San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-07


closely and saw that Il was sort of map,
which showed several narrow passages
leading in different directions. One pass
age was marked in such a way as to give
o straight or nearly straight line, which
mad an opening at both ends, and the
other passages which branched out of this
appeared only for short distance, show
ins that either they had not been ex-
plofeu or that they led to nowhere in par
ticular.
They read in Spanish of old style and
phraseology what translated would be as
follows:
Map or chart of the submarine passage,
leading to the large island in view from
here to the eastward, and which we have
called Carolus isle. This passage was dis
covered by Don Cabanes di Saltillo, one of
us and brave man, who traversed it
alone in the month of Mary, under the
auspices of the Blessed Virgin herself, in
l6Ol. On the 22d day he set out, and on
the 10Th day he returned, after which
many of us have made the passage with
him, which is chiefly useful to us as a
means of escape if we should ever be at
tackled The outlet is at Martini's grave.
"This is very interesting" said George,
eft of other parts of the pirate band that
might come while the others were absent.
This hollow statuette was doubtless their
postoflice. Let's get ready to start in the
morning."
''Well, George, I'll go if you do, but
somehow / feel kind o. skeery."
''Oh, nothing can hurt us. It is likely
that the hollow was an outlet for steam
L..
process of formation, though l don't
exactly see how. | remember seeing a
book at home that had pictures, and
which told how the world was formed and
all about volcanoes, and think this must
have been one great big one, sure, that
left all these burnt rocks and barren
places the sailors told us of. -
''Well, We'll go and see; but hold on,
where is the opening of this place? Does
the paper say!'
NO" answered George, after studying
q long while and in a disappointed tone.
81 call that too badr' said he again.
o. perhaps it's better so,' said Maxwell,
somewhat relieved.
''I'll find the place if there is one" de-
clared George deliantly, and he shut his
lips tightly, and from that hour he began
to search everywhere for the opening
which led to this passage. He risked his
neck a dozen times, but TO no avail, and
his lack of success yexed him beyond
measure.
Maxwell was divided between two
sentiments, one of them being a sailors
superstitious fear of cayerns of any de-
scription, and particularly one which
went down so deep as it would have to to
reach the other island, for the island they
were on seemed to rise out of unfathom-
able depths of sea, without shore or
beach, and in consequence they would
naturally have to go down to an inter-
minable depth, and he didn't like it. The
other sentiment was fatherly love for
George and keen distress at his disap-
pointment.
Several days passed on, and they were
no nearer the solution of the mystery than
before, when one day they were both wan
dering about the desolate, clinker bound
island, and they stopped at the Titles stream
Of water which by the blessing of God
dubbed up in this otherwise forsaken
place. They drank and then sat down to
battle their feet in the cool water, when
Maxwell happened to raise his eyes, and
only few feet from where they sat, in
little depression, he saw a peculiar look
ing pile of stones which somehow made
him. think of a grave. They had evil
IDENTIFY been chosen out and fitted as
closely together as possible, and their
was clearly the work of
human hands.
Maxwell looked at them in silence and
hesitated about mentioning the discovery,
but after awhile he drew on his boots,
which were very much after the fashion |
of those one sees on the stage when pirates |
are represented, having wide ard loose |
legs, though one would naturally think |
that all that loose leather would have
been hindrance in good, sharp fight.
Maxwell then saunteIed slowly along
and upwards in that direction, and just
behind this pile of stones and broken Vi
treous rock and lava stood two or three
prickly, thorny bushes, such as grew here
in the clefts along the tiny stream, and as
he approached he saw that they had par |
TALLY hidden an opening in the rocks, and |
he was convinced that here was the en-
trance to that mysterious passage. He did |
not exactly want to tell, and he did not |
exactly like to deceive George; and then |
he thought il was more than likely George
would discover it himself some day, so he |
might as well tell him now. So he called. |
George, come over here! What do you |
make out'n that ar pile o. stoucs: DO you
s'posc that might he a graye?"
at won't be hard work TO find ont"
said George, already down on his knees
by one end of the pile of stone, and 1t was
not long before he had exposed skele-
toms feet. He turned away from it in
horror for few seconds and then rever-
emily replaced the stones, after which he
said:
"Max, the cave ought to be somewhere
is, if that is Martiui's grave,
and guess we'd better look"