Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-10
CHAPTER ky.
A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.


should WOO Leontine to her destruction,
continued my descent. | had committed
myself to perilous enterprise. The links
of the rusty chain rasped the skin off the
palms of my hands, and had need of all
nv strength to preserve my hold. Had l
not found here and there resting place
for my feet in the jutting rocks, and bad 1
not been Injured to danger, ] should not be
here now to make this record.
q | reached the end of the chain, and,
with a sense OF great relief, saw beneath
me an opening in the face of the precipice.
The chain was just long enough to enable
me to swing myself into this harbor of
safety-a comparatively easy task because
of the trees which grew in its mouth.
Utterly exhausted, sank upon the ground
and allowed myself time to recover my
breath, which had been almost spent by
my exertions and excitement. Then l
surveyed the position in which | found
myself.
'sThe place IN which was sheltered
was cave formed by Nature. From the
nights above its mouth could not be seen,
and even outwards from the sea it was
scarcely possible it could be distinguished,
in consequence of it's being thousands of
feet higher than the water level. No light
came from within the cave was in deep
darkness. listened moment ; a mourn
full wall came to my ears 1t was Leontine,
calling for her master; did not answer
her. 1t afforded me satisfaction to think
that had left on the rocks above some
portion of the food had brought with me
from my hut, for l knew that Leontine
would await my return
''The afternoon was already far adj
yanced, but was determined not to aban-
don the adventure at least until another
sun had arisen Too much time would be
lost in returning now to my hut, and IN
deed l felt that | had need of rest before
l attempted to climb the rocks by the aid
of the chain. In couple of hours the
sun would set the night would be dark,
but there was nothing to fear. My blanket
was strapped round my shoulders, and
had sufficient food for the next twenty
four hours. / had also taken the precau-
ton to bring with me the means of obtain
ing light l was thus well prepared for
present emergency.
So deep was the darkness in the inte-
rior of the cave that struck light before
/ made a move inwards For some little
distance the roof was man high j; the path
was partially encumbered with loose stones
and brushwood, but these 1 easily cleared
away, and stepping forward cautiously,
and making sure of my ground to avoid a
possible pitfall, I soon succeeded in pene-
trating SO far into the cave that the light
of day was entirely shut out. l had the
completest assurance that in time [ should
come upon an outlet OF some description III
the fact that there was no foulness in the
air The walls of this natural tunnel were
dry and free from slime, and when my eyes
became accustomed to the gloom, l derived
assistance from the varying densities of
shade, which almost served the purposes
of color. Slowly made my way EDWARDS,
meeting with no obstacle to my progress
which ! was not able to surmount.
g 1t was a strange journey, and the adj
venture altogether the strangest in which
had ever been engaged. The profound
stiffness, the knowledge that was hidden
in the very bowels of the earth, and that l
was treading path which, if it had been
trodden by mortal, had not been trodden
for centuries, the fancies which thronged
my brain and the grotesque shapes which
grew out OF the darkness-these, coupled
with the uncertainty of the result, filled
me with exultation and even when /
heard faint sound for which could not
account had no feeling of fear. paused
occasionally and listened in the endeavor
to discover its nature and the direction
from which it proceeded. But the tunnel
was OF eccentric form, winding now this
way, now that, with abrupt turns which l
was compelled to follow, and the sound
seemed to proceed now from one direction,
now from another, and now to cease alto
gether. / had no compass, and did not
know which was east, or west, or north, or
south At one time the sound resembled
the singing of birds, at another the rust
ling OF leaves; it was good that there was
nothing discordant in it the impressions
it produced were always pleasant and
agreeable.
81 lost count Of time; / could not tell
whether / had walked, and crept, and
crawled for an hour, or two, or twelve.
The mere dwelling upon the subject con-
fused me the more. / was certain but of
one thing that the path was treading
led downwards, and that every step took
brought me nearer to the sea level. Some
times the path was very steep, and taxed
my strength severely, but was equal to
every difficulty, and continued my adven-
turous journey without hurt. Monotony
was destroyed by an exhilarating sense of
danger.
AFTER a time began TO make discov-
cries. A short distance before me / saw a
reflection OF bright color, and when
reached it found that it proceeded from
without. There was cleft in the rock,
and through this opening l beheld the
rays OF the setting sun. The space was
not wide enough for the body of a man,
and / stood at the narrow window, and
drank in the fresh air, and watched the
color die out Of the western sky. Before
rue stretched vast expanse of cloud and
water, and both for little while were
luminous with light; then gradually crept
on the darkness OF night, and the solemn
ocean lay beneath and beyond, enveloped
in impenetrable, mysterious shadow. AT