The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-04-01
NUMBER "a,

Nonsense, Sergeant" interrupt
ed the lieutenant, frowning. II give
you five minutes to bring those mon
back. Go -
The sergoant's face paled, but.
without another word, he took up a
torch and entered tho cave, disap~
pcariug from che gaze Of his friends.
The minutes passed, tho lieutenant
and tho mon ate their dinner meehau-
ically, awaiting anxiously the ex-
pected return yet none Of the four
came back.
The words Of the sergeant had
made deep impression on the minds
Of his hearers. A general gloom fell
upon the camp, aud tho men cast
frequent aud fearful glances in the
direction Of the cavern. Even the
lieutenant aud Hubert felt stra nge
depression creeping over them, which
neither could resist.
"What can be the matter2" nj
length demanded the officer. "The
sergeants in trouble, should judge,
by this long absence. There can't
be gas in the cave, or if so, he would
probably have had time to cry out
There cant be wild beasts, for those
four men we're all we'll armed, and
would have at least fred. Which
Of all you men will go ito tho cave
aud learn what the matter is p
Their" was general shrinking
back. Every soldier was brave in an
Indian fight, but no one dared to
face a mysterious aud unknown dan.
ger. Not ono wished to risk the
complete aud total disappearance
from earth and human knowledge
that had befallen his comrades.
"Whoeyer will venture in search Of
the missing men shall receive from
me hundred dollars in gold !" ex-
claimed Hubert, in his clear, ringing
tones. "Who speaks 6rst for tn,
money ?"
The offer was tempting; but II was
not accepted. Not a word Of reply
was made to IL.
Hubert hositated, giving a briei
thought to Miriam, his loved anC
waiting Miriam His face then glow
ed with heroic light, and he said, it
tones that did not falter;
II will go in search of the men
Lieuterant Bridges. Only, you
party is now small, aud ii do not re
turn in twenty minutes, you may re
sumo your journey"
"But Earle" expostulated th,
lieutenant, "this is positive madness
You must not risk your life. W.
will wait awhile, and if the men Dc
not return, wo will move on |"
"They may need help replied
Hubert, steadily, "They may hav,
encouutered-well. God knows what
cant imagine. If fire my rifle
come to me. If 1 fail to return with
10 the time appointed, movo on.T'
! He went up to the nearest fire
picked up blazing stick, arrange
his rife for instant use, approache
tho mouth of the cave, peered into
cautiously, aud listened inlontly 70
some sound Of life within.
No sound came. All was as still
us death within the cavern.
The next instant Hubert had van
ished therein.
All was now brcathless suspense.
The Lieutenant aud his men gath
cred around to listen for the report o
the rife. The minutes passed, bu
it came not. Five minutes dragged
by-ten-6fteen, and still no soun
reached their ears. They could Sc
a brief space into the cavern, by tn
light of their own torches, but moth
ing but rocky walls and floor me
their gaze.
Twonty minutes were thus passed
The time was up, aud Hubert ha
not returned,
The men looked at ona auothe
with pallid faces. AS if turned I
stone, they stood an awe.stricke
group about the cavern's mouth, un
til the minutes had more than mad
up an hour-and still they fingered
During this time they had cleare
away the bushes from the mouth {
the cave. They had tried again an
to p.er into the dark depths Of th
opening, but could not. The lieu
touant had called repeatedly to Hu
bert, but received no apswer. A
length no proposed to tie a rop
around his waist and descend into tn
sinister abyss, but his men objecte
unanimously.
"What's the useP" asked on,
"There's something there that n
mortal man can conquer"
"We cant risk your life, liotunant,
said another. "Jus. think how fe
there are Of us"
The time continued to drag on.
At last when two full hours hr
passed, Lieut.. Bridges staggered
, his feet, and said ;
, "This is horrible-terrible beyon
expression We have lost four Of OF
comrades aud this noble young straI
ger, whom / loved as brothe
This fearful cave must hold the SC
cret Of their fate, be it what 1t ma.
Let us 60"
Without a word, but with viii
faces--iu a sort of mute terror, IL
men mounted their horses aud II
snmed their journey. The above
all Of this story that We will publis
in our columns. The.continuatiou
, it can be found only in the New YoI
, Ledger, which is for sale at all bool
J stores and news depots. Ask for u
number dated April 10, 1869, and
it ycu will find the continuation
D this beautiful tale. The Ledger
: mailed to subscribers at three do
lars a year. The publication Of Re