The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-01-28

room
And did you go through?" cried the
lady.
mo, have not got so far as that yet
In fact, it is now impossible to go through
it. 1t is nearly filled with sand or fine
earth, and this must be dug out before
any one can enter it. ..5...
What do you intend to do about it?'
said Miss Mallette, her eyes sparkling
with excitement. And where doyou
think it leads top
81 feel confident" / replied, ''that it
leads to some chamber in the southeast
bastlon, and Intend to dig through and
see what is beyond.'s
"If were man. said the lady, &c
should like nothing better than to do
that. But are you sure that you have
really discovered this thing? Perhaps
there is some one who can tell you all
about it."
81 thought of that" said, +" and [
asked the old sergeant. If anybody
knows anything about the fort, he does.
When told him l had found this hole
he looked amazed, and expressed great
deal surprise at my exploring the dark
chamber. l found he did not want to
talk about the matter at all; but as l rath-
er pressed him with questions about the
hole in the wall he told me briefly that
it had been made by some prisoners who
were in that apartment. They had
thought to get out by cutting through
that wall; but when they made the hole
it instantly filled up with sand which
came from the other side. l asked him
who the prisoners were, but he was very
short about it. Il wasn't one of EN- he
satd; 'nayther did Iput 'em there. l
Just tell the tale as it was told to me-
And off he walked. From what he said
l am sure that nothing has been discov-
cred beyond that hole, but am afraid l
have made him suspicious of me, and l
must be very careful in what intend to
do"
Cant you get permission from some
body to explore the placer" asked Miss
Mallette,
80 nor l exclaimed. =" If the au-
thorities did anything at all in the mat
ter they would take it up themselves,
and all the fun of the discovery would
be lost to me-"
"Then what are your plans?" she
asked.
Here comes young Norton" | an
swered, "and can't tell you now. But
if you will walk with me tomorrow to
the fort | shall have worked out my
plans, and will tell you all about them,
We will go in the middle of the day when
there are few people there"
The next day | took her to the fort and
told her all | intended to do. L would
come there late in the evening, go UNI
observed into the dark chamber and be
shut up in the fort for the night. !
would take some candles and tools with
me and dig out the sand from the hole.
In the morning | could slip out unob-
served. l would do this every night I'M
til had penetrated into the chamber !
was looking for.
&c think that is dreadful said Miss
Mallette. "You will take your death OF
cold in that damp place; the sand will
cavei in on you and bury you, and you'll
have to sleep all day, which will give you
no time for riding or anything else. Be-
sides, how are you going to get shovels
dliI SICu lHuO IllC lOlt
their seeing you?"
(" shall want but few tools" said,
" and have thought of way to get
them in. Late this afternoon l am go
ing to lower arope from some northern
point on the barbette, where few people
ever 90, down to the moat 1t won't be
noticed; and then tomorrow I'll bring
some tools in boat, tie them to the
lower end of the rope, and cover them
over with brushwood. Then, after
have been shut up tomorrow night I'll
haul them up
Tomorrow nightr' she exclaimed.
$50 soon as that?'
Yes" l said; if the thing is to be
done, itmight as well be done at once, u
The next day, despite good deal Of
Encouragement from Miss Mallette,
carried out my plan. Late in the after.
noon she went with me to the fort
There were good many visitors about
and it was some time before l had an
opportunity to slip into the dark cham
Der. took leave of her at the door.
'It's a perfectly horrid place!" said
she, looking in, land wish you would
give up the whole thing this minute"
II wish you took more interest in w
I said. 'But l must not keep you here
any longer Good night"
Thus virtually dismissed, Miss Nal
lette walked quietly away, while slow.
ly CROPPED inch by inch to the interior Of
the sombre cavern, where l felt for 8
corner, in which ! deposited the candle;
and other necessary articles | had
brought in my pockets. 1 had not been
here long before heard the sound Of
approaching voices, and in a few
moments group of tourist visitors made
their appearance at the open door. Tt
my amazement, Miss Mallette was one
of them. At first thought she had be-
trayed me, and had brought these people
to laugh at me. But soon perceived
that my suspicious were unworthy ones
The ladies and gentlemen peereG
through the door, exclaiming at the
dreariness of the place. Then one o.
them lighted paper, as many visitor
had done before, and tried to peer into
the interior. The flame lighted up theil
faces, and could see that that of Miss
Mallette was filled with painful anx
iety lest should be discovered. But
knew this could not be, and it amused
me to stand there and look at them, feel
ing certain they could not see me.
| Il . ~ 4 \