Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-06-12

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SHE PUSHED HIM FROM THE BRINK.
cave while the chief observed the con-
tour of the rocks, seeking a suitable
place to land. At length his eyes found
out an inlet, which, piercing the rocks
diagonal1y, was comparatively still. A
good crew might bring a boat ashore
thus safely, and in his eagerness the
Chief resolved to try. He ordered q
boat to be manned.
While it was being lowered Sho Mai
watched the sailors with her heart in
her throat. Would the chief make his
Investigations alone or would he take
her with him? Her chance of escape,
and, indeed, her safety from immediate
death might hang upon this issue. She
had told him that she would go as a
guide, but he had not replied, md the
agony of suspense which she now suf-
fered was like to rend her slender frame
in pieces. After what seemed IN inter-
val of hours the boat was ready, and
the Chief, turning to her, waved his
hand in token that she was to &C
company him. In the sudden rush of
Joy her woman's nature had nearly con-
quered her, and for an instant she felt
that she would faint and fall upon the
deck; but the danger passed, and lifting
up her head as if in triumph, she stepped
to the rail and descended into the wait
ing boat. The sailors pulled Justify,
and the boat, passing safely over the
great swells, came into the lietle inlet,
and the party disembarked Upon the
rocks.
To say what Sho Mai felt as she stood
once more upon this spot, made memoir
able by her first escape from the oceans
perils, and hallowed by the c~ords of
love which she had heard here, might
be to read the whole lesson .of the
human heart. Here the good argel of
her destiny had made his power mani
fest in the past; here the God of Love
had shown his face; and here at this
moment the voice of one most dear TO
her seemed to echo from the rocks, nd
the sound was like the whisper: ''ConI-
age!''
Three men were left to guard the
boat, and the others, with the Chief,
followed Sho Mai toward the mouth of
the cave. She led them not by the
led by the pool and the gorge, but did
not permit of descent to them. Follow
ing this they were soon deep in the
caves shadows, and to them, as to her,
when she had first been cast into this
place, came the horrible voices of the
giants mingled with the rush of the
waves. The sailors, though their hearts
were stout enough upon tho sea, were
terrified at these sounds, and itrequired
all the Chiefs authority to urge them
forward. The wind drawing in gusts
through the passages of the great cave
beat down the flames of the torches sc
that they gave little light. At length
ShO Mai led them to the terrace below
which the twin giants rolled in their
endless course.
1.-The waves must have driven the
treasure there" said Sho Mai, pointing
downward.
All the sailors pressed forward to the
brink, avarice for a moment beating
down their fears. but when in the gray
CLEAN of the phosphorescence they saw
the dim shapes hurrying to and fro, they
broke into chorus of frightened cries.
and rushed wildly back toward the en-.
trance, flinging away their torches and
as they fled that the demons
were in pursuit of them.
Sho Mai and the Chief were Left alone
by the side of the fearful chasm. The
girt looked at him and saw that the
hand in which he held the torch trem
bled with fear, and in the Pickering
light his face was haggard and drawn
with fear, and as she gazed at him Sho
Mai thought of his cruel bravado in the
presence of the helpless captiyes he
had numbered; she remembered his
lood-thirstiness and his crimes; she re-
called his wicked boasting and con.
trasted it with the cowai.1ice which was
now made manifest. AID she loathed |
and hated this man wit. detesta ton
which no other human Faing had ever
awakened in her breass His wretched |
ife alone now stood bees-een her and |
freedom.
''Dost thou believe in the demons OF |
he cave?" she said, recalling TIE cruel |
question which he had asked OF thoss |
Who were slain by his command on board |
he pirate junk. ''Dost thou believe in
he demons of this cave?" she repeated, |
,ending toward him.
Yes, yes,'' he faltered, while his
lnees knocked together.
Then go to them she shriel1ed, and
pushed him from the brink.
ITO RE CONTINUED