St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-04-03

loaf, and Pierre badly bruised against
the rocks, they were not in the best
condition for climbing.
But the roar of the next wave as it
came bursting in, splashing them from
head to foot where they sat, was Won
deTfnl quickener to their movements,
ana away they scrambled through the
pitchy blackness, clinging like limpets
to the rough side of the cavern as they
fell their feet slide upon the treacherous
rocks, and thought of the unseen gulf
below.
Onward, onward still, deeper and
deeper into the heart of the cold, silent
! rock, fearing at every moment to feel
their way barred by a solid wall, and
find themselves cut off from escape and
doomed to be drowned by inches. But,
no; the strange tunnel went on and on
as if it would never end, their only con-
ISOLATION being that they were unmls-
takably tending uperard, and already
Gas they calculated) beyond the reach
of the flood-tide.
Suddenly Jack uttered shout Of joy ::
" Hurrah, Pierre! here's one of the
lantern candles in my inner pocket, and
| know I've got my matches some
where Wen be able to see where we
are at last, my boy!"
The matches luckily still dry) were
produced, the candle was lighted, and
our heroes took a survey of their sur
roundings.
They were III long, narrow passage,
rising to considerable height over
head, and with another ledge on its OPP
poste side, sleeper and more broken
than the one on which they were. In the
center lay the chasm already mentioned;
but, instead of the frightful depth
which they had imagined, it was only
six OF seven feet deep at the most, and
more than half full of water.
"There's our terrible frecipice,'
laughed Jack, STOPPING over it. 81
don't think that would hurt us much.
But--holloa! | say, Pierre, this isn't
sea-orine; it's fresh arater, running
water! It's stream that's tunneled
it's way through the rock; and if we
follow 1t far enough we'll get out. Hur-
rahtn
"Hurrah!" echoed Pierre, brighten
ing up. awe sha'n't run short of
water, anyhow; and as for food, we
may as well have a bite of that loaf be-
fore starting again.
The under ground breakfast was soon
finished, and the adventurous lads start
ed once more.
But the pain of Pierre's bruises,
which he had manfully concealed hith-
erto. began to master him at last. His
tired limbs began to drag more and
more heavily; his feet slipped again and
again, and only the strong hand of his
comrade saved him from more than one
serious fall.
BETTER sit down and rest bit, old
fellow" said Jack, kindly; s'there's no
hurry, for this candle will burn long
while yet. / know you won't own it,
but you dad get d nasty bump against
that rock yonder."
"l fancy you're right there" an
swered Pierre, sinking YEARLY upon the
ledge. but we don't need the candle
while we're sitting still, you know.
Blow it out, and light it again when we
START
Jack did so, and they sat silent in the
darkness. Ali at once Pierre heard his
cOmfade cali out:
8" say, don't you hear water falling
sonlewhere?''
"I'o be sure [ do replied Pierre,
after listening a moment. awe must
be close to the place where this stream
falls down into the tunnel, and now
Well have a chance Of getting out at
last Bravo!n
Jack slapped his hands together, with
a shout that made the cavern echo
"1've got an idea, Pierre, my boy!
What fool was not to think of it be-
fore: This stream that we've been fol-
lowing is the Larve, and we've got to
the very place where it falls through
the cleft. Now if we can only get out
with whole bones, it's fifteen hundred
franks apiece to US. Come along
quick'
Ali Pierre's WEAKNESS was gone in a
minute. Already, in his minds eye,
he saw his ailing father comfortably
provided for, and Jack and himself
out to sea in a brand-new
boat. The instant the candle was
lighted they were off again at pace
which would have seemed impossible
1cW minutes before.
Guided by the increasing din of the
waterfall, they were not long in reach
ing a huge perpendicular funnel or
chimney in the rock, down one side of
which poured a stream of water, while
through cleft above, dazzlingly ra-
diant after the darkness of the buried
passage, came a bright CLEAN of sun
shine. just then big stone, flung
from above, came laundering down
into the chasm, falling close to the feet
Of the two explorers.
al hats the boys at their fun,'' said
Jack, laughing. "Ive done it many a
time myself. Above there-hoy!
The only answer was howl of terror
and the sound of flying feet. Pierre,
alarmed at the thought of being desert
ed, shouted in his turn.
"Help, comrades! help!'
"Whose that calling?' asked gruff
voice from above, while the light was
9bscured by broad visage peering
Town into the hole.
''Holloa, Gaspard! is that you?' cried
Pierre, recognizing the voice of one of
lis fathers fisher cronies.
"What, Pierre Lebon! you down
herep Well, who ever saw the like?
Just wait a minute, while I run for a