The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-06-01


selling him by the collar and shaking
him violently, said i" Coward, what's
the matter with you Its nothing but
the echo, and one called repeating, /
suppose, Listen now, and you will hear
the last word speak repeated three
times |"
"Times, times, times !" came back
from the voice.
There - exclaimed Ed, triumphant
ly; did you hear that tY Come pick
up your torch and follow me ~ So say
ing he led the way along the passage,
when suddenly Phil cried out " No 1t
wasn't an echo Look look It's the
devil himself. Don't you see him p
See see therel" He pointed to small
side niche, and sure enough, there stood
figure that made even Webber start
1t was about twelve feet in height, ar
rayed in spotless white, and in the act
of moving forward.
"It's coming ~ exclaimed Phil
Let's run !"
AS he said this, he turned to flee, the
report of q pistol rang upon his ear, ac-
companied by loud crash. He waited
to hear no more, but bounded forward,
like a terrified antelope, toward the
mouth of the cave. The next moment
he was seized and thrown upon his back
by Webber, who producing a stout cord,
proceeded to bind the terrified man, who
seemed to think of nothing else but the
horrors that surrounded him. He was
soon so securely fastened that he could
not move hand or foot.
Now ~ exclaimed Webber you cow
ardly devil, do you mean to go quietly,
or must keep your hands tied behind
your back, and with pistol at your
ear, force You to do SO The figure
has gone you have nothing more to
fear.
&C You kin hold pistol at my ear, an
fire too, eff yer mind to-I amt afeerd
of bullet but ye can't get me to go
any further in this ar hole to be swal-
lowed alive l''- sullenly responded
Phil.
Well, then I'll carry you up as far
as where the figure fell, and let yoa see
that it's nothing but stone then if
you won't follow, I'll take both the
torches, and leave yOuin the dark until
return -
So saying, he raised the scared Phil,
and bore him to the place where he
found large pile Of substance similar
to that covering the walls. Throwing
his burden down upon the top of 1t, he
said:
" There, fool, do yoa see what it is !?
Now, will you accept my proposition to
stay here until explore the remainder
of this place ?"
Receiving no answer, he picked up
the torch, and prepared to leave, but he
had not proceeded far however, when
Phil cried out piteously I" Oh, captain
please don't leave me here L amt
afeerd to fight mortal man, but J. can't
fight the devil, nohow ~
Well stay here then ~ replied Web
ber as he again turned.
"Hold on a minute I'll go. Shoot
me eff L don't Then eff we do meet
the old fellow, he can take us BOTH"
Upon hearing this, Webber returned
and quickly released Phil, who, on gain
ing his feet, gave himself a shake, say
ing: I'm ready now. Show us the
way ~
Webber now felt assured by Phil's
manner that he would not desert him
so he walked quickly on, with Phil res.
olutely following. The way now began
to descend, and soon became so steer
that they kept their feet with difficulty
They proceeded thus about one hun
dred yards, when further progress was
ended by their reaching a yawnine
chasm lying directly across the path
On throwing into 1t piece of rock, th'
hollow echo that came back told then
of its great depth. They now fastened
one of the torches to the rope and low
cred it into the darkness. AS it ap
preached the bottom, Webber, to hi
extreme horror, discovered heap o
grining skeletons. Turning to Phil, ant
pointing down, he exclaimed
The is the spirit which protects thi
place. 1t is more then likely that thos
who have heretofore attempted to ex
plore this place, have lost their footinI
here, been precipitated into that hole
and thus met most horrible fate. Blu
let's retrace our steps and explore tn
other passage, l have no desire to loo
further here !"
They accordingly went back to wher
, | H. l,Iho,. ,nnnnnaro hrn nLnd nne ON