San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-12
"a NIGHT In HADES. !"
BY EDWARD sTAPLEToN.

ed by the quick spiteiul crack, crack, OF
thunder; Immediately over my head
saw by the flash, two short, tbiGk-set
and frightfully ugly men with long,
black boards; each held one OF my arms
SO tightly that TO struggle was useless.
could not scream, for handkerchief
was tied over my mouth.
could not understand why
they treated me so roughly, for
| had never harmed anyone
In my life, and had never seen these
men before. did not think much about
myself. only thought OF my poor baby
which was left in the BED, and what my
dear husband would do when he found
me absent.
The 10y wind chilled me through as
they carried me out into the rain and
sleet; they hurried on until about a nile
from the village, when ! was put upon
my feet, which. being bare, were soon
laoerated by the rocks and stubbie over
which they forced me.
Ii appeared that We had travelled
many hours, when we stopped near what
seemed TO be an old well. | was weak
and sank in heap upon the ground, I'M
able to escape, even though the chance
should present itself. | saw the fiends
flor they could not be humsD) lift large
slab from the well, aid became aware
Of their purpose, which was to make
that well my grave. tore the handker-
chief from my face and shrieked with all
my might, but my mouth was soon
stopped by one Of the rough hands.
struggled as those only can who are
about to be thrust into another world
before their time. | clutched the rocks
at the mouth OF the we'll till the
m
arms. | cried for mercy but was an
swered only by hooking laugh as they
forced me to let go my hold with their
feet.
Down! down! slid on dark, damp
Shiny ledge, dug my nails into the soft
horrible mass on the wall with the vain
hope of saving myself, but my hands
were Immediately full OF the stuff. |
could hear the fiendish laugh of the men
dying away with my descent; | cried In
despair as the sound Of falling water
grew louder and louder, my eyes
seemed as though they were being
driven out, my head began to swim,
and l felt myself turning over
towards the edge OF the ledge, but was
powerless to avert my fate. the muscles
Of my whole body drew themselves into
hard knots when / knew that | was fall
Ing! falling!
Tremember no more till found my
self lying on something like spOngy sea-
weed, | with difficulty struggled into
sitting posture, and looked around.
WAS in an immense cave, the top OF
which was invisible. There were mil
lions of large fire flies whose phOs-
phorescent bodies gave sufficient light
for me TO see my surroundings
FOL lnk n
water OF which was evidently un-
wholesome. and though vas parchtd
dared not drink, but sat looking at its
smooth surface and wondering whether
10 contained life whittier IL went so
slowly, and so treaCherOusly, when near
me there arose silently, and without
disturbing the apparently thick water,
a head OF the crocodile type, ctpt that
the fore head stood out ike a large bail
under which two small green eyes looked
steadily at me. | tried TO rise, but could
not through fear. | could almost hear
the beating OF my heart increase as
the head gradually sank as slowly
and noiselessly as il appeared, |
sprang to my feet, as soon as IL WAS
out of sight. and fed. On reaching the
side Of the cave | followed 1t 10 hopes
OF finding an opening through which |
could escape; | came upon the ledge
from which | had fallen, and could see
far up, the termination of the dark path
which my body had made in the funguR,
far, far above, | saw what appeared TO
be star, but knew 1t was the opening
through which | had been thrust, that
speck of natural light gave me hope
but for n moment for how could | climb
the steep ledge? No, l must seek some
4 a ltv.., L..
the thing form the lake might pu sue me.
| could hear the roar of the falling wa
ter within hundred yards, and fled In
the opposite direction, the light from
the flies was fast diminishing and soon
ell was a blank. | CROPPED my way
dreadlng lest each step should launch
me into some horrible pool or down a
precipice; at times | trOd on some wrig-
Cling thing which made my blood run
cold. / was glad to find q narrow pass
age through which | crawled; il was
like going into the jaws of death, but
even that could not be more fearful than
the sickening things left behind. On 1
went,never stopping to rest; my strength
was far beyond what was natural
TO me. | must have dragged myself a
mile, or more, when | began to be eX-
hsusted, and the air being barely suf-
fclent to support life, felt stifled, as
though inhsliRg sulphur. rested for a
moment, the grave could not be more
silent except for the sound of my own
breathing, which was IsbOred dry, and
rasping, like one with asthma.
But for the hope Of seeing my husband
and child again death would have been
welcome.
l began my journey again each move
ment OF nv stifening limbs sending a
sharp pain through me like a knife. |
travelled for long time, though | could
not have gone far, when the passage
began 20 get larger and | saw a faint
light like the rays of the moon, which
reminded me Of the happy evenings
spent long ago with one Of the best men
10 the world, with him. who was now
my husband. 1 prayed for strength
to make my escape, and getting
upon my feet, with difficulty. walked
slowly towards the light, but as neared
the end Ofthe passage the whole place
trembled with the thunder OF mighty
body Of falling water. Timidly, went
to the opening and felt sick with anx-
iety. lest, on finding myself In the open
air. might not be able to get over what
was perhaps deep rsvine.
L fell upon my knees and thanked
God for my deliverance, when found |
was In purer air and with plenty of
room TO travel.
The light Of the stars (Which seemed
unusually bright to my delighted eyes)
showed me the immense water fall and
the deep, deep chasm into which l mad
ly plunged.
| cautiously peeped over the edge, but
all was black beneath and nm InOkinU Of