Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-10
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SET IN A SILVER SEA /!
A ROMANCE BY B. L. FARJEON.
JOSHUA MARVEL
.KINa BELLS OF PENRAyEN,"

I stood at the narrow window in the rock,
and thought my prayer of worship, and
wonder, and gratitude. Isolated as | was
from sight or companionship of human
creatures, / was not alone. The heavens
and the sea We're with me.
Intending to beup with the sun, un-
strapped my blanket, and, wrapping it
round me. lay down and slept. The soft,
mysterious sound ran through my dreams,
and created fancies which did not disturb
my rest.
s'Early in the morning | was astir,
strong and refreshed and then to my de-
light 1 discovered that l was not to con-
tinue my journey in utter darkness. Light
came through other clefts in the rocks.
Downward and ever downward I pursued
my way, and at noon las near as could
iudgel the nature of the sound which had
accompanied me for so many hours was
revealed to me. 1t was waterfall from
the topmost hight, creeping and rushing
down the moss-clad range-here boldly
leaping into space from jutting rock, here
broken into a hundred rivulets, here united
again, and identifying the air with spray
and foam which caught rare color from
sun and moon and ran with it, laughing, to
the sea. I bathed in it thankfully, and
filed my gourd with the sweet water.
Shortly afterwards my progress was sud
denly arrested, and l could proceed no
further. A chasm stopped my way, and
had no means OF descending it. The
danger of attempting it without ropes was
too great l had no option but to retrace
my steps, and l did SO with the fixed
determination to return with such appli-
ances as were necessary to prosecute my
discovery to the end. As l anticipated,
Leontine was waiting for me, and her
delight, when she saw me climbing up to
her by means of the chain, was unbounded
It was midnight before we reached my
hut
Many weeks were occupied in getting
together the articles that were required. |
had to obtain them from the islanders, and
l proceeded with caution, SO that they
should have no suspicion of the task was
engaged upon. l think I might have
spared myself the trouble of believing that
they might take an interest in my doings
and goings to and fro, but distrust was in
my nature and l could not rid myself of
it. During the interval l twice descended
the chain, and devoted some time to the
clearing away of the loose stones and brush
wood which somewhat impeded my pro-
gress and the labor of descending and
ascending was so great, and caused me
such pain that l made ladder OF ropes
and slung it over the rocks by the side Of
the chain.
81 was compelled to take Joseph Syl-
vester partly into my confidence. He
and his people being out fishing saw from
the sea figure climb the face of the preci-
pice. The distance was too great for them
to distinguish my form, and they agreed not
to mention the subject to the islanders
until l was spoken to concerning it. No
person but you lives on the mountain, said
Joseph Sylvester to me, having sought me
for the purpose of conversing with Inc upon
the subject.
"'N No, replied, only 1.
"s Last night we were out fishing, said
the lad, and we saw figure creeping
down the mountain. My grandfather did
not know whether it was man or animal
"'D Did you see, asked, by what
means this man or animal was effecting the
descent. 1t is no small thing to do; one
false step would be fatal
g That it was that made us wonder,
said Joseph. I'VE saw nothing but the
figure creeping down, and then suddenly it
vanished in the Darkness
''' You have not spoken of it to others,
Joseph
No." said the lad; Grandfather
Matthew thought it might be you, and that
you might not wish it to be known
eft was l, Joseph, and do not wish
it to be known to others than yourselves.
You may be sure we will not mention
it, then; but it is a strange thing to do.
Do not live strange life 2 l asked.
eyes
Then it is natural | should do strange
things. The mountain and | are friends
No one knows it so well as !. Joseph, l
will confide in you. Generations ago a
dark and terrible deed was committed on
that mountain, and the bodies of those in
volved in it lie unhuried in unknown
depths. Say that it is within of mine to
find their bones and give them burial.
is that really your purposeY asked
Joseph, his clear eyes looking into mine.
al Press me not too closely, Joseph; set
it down to that, and let it content you.
One day, perhaps, you will learn all my
secrets, but you must not seek to know
what wish to conceal. Rely upon one
thing what 1 do is done with good in
tent
With that l changed the subject, and /
have every reason to believe that the Syl-
vesters have complied with my wish.
Nevertheless, from that time have chosen
dark nights for my descent
cat length everything was prepared,
and having SO arranged that / could be
absent from my hut for week, or longer
if necessary, / set out with the intention of
completing my discovery. | had previously
conveyed quantity of food to the spot
where my course had been arrested ropes,
chains and tools were also there, SO that
had but little to burden myself with.
had taken other precautions as we'll.
g. 1t occurred to me that / might meet
with an accident which might prevent my
return; in palmer words, l might meet my
t. Ia