The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-04-01

ground in the shadow of the hill
The lieutenant and a portion of the
men followed bis example
Plenty of low bushes were found
dry enough to burn and several fires
were soon kindled. The choicest por-
tions of the buffaloes were readily
prepared for cooking, and il was not
long before the odor of burning flesh
was diffused on the air: four or five
hungry soldiers serving as cooks
1t was a wild picnic scene on those
lonely wilds. and every man there en-
| ioyed 1t with true gypsy zest-
Suddenly a shout from one OF the
men who were strOlling around. ar
rested the attention of the others.
:. Halle. boys - he cried: = I'm blest
| if here isn't a cave in the hilli Come,
| see the hole under these bushes. gu
never saw anything hidden neater in
! your lives"
cave before" said one of the loungers.
For nv part / think more OF some
thing to eat, than of a hole in the
/ ground"
I This sentiment was echoed By the
Others. but the inquisitive cave dis
! coverer. nothing daunted, approached
! the fire. took from il a torch, returned
| TO the butte, parted the bushes, re-
yealinc 4 dark apertare in the face OF
! the rock, and disappeared within II,
/ his light giving back yellow glare
| for a second after ne had ceased TO be
! seen.
The camp revelry went on, the cook
/ ing progressed, the minutes passed,
! and Jones did not reapperr.
:. If that fellow had found a gold
mine in there, he wouldn't call one OF
US" growled the lounger who had be-
| fore spoken. = ! wonder what Jones
has found. Ill jest take a look, a
dinner isn't ready"
| He arose I3Zily. distracted Il stick of
| burning wood for torch. proceeded
TO the cavern entrance, and disappear
| ed from Wow.
probably said Hubert, "there's
a large cavern under that hill. If we
had time, it might pay to explore it.
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 dish
/ es began to be heard; the lieutenant's
small camp chest was unpacked, and
| the cooks shouted TO the strollers to
come to dinner.
Have Jones and Brown come
| back: - asked the lieutenant, as he
rose to sitting position, and glanced
/ towards the cavern.
! The men replied in the negative.
| Go after them. then King, and
| hurry them mp said the officer
- We must resume the march after
| dinner, and cannot afford to waste
! time here
King, a fine young soldier, took a
| torch, and entered the cave.
The dinner was dealt out-hot sa-
worry steaks and roasts-the coffee
measured, and the meal commenced,
| but none of the men who had entered
| the cave made their appearance!
How singular" calculated Brydg-
ers, testify and inpatiently. "What
can keep those men: King has been
gone ten miuutes. Here, Sergeant
Halsey, hurry those men up"
The sergeant, brown strong man
of middle age, hesitatCd, and ventured
to stammer:
Il beg your pardon, Lieutenant,
but L 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, o."
"Nonsense, Sergeant" interrupted
the lieutenant frowning. 9 give you
five minutes to bring those 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 mechan-
icaily, awaiting anXiously the eX-
peeted 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, and the men cast frequent
and fearful chances in the direction of
the cavern. Even the lietenant and
Hubert felt a strange depression
creeping over them, which neither
could resist.
What can be the matter?" at
length demanded the officer. The
sergeant's in trouble, should judge,
by this long absence. There can't be
gas in the cave, or if so, he would pro-
badly 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
what the matter is 20
There was a general shrinking back. |
Every soldier was brave in an Indian
fight, but not one dared TO face mys-
FERROUS and unknown danger. Not !
one wished to risk the complete and |
total disappearance from earth and |
human knowledge that had befaIlen |
his comrades.
Whoever will venture in search of |
the missing men shall receive from me l
hundred dollars in gold!r exclaimed |
Hubert, in his clear, ringing tones. |
Who speaks first for the money -
The offer was tempting: but it was /
not accepted. Not a 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 talter:
i will go in search Of the men,
Lieutenant Brydgers. Only, your
party is now small, and if ! do not /
return in twenty minutes, you may re-
sumo your journey.
But, Earle" eXpOstulated the lieu
tenant, this is positive madness.
I GU must not risk your life. We Will
wait a while and if the men do not re-
luID- We " III NOV Z on
They may need help" replied HUI
bert steadily. They may have en-
countered-well. God knows what.
can't imagine. Ii | fire my rifle. come
TO me. If ] fail to return within the
time appoited, move on!''
He went up to the nearest fire, pick
ed up a blazing stick, arranged his
rifle for instant use. approached the
mouth of the cave, peered into it
cautiously, and listened intently for
some sound of life within.
No noise came. All was as still as
death within the cavern.
The next instant Hubert had van
ished therein.
All was now breathless suspense.
The lieutenant and his men gather
ed around to listen for the report of the
rifle. The minutes dragged by-ten
fifteen. and still no sound reached their
ears. They could see a brief space in
to the cavern, 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 |
returned. ,
The men lo6ked at one another with
pallid faces. As if turned to stone. I
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 and
again TO peer into the dark depths of |
the opening. but could not. The lieu