The New York herald., 1869-03-27
RED KNIFE.

preston on the minds or his hearers. general
gloom fell upon the camp, and the men cast fequent
Even the lieutenant and Hubert felt q strange de-
preston creeping over them, which neither could
.What can be the matterYn at length demanded
the ol1cer. 1.-THE sergeant's in trouble, should
Judge, by this long absence There can't pe gas IN
the cave, II So he would probably have mad tlme
to cry out. There can't be wild beasts, for those
four men were all well armed, and would at least
cave and learn what the matter isf
There was general shrinking back. Every sol,
der 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 oeianen
"Whoever win venture in search Of the missing
men shall receive from me hundred dollars In
gold ln exclaimed Hubert In his clear ringing tones
"WhO speaks first for the money r'
The OFFER was tempting but Il was not accepted.
Not 81 ep wss aoe 10 II thought to m
am. his loved and waiting Miriam. His face then
glowed with heroic light, and he said In tones that
twill go in search OF the men, Lieutenant Bridges.
Only your party is now small ana II do not return
'sBut. Earle" expostulated the lieutenant "ths Is
positive madness You must not risk your life. we
win wait while and II the men do not return we
.iThey may need help" replied Hubert, steadily.
"They may have enconntered-weil Goo Knows knows
me- II fail to return within the time appointed
He He went up to the nearest fire. picked up blaz-
ing stick. arranged his rife for instant use, ap-
preached the mouth OF the cave, peered into 1t eau
tousy, and listened intently for some sound OF life
within.
No sound came. All was as still as death within
The next instant Hubert had vanished therein.
All was now breathess suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gathered around to
listen for the report OF the re. The minutes passed,
but 1t 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 igns
nf fhn OVU IN
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 pallld races
AS II turned to stone they stood an awe-stricken
group about the cavern's mouth until the minutes
had more than made up an hour, and still they
fingered.
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 re-
peatedly to Hubert, but received no answer. AT
length he proposed to tie a rope around his waist
and descend into the sinister abyss but his men OBJ
WHATS the use >; asked one. there's something
here that no mortal man can conquer"
1--WE can't risk your life, Lieutenant" said another.
"Just think how few there are OF us.n
The time continued to drag on.
At last when two full hours had passed, Lieuten-
ant Bridges staggered to his feet and said
'This is horrible-terrlble beyond expression
We have lost four OF our comrades and this noble
fearful cave must hold the secret OF their fate be it
what it may. Let us CO."
Without word, but with white faces-tn sort or
mute terror the men mounted their horses and re-
sumed their journey. The above all OF this story
that will be published In our columns. The continu-
alton of 1t from where 1t leaves of here can be found
only the New York Ledger which Is for sale at all
the book stores and news depots. ASK for the num-
ber dated April 10, 1860, and in IL you will find the
continuation OF this beautiful tale. The Ledger Is
mailed to subscribers at three dollars year. The
publication OF Rev. DIR. Tyngs great story, which
mas been written expressly for the LEDGER Is just
commenced IN the Ledger, 80 that our readers will
get the whole OF these two stories IL. The Ledger
has the best stories OF any paper in the world and
Henry Ward Beecher, James Parton and Fanny Fern
have articles in every number.