The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-01-27
IN THE SOUTHEAST BASTION.

ago by the Spaniards, and the oldest edi
flee of the kind in our country. Twas
thoroughly acquainted with its demi
lunes, its harbican, its terre-plein, it.
portcullis, its moat, its dungeons, anG
everything known and seen by the gen
eral public. But now I hoped l knew
and should see something unknown and
unseen by the general public.
The young man who assisted the old
sergeant in charge of the fort approached
me. 1T is time to shut up, sir,' he
said.
1t was true. The sun was setting.
walked through the great entrance hall
casting a longing look leftward as did
30, crossed the drawbridge and went
into the town. had not walked dozen
yards on the broad sea-wan which skirts
the water front of the old city when
saw riding toward me on the road lady
on a sorrel horse. She rode directly uI
to the wall, and we both stopped.
"Good evening" said she, with 8
pleasant smile. "Just from San Marco
] suppose. Have you found anything
new?"
This seemed to me curious question
to come at such q time. was wildly
anxious to tell some one of what I had
discovered, and why should l not tell
Miss Mallette? This young lady was
the daughter of one of our great west
ern farmers, and was my most intimate
friend in the town. We had walked to-
gether on moonlight nights on the sea-
wall, we had sailed together on the
hrooJ ,r,<o,~, of H. NEotou.., ~. Ia
rambled over the old fort, had danced
together at the hops, and had taken
many ride along the shell road and
into the beautiful rose gardens of the
suburbs. She had told me of the TO-
.O00-acre fields of wheat upon her father
farm, and of the long gallops she took
and the strange life she led upon that
vast domain. I in turn had told her
everything about myself 1 thought she
was likely to know; and why should 1
not tell her this thing, in which she
would feel more interest than in any,
thing I had spoken of before?
II believe" said, 81 have found out
something new.''
80, delightfulr' she cried. "Just
stand where you are, and tell me all
about it. Your head is so high that
don't have to bend down a bit. What
have you found?"
q "You remember the dungeon in the
northeast bastion?' said.
"Where the skeletons and the iron
cages were found? o yes, of course
remember it; and when visit Washing
ton am going to see if one of those
skeletons really is in the Smithsonian
Institution, l don't believe the people
here know anything about it,
q SWELL" l continued, 81 have always
considered that in the southeast bastion
there must be something of the same
Kind, for it is not to be supposed that
the Spaniards would have built a bastion
which for more than fifty feet from its
outer corner should be of solid masonry"
"Yes, i remember that we talked
about that. But you don't suppose they
put skeletons in every corner?'
so no." l said, 81 have no reason to
suppose there are any more skeletons,
but 1 feel sure there is room or dun
geon within that bastion.'
1--WE have supposed all that before"
said Miss Mallette, ''but what have you
found out?''
That is what am going to tell
you,' / replied. "You remember two
rooms which open to the right as you 90
into the entrance hall of the fort?''
Certainly said she. lone of them
was the kitchen of the Indian prisoners
where that horrid murderous squaw pre-
sided"
..Well, then" said, "you remember
there is third room, completely dark,
beyond these?'
+ 30 yes. I've often stood at the open
door and tried to look into it with
lighted matches and papers; but I could
never see more than q few feet, it was
30 pitchy black inside. The old sergeant
never takes anybody in there, does he?''
ssNo,"' Ireplied; ''for some reason or
other he never investigates this room.
He always says there is nothing in it,
and passes on.'
there" said Miss Mallette.
"rve been in," answered, "and
have gone all over the ROOM"
s.How on earth did you do that?" she
exclaimed. 81 should have been afraid
of wells and pitfalls. Please tell me all
about it. But are you not tired of stand
inga"
"Not Bit" answered, 81 have
long wished to explore this room, be-
cause beyond it lies the unknown fifty
feet of the southeast bastion. I was
afraid to take lantern into the room,
for if the old sergeantor any one elsesaw
me cropping about there, he would inter-
fere with my investigations, which
Iwished to keep to myself; 90 deter
uaned to 90 in and cautiously feel my
wsy about the place. I tapped the
ground before me with a cane as walked
50 thai. I should not step into any hole.
After I had been in there ten or fifteen
minutes, it is astonishing how my eyes
became accustomed to the darkness. 1
could actually see, though very dimly,
the inner walls as approached them.
And here made a discovery"
80! what was it?'' cried Miss NAL
lette. greatly interested.
at was hole two or three feet square,