The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-23

the loungor who had before spoken. 81
wonder what Jones has found. m Jest take
q look, as dinner Isn't ready"
He arose laAily, sbetracted stick Of burn.
Ing wood for q torch, proceeded TO the
cavern entrance, snd disappeared from view.
Probably" said Hubert, 'there's q large
cavern under that hill. II We had time, II
might pay TO explore H. Under the present
circumstances, am like Brown, and prefer
my dinner TO scientific explorations. -..
The meal seemed to be nearly ready, for
the rafting Of tin cups and dishes began TO
be heard; the lieutcnant's small camp-chsst
was unpacked, and the cooks shouted TO the
etrollers 10 come 10 dinner.
"Haye Jones and Brown came back1"
asked the lieutenant, a. he rose TO sitting
position, and glanced towards the cavern.
The mon replied In the negative.
$50 after them then, King, and hurry
them up" said the officer. ave must re-
sumo the march after dinner, and cannot
afford TO waste time here"
Klng,e fne young soldier, took torch,
aud entered the cave. "a 1..r.
The dinner was dealt out.--hot savory
steaks and roasts-the coffee measured, and
che meal commenced, but none Of the men
who had entered the cave made their ap.
pearancei
"fiow singularr calculated Brydgcs,
testify and impatiently. awhat can ksSf
those meni King has bean gone ten minutes.
Here, Sergeant Halsey, hurry those mon upi''
The sergeant, a brown, strong man OF
middle age, hcsitated, and yenturcd 10 STAN
mer: ....Ht '"" ..
81 beg your pardon, Lieutenant, but !
WINK tneres something wrong inside thu
cave. Iheres three men In thero-all hungry
ana showing mat dinners ready Surely
they'a come oack II they could. perhaps
there's Wild beasts, or some strange kind OF
gas shat smothers EN-, Or
Nonsense, sergeant Interrupted the
lieutenant, frowning. 'Igive you Ave min
utes to bring those men back. Col"
The sergeants face paled, but without
another word he took up torch and entered
the cave, disappearing from the gaze Of his
friends. !-y.- ~. ...-.r .r
Tho mis2tos passed, the lieutenant and
the men dtc their dinner mechanically,
awaiting anxiously the expected return; yet
none OF the four came back. u.nl
The words OF the sergeant had made q
deep impression on the minds OF his hearers.
A general gloom fell upon the camp, and
the men cast frequent and fearful Chances In
the direction Of the cavern. Even the licu-
tenant and Hubert felt q strange depression
creeping over them, which neither could
roeist. 90, @ .........gI ILltfI
what can DO the matteri" at length de-
mandcd the officer. "The sergcant's In
trouble, should Judge, BY his long absence.
There cant DC gas In the cave, or IL 90, he
would probably have had time 70 cry out.
There can't be Wild beasts, for those four
men were all well armed, and would at least
nave urea. Which Oh al You men viii &c
There was general shrinking back.
Every soldier was brave In an Indian fight
but not 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 be-
fallen his comrades. 'r
whoever Will venture In search Of tho
mise men shall ball., receive from me q hun
his clear, ringing tones. "who speaks drst
Tor the money! ~ .lr..
In. Ine oheT was temptingi put was not ac-
copied. NOT word OF reply was made To II.
to Miriam, his loved and willing Miriam
HIS face then giowed with o heroic light,
ana ne seio, IN toues mat did not hitcr'
~ n WI go In sesrch OF the men, Lieuten-
ant Brydges' Only, your party Ia now ANAL,
and II 90 not return In twenty minutes,
you may resume your Journey"
but, Earle, expostulated the lieutenant,
',this Positive madness. You must not
risk your NE. we Will walt while, and II
the men do not return, we Will move on ,"
iney may need help" replied Hubert,
steadily. "Thcy may have cncountered-well,
GOD knows what, can't imagine. II IRE
my rihe, come TO me. II fall 70 return
WITHIN the time appointed, move on
ne went up 10 the nearest fire, picked up
a blazing suck, arranged his rife for instant
use, approached the mouth Of the cave,
peeIed into IL cautiously, and listened In
tently LOT some SOUND OF life within.