Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-03-24

the men who had entered the cave
made their appearance
How singular p calculated Bridges
testify and impatiently. "What can
keep those men ? King has been gone
ten minutes. Here, Sergeant Halsey,
hurry those men up!'
The sergeant, brown, strong man
of middle age, hesitated, and ventured
to stammer
81 beg your pardon, Lieutenant,
but I 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 smothers 'em, Or"
Nonsense, Sergeant p interrupted
the lieutenant, frowning. 81 give you
five minutes to bring those men back.
Go I"
The sergeant's face paled, but, with
out another word, he took up torch
and entered the cave, disappearing
from the gaze of his friends.
The minutes passed, the lieutenant
and the men ate their dinner mechanic
ally, awaiting anxioasly 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 general gloom fell upon the
camp, and the men cast frequent and
fearful glances in the direction of the
cavern. Even the lieutenantan and Hubert
felt strange depression creeping over
them, which neither could resist.
"What can be the matter?" at length
demanded the officer. "The sergeant's
in trouble, I should Judge, by this long
absence. There cant'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 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 q general shrinking back.
Every soldier was brave in an Indian
fight, but no one dared to face a
mysterious and unknown danger. 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 - exclaimed
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 brief
thought to Miriam, his loved and wait
ing. Miriam His face then glowed with
a heroic light, and he said, in tones
that did not falter
II will go in search of the men Lieu
tenant Bridges. Only, your party is
now small, and if do not return in
twenty minutes, you may resume your
journey"
''But, Earle, expostulatel the lien
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 onr'
"They may need help" replied Hr-
bert, steady. ''They may have been
encountered-wel God knows what, 1
can't imagine. If I fire my rifle, come
to me. If 1 fail to return within the
time appointed move on!'
He went up to the nearest fire, pick
ed up blazing stick, arranged his rife
for instant use, approached the mouth
of the cave, peered into it cautiously,
and listened intently for some sound or
life within.
No sound came. All was silent as
death within the cavern.
The next instant Hubert had vanish
ed therein.
A ! was now breathless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gathere d
around to listen for the report of the
rifle. The minutes passed, but it came
not. Five minutes dragged by-ten
fifteen, and still no sound reached
thair aore 1,bav could eaa n b,.iaf