Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-03-27

anu Jich DelDD tHCunlDtTtu Will lHe
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 il
came bursting in, splashing them from
head to foot where they sat, was a won.
derfnl quickener to their movements,
and away they scrambled through the
pitchy blackness, clinglng like limpets
to the rough side of the cavern as they
felt their feet slide upon the treacherous
rocks, and thought of the unseen gull
below
Onward. onward still, deeper and
deeper into the heart of the cold, silent
rock, fearing at every moment 10 fee
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 unmis-
takably tending upUdrd, and already
Gas they calculated) beyond the reach
of the ilood-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 Quckily still dry) were
produced, the candle was lighted, and
our heroes took survey of their sur
roundings.
They were in long, narrow passage,
rising 10 a considerable height over
head, and with another ledge on its OPP
posite side, sleeper and more broken
than the one on which they were. In the
center lay the chasm already mentioned b;
but, instead of the frightful depth
which they had imagined, it was only
six or seven feet deep at the most, and
more than half full of water.
There's our terrible srecipice, ."
laughed Jack, STOPPING over it. 81
don't think that would hurt us much.
But-holloa! | say, Pierre. this isn't
sea-brine; it's fresh wdter, running
water! It's stream that's tunneled
its way through the rock; and if we
follow 1t far enough Wen get out. Hur-
rahl''
Hurrahr' echoed Pierre. brighten
ing up. ave sha'n't run short of
water, anyhow; and as for food, we
may as well have 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: ''there's no
hurry, for this candle will burn long
while yet. | know you won't own it,
but You Did get Il nasty bump against
that rock yonder."
a. 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. All at once Pierre heard his
comrade call out:
81 say, don't you hear water falling
somewhere?"
"To be sure 1 do replied Pierre,
after listening a moment. awe must
be close to the place where this stream
falls down into the tunnel, and now
we'll have chance of getting out at
last. Bravoi"
Jack slapped his hands together, with
shout that made the cavern echo
"I've got an idea. Pierre, my boy,
What fool was not to think of il 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 ont