his loved and waiting Miriam
His face then glowed with a heroic light,
and he said, iu tones that did not falter:
81 will go in search of the men, Lien.
tenant Bridges. Only, your party is now
small, and if | do not return in twenty
minutes, You may resume your journey"
But, Earle" eKpostulated the lieuten-
ant 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
Oh p
They may need help" replied Hubert,
steadily. They may have encountered
well, God knows what, | can't imagine If
/ fire my rifle, come to me. If | fail TO
return within the time appointed, move
onp
He went up to the nearest fire, picked
up a blazing stick, arranged his rife 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 as still as
death within The cavern.
The next instant Hubert had vanished
therein.
All was now breathless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gathered
around to listen for the report of the rife
The minutes passed, but it came not. Five
minutes dragged by-ten-GlleeD, and still
no sound reached their ears. They could
see a brief space into the cavern, by the
light of their own torches, but nothing
but rocky walls and floor met their gszs.
Twenty minutes were thus passed. The
time was up, and Hubert had not returned.
The men looked at one another with
pallid faces. As if turned 10 stone they
stood an awe-stricken group about the
| clvern'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 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 sim
lister abyss, but his men objected unani-
mously.
What's the use?" asked one. There's
something here that no mortal man can
| conquer"
We can't risk your life, lieutenant"
said another. Just think how few there
ATE of US"
III