Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-22

u
dinner isn't T. sdy.''
He arose Iazliy, abstrac'ed a stick of burning
wood for torch, proceeded to the cavern en-
trance, and disappeared from view.
Probably" said Hubert, .there's large
cavern under that hill If we had time. it
m ght pay TO explore it. Under the present
circumstances, l am like Brown, and prefer
ny dinner to scientific explorations
The meal seemed TO be nearly re ldy, for the
rattling of tin cups aud dishes began 10 be
h-aIo; the lieuteDants small camp-chest wa3
uDpacked, and the cooks shout ted To the STROLL
ers TO come 10 dinner
"Have Jones and Brown came backl' asked
the lieutenant, al he rose II a sitting position,
and glanced towards the cavern.
he men replied in the ne IatIve.
"Go after them. then, King, and hurry them
up" said the officer. We must resume the
march after dinner, aud cannot afford to waste
time here"
King, a fine young soldier, took a torch, and
entered the cave.
The dinner YVES dealt out-hot savory steaks
ana roas's-the coffee measured. aud the meal
commenced, bat none OF the men who had en-
tersd the cave made their appearance
How singular ~ el 'culated Brydges, testify
aud impatiently. What can keep those men /!
King has oeen gone ten minutes Here, Ser
geant Haisey, hurry those men upr'
The sergeant, brown. strong man of middle
age. hesitated, and ventured to stammer:
81 beg yonr pardon, Lieutenant, but I think
ther. S something wrong inside the cave.
There three men in there--all hungry and
knowing that dinner 8 ready. Surely thevd
csme back If they could. Perhaps there's wild
beasts, or some strange kind Of gas that
"Nonesense, Sergeant interrupted the lieu
tenant, frowning. 81 give you five min utes to
bring those men back. Coz
The sergeants face paled, out, without anoth-
er word, he took mp a 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
shxiously the expected return; yet none Of the
fonr ceme hack.
TDe o.us vi the sergeant had made a deep
impression on the minds of his hearers. A gem
raj gloom fell upon the camp, and the men
cast frequent and fearful glances In the direc.
ion OF the cavern. Ever the lieutenant and
Hubert felt strange depression creeping over
them, which neither could resist
"What can be the matterl' atlength demand
ed the officer. "The sergeant's in trouble,
should judge, by his long absence. There can't
De gas In the cave, or II 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 have at least fired. Which Of all
you men Will go into the cave and learn what
the matter ie!'
There was a general shrinking back Every
soldier was brave in an Indian fight, but not one
dared TO face mysterious and unknown dan
ger. Not one wished to risk the complete ar d
70 al disappearance from earth and human
KNOW &c that had befallen his comrades.
"WhOever will venture in search of the miss
ng men sball receive from me a hundred dol.
ars in gold"' exclaimed Hubert, in his clear
money!"
The offer was tempting; but it was not ac.
cep,ed. Not word OF reply was made to it.
Hubert hesitated, giving a brief thought to
Miriam, his loved and waiting Miriam, HIS
ace then glowed with q heroic light, and he
said. 10 tones that did not falteT:
IL will go IN search OF the men, Lieutenant
Bry ydges. Only, your party is now, small, and
if / do not return in twenty minutes, you may
resume your journey
"Bnt, Earle" ex expostulated the lieutenant,
slfh rs vvHoAn -
your life. We will wait awhile, and If the
men do not return, we will move onr'
"They Eay need help" replied Hubert,
steadily. "They may have encountered-welI.
God knows what, I can't imagine. iii fire nv
rife, come 20 me. If / fail TO return within the
time appointed, move on,'
He went mp to the nearest fire. picked up a
blazing sticx arranged his rifle for in tint use
approach d the mou of the cave, peered into
It cautiously, and listened intently for some
sounds of lite within.
No sound came. All was still as death with !.
in The cavern.
The next instant II u bert had vanished there
All was now brc athless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gathered around
10 listen Tor the report OF the rifle. The min
utes passed, but il came not. Five minutes
draR ged by-ten-fifteeD. and still no sound
reached their ears. They could see a brlei
space into the cavern, by the light of their own
torches, but nothing but rocky walls and floor
m their gaze.
was up, and Hubert had not returned.
The men looked at one another with pallid
faces. As If turned TO stone, they stood an a we
stricken group about the caverns mouth, until
he min utes 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
rried again and again to peer into the dark
depths Of the opening, but couldnO The lieu
tenant h"d called repeatedly to Hubert, but re.
ceived 10 answer. At length he proposed to tie
a rope around his waist and descend into the
sinister abyss but his men objected unani.
mously.
WHATS the user asked one There's
something here that no mortal man can con.
quer."
1--WE can't risk your life, Iieutenant,' said
anotber. '.Just think how few there are OF u.s. -
The time contin ued TO drag on.
Al last, when two full hours had passed
Lieutenant Bridges staggered TO his feet, and
sad:
"This is horribIe-terrible beyond expires.
sion. We have lost four OF our comrades, and
this noble Young straDg r, whom l loved as a
brother. This fearful cave must hold the
cret Of their fate, De it what 1t may. Let us
CO."
Without q word, but With white faces-in a
sort OF mute terror the men mou nted theIl
hors es and resumed their journey. The above
is all OF this story that Will be published in ouI
columns. The continuation of II from where
il leaves off here can be found only in the New
York Ledger, which Is for sale a. all the book.
stores and news depots. Ask for the number
dated April 10, 1869, and in IL you will find tn
contin uation OF this beautiful tale. The Led
ger is mailed to subscribers ut three dollars 8
year. The publication of Rev. Dr Tyng's
sTeat story, which has been written express "
for the Ledger, is lust commenced in the Led.
ger, so that our readers will get the whole ot
these two stories in It. The Ledger has the
best stories of Any paper in the world; and
Henry Ward B~echer, ames Parton and Fanny
Fern have articles in every number.