Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-03-31

"Nonsense. Sergeant" interrupted
the lieutenent, frowning. 81 give you
FIVE minutes to bring these men back
| Col"
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 mechanically,
awaiting anxiously the expected return
yet none of the four came back.
| The woros Of the sergeant had naoo
| deep impression Oh the minds OF his
hearers. a general gloom fell upon the
camp, and the men cast frequent and fear
full lances in the direction of the cavern.
Even the lieutenant and Hubert felt
strange depression creeping over then,
which neither could resist.
"What can be the matter p. st length
demanded the officer. 1.-The sergcaut's in
trouble, / should judge, By this long ah-
senee. There can't be gas in the cave,
or if SO, be would probably have had time
to o.y out. There cant be wild beasts,
FIR those four men we're 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 is 2"
There was general shrinking back.
Every soldier was brave in an Indian
fight, but not one dared to face myster-
ious and unknown danger Notone wish
ed to risk the complete and total disap-
pearance from earth and human knowl
edge that had befallen his comrades.
HWhoever will venture in search Of
the missing men shall receive from me
hundred dollars in gold p exclaimed Hu-e
bert, in his clear, ringing tones. "Whc
speaks first for the money Z"
The Ioffer was tempting I; but 1t was
not accepted. Not word OF reply was
made to it.
Hubert hesitated giving a brief thought
to Miriam, his loved and waiting Miriam I!
His face then glowed with heroic light,
and he said, in tones that did not falter:
II will go In search of the men, Liou-
tenant Bridges. Only, your party is
now small and if do not return in TWEEN.
ty minutes, you may resume your jour
ney." al
''But Earle" expostulated the lieuten.
ant "this is positive madness. You must
lot risk your life. We will wait while,
and if the men do not return, we will
move on J"
'"I'hey may need help" replied Hubert,
steadily. "They may have encountered
well, God knows what, can't imagine.
IF I fire my rife, come to me. If | fail
to return thin the time appointed, move
on ~ n sf...-.. a-..
He went up to the nearest FIRE, picked
up blazing stick, arranged his rife for
instant use, approached the mouth of the
cave, peered into 1t oautiosly, and listened
intently for some sound of life within. So.
No sound came. All was still as death
within the cavern.
The next instant Hubert had vanished
therein.
All was now breatbless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gathered
around to listen for the repor rt of the rifle.
The minutes passed, but it came not.
Five minutes dragged by-ten- fifteen,
and still no sound reached their ears.
They could see brief space into the cav.
ern. by the light of their own torches, but
nothing but rocky walls and floor met
their gaze.
Twenty minutes were 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 awe-stricken group about the
cavern'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 aud again to peer
into the dark depths of the opening, but
could not The lieutenant had called re-
peatedly to Hurbert, but received no ans
wer. At length he proposed to tie rope
around his waist and descend into the
sinister abyss, bat his men objected unan-
imously ....
whats the use 2" as ked one. "There'e
something here that no mortal man can
conquer"
awe can't risk your life, lieutenant"
said another. "Just think how few there
are of u.s." ,.sa sas F..
The time continued to drag on.
At last, when two tull hours had passed,
Lisut. Bridges staggered to his feet, aud
said /:
"Thia is horrible.-terrible beyond cx.
preston We have lost four of our COM
rades and this noble young stranger, whom
| I loved as brother. THIS fearful oavo
must hold the secret Of their fate, be it
what It may. Let us CO.
Without word, but with white faces
in sort Of mute terror, the men mounted
their horses and resumed their Journey
The above is all of this story that will b;
published in our columns. The eontin.
uation Of it from where it leaves off here
can be found only in the New York Lcdg-
er 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 continuation Of this beautiful tale.
The Ledger is mailed to subscribers at
three dollars a year. The publication Of
Rev. DR.. Tyng's great story, which has
been written expressly for the Ledger, is
just commenced in the Ledger, go that
our readers will get the whole of these two
stories in it. The Ledger has the best
| cforioo &c opu ,,opar IN fba uo~ld nrS