Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-05-29

glad, for it panied him to see his
friend so nersistently melancholy.
One morning they landed in a
beautiful cove Of small island near
the Swan islands in the Caribbean
sea- This island is not over half a
mile square aasl can be found on no
map save a nautical chart Of that
region. It's south shore is flinged
with palm trees, and magnolias,
bananas, oranges, citrons, and
various other trees and shrubs are
scattered over the whole island. some
single or il small groups and others
miniature forests or gro 5es. THIS
island appeared Of volcanic er.s in,
the center OF it was twenty feet
higher than the zc;relm9 9serenea. an
covered by fat rocks The eastern
shore was rocky rising, almost direct
~ from the waters edge to the height
Of fifteen feet, for a distance of about
a quarter Of {. mile Near TIE center
OF this cliff was Il tssure in the rock
about two feet wide. The morning
the Petril landed there, Dick went
ashore with the others, and wandered
around The eastern shore alone The
island was very beautiful and his curl
oaity was aroused; for he had heard
of how the pirates had used many Of
these islands as rendezvous. When
he came to this 1issure, he stopped.
He could see by peering in that the
crevice led back into the rock long
distance, but could not discover the
end. Said he to himself, This may
be the entrance to a large cave; and if
a large cave. it IS likely to have been
known to the pirates. So here goes"
So saying, he commenced to work his
way Inward. He had not gone two
yards before the fissure widened into
a passage. A few rays of light feebly
glimmered down from above. Dick
advanced perhaps ten yards when he
was forced to come to stop. for the
way closed before him, in the shape
OF & soild wall of rock. ''Nell, WELL"
he muttered, this is funny. Let me
see. Why here is an old sash: some
body has been here before me-" Ex-
amining the wall carefully and tap
ping it with d small hatchet he car
ried with him, be made the startling
discovery that the wall was not solid,
as it gave back q hollow sound to his
Suddenly he espied the end
of a rope dangling from above. Seeing
it he tried to pull it down, but with
out success. Upon a second effort,
however, much to his surprise, the end
Of the passage turned, as on a pivot,
giving MIN entrance ahead. It now
looked as though Dick was to have
real adventure. Drogppin the rope
he walked through the entrance to
the cave beyond There was hole
in the roof that let in the golden sun
light without stint OH the beauties
Of that cave are beyond the descript-
i've powers Of mortal pen. The vault
ed roof fairly blazed with glittering
of blue, purple, CRIMSON,
red, green, amber and gold. They
were stalactites Of precious stones,
formed by that great alchemist Nature,
III his secret laboratory. Here and there
arose gigantic columns supporting
the expansive dome, grand old arches
glittered with a thousand brilliancies
in every direction. This cave was,
perhaps, one hundred yards square;
but it had numerous branches, and
these, our Richard proceeded to ex-
plore. Turning INTO one at the right
he espied an immence carved chest
lying open. ''Ha! ha:" thought he,
Now we have it, This chest con
tanned Spanish gold coin, diamonds,
and rich antique jewelry Of all de-
Stacked in one corner of
the cave were cutlasses, swords mus
kets and many other Instruments of
naval warfare. Another chest, which
Dick opened, contained leathern sacks
filed with gold dust, and, hanging on
5he wall was crucifix while on the
sandy floor, directly under it, lay the
skull of a human being with the top
crushed in. The sight made Dick !
,hudder and recalled him to his senses.
What if the place should be inhabit
ID noB" thought he. IF they find
ne they will kill me, and then good |
oye to poor Charlie and Maeduff;
good bye to all hopes Of ever winning
he hand Of Marguerite Fairdale. /
When he thought Of her tender
ceiling crept over him and he softly 7
'epeated
In thee, I fondiy hoped to clasp
A friend, whom death alone could sever;
TIL envy, with malignant grasp.
Detach'd thee from lny breast forever
aAh, no, dear heart, not forever
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