Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-04-03
CHAPTER XIII.
WHAT HAPPENED TO STELLA.

WHAT HAPPENED TO STELLA
The fight was over. In all we had
lost seven men killed, and several more
were severely bitten, while but few had
escaped without some tokens whereby
he might remember what a baboon's
teeth and claws are like. How many OF
the brutes we killed 1 never knew, be-
cause we did not count, but it was vast
number. should think that the stock
must have been low about Babyan's
Peak for many years afterwards. From
that day to this, however, have always
avoided balloons, feeling more afraid of
them than any beast that lives.
The path was clear, and we rushed
forward up the water-course. But first
we picked up little Tota. The child
was not in a swoon, as I had thought,
but paralyzed by terror, SO that she
could scarcely speak. Otherwise she
week to recover her nerve. Had she been
older, and had she not remembered
Hendrika, doubt if she would have re-
covered it. She knew me again, and
flung her little arms about my neck,
clinging to me so closely that did not
dare to give her to any one else to carry
lest 1 should add to her terrors. So
went on with her in my arms. The
fears that pierced my heart may well be
imagined. Should 1 find Stella alive or
dead? Well, we should soon know now.
We stumbled on up the stony water
course; Notwithstanding the weight of
Tota 1 led the way, for suspense lent
me wings. Now we were through, and
an extraordinary scene lay before US.
We were in a great natural amphithea-
ter, only it was three times the size of
any amphitheater ever shaped by man,
and the walls were formed of precip-
itous cliffs, ranging from one to two
hundred feet in height. For the rest,
the space thus inclosed was level, stud
ded with park-like trees, brilliant with
flowers, and having stream running
through the center of it, that, as l after
wards discovered, welled up from the
ground at the head of the open space.
We spread ourselves out in a line,
searching everywhere, for Tota was too
Stella was hidden away. For nearly
half an hour we searched and searched,
the walls of rock for any pos
sible opening to cave. In vain, we
could find none. I applied to old In
but his foresight was at
fault here. All he could say was that
this was the place, and that the Star
was hidden somewhere in a cave, but
where the cave was he could not tell.
at last we came to the top Of the amphi-
theater. There before US was a wall of
rock, of which the lower parts were
here and there clothed in grasses,
lichens and creepers. 1 walked along
it, calling at the top of my voice.
Presently my heart stood still, for
thought heard faint answer. 1 drew
nearer to the place from which the
sound seemed to come, and again called.
Yes, there was an answer in my wife's
voice. 1t seemed to come from the rock.
went up to it and searched among the
but still could find no opening.
''Move the stone," cried Stella's voice,
'the cave is shut with stone"
took spear and prodded at the
lift whence the sound came. Suddenly
he spear sunk in through mass of
ichen. swept the lichen aside, reveal
ng bowlder that had been rolled into
IN opening in the rock, which it fitted so
that, covered as it was by the
'verhanging lichen, it might well have
escaped the keenest eye. We dragged
he bowlder out; it was two mems work
o do it. Beyond was narrow, water
worm passage, which followed with a
'eating heart. Presently the passage
'pened into small cave, shaped like a
tickle bottle, and coming to a neck at