The Hawaiian gazette., 1891-03-03

menced to tremble, thinking that Aga
tina was surely dead.
The doctor approached the negress
and, passing his hand with rapid move
ment before her face said:
"' Are you there?'
c. Yes, MASTER
"' Sir Thomas Hawerburch, can you
see him?'
"The trembling recommended. Yes,
yes,' she said, in half-sutfocated tones !;
Il see himr
go Where is hep
"'Up there-at the bottom of the
cavern-deadp
90 Deadp said the doctor. 'HowT
THE spider-the spider-crab-ohp =
Be calm! said the doctor, himself
pale as death, and describe it to us
clearly
"' The spider-crab is fastened to his
throat He is there-down below
under the rock-its claws all round him.
Ahp
fhe doctor cast look around him
upon the crowd who stood there in a
circle, each ones eyes starting from his
head AID ] heard him mutter:
"' Horrible! horrIblep
Then he went on:
"' You still see him?'
"' see him.
"' And the SPIDERS it large"
Oh, master, never have l seen one
of such size, not even on the banks of
the Mocaris, or in the Konanama Jungle.
1t is as large as my headp
"There was long silence. The peas
ants looked on, trembling from fright
and with livid faces. The doctor, alone,
appeared calm. Having again passed
his hands before the servants face, he
went on:
as Agatha, tell US how death came to
Sir Thomas
"' He was bathing III the pool. The
spider was behind him and saw him. 1t
was hungry, having tasted for long
time, and watched him as he stood up to
his waist in the water. Suddenly 1t
darted like lightning, and planted its
claws around his neck. He cried out
only once "Oh! Oh! My Godl" Then it
stung him and drew him away; he sank
in the water and was dead. Then the
spider came again, spun web around
him, and drew him gently, qnite gently
to the back of the cavern. Now it is all
black again. l can see nothing
" The doctor, turning 10 me, asked:
"' Is it true, Frantz, that Sir Thomas
was bathing"
"' Yes, Cousin answered, almost
too frightened 10 speak.
''' AT what hour?
"' Four o'clock
"' -Four O'Clock! 1t was very warm at
that time, was it not"
So Yes, Cousin, very warm
90 | see it all, he cried, striking his
forehead, the monster could come out
without fear
''He spoke some words unintelligible
to all of us, and then, turning to the
crowd Of peasants:
"' My friends he cried, there is the
cause of the avalanche OF skeletons and
dead animals-that which has fright
ened away all the visitors-which has
ruined each one OF you. 1t is the spider
crab! 1t is there-iylng in wait for its
prey within the cavern! who can tell |
how many victims 1t has SHARED?
" And in sort of a fury he ru.hed out |
crying.
Torches! bring torchesr
The wood-cutlers followed after him. |
Ten minutes later, two wagons, filled |
with fagots, were slowly mounting the
all. The procession Of wood-cutters
Zach with his ak upon his shoulder, fol-
owed through the black night. The
ioctor and l walked in front, leading
'ur horses by the rein. From time to
ime we.w would hear the wheels grinding,
md then the wagons, raised for mo-
nent by the roughness of the road,
would lall back with heavy jolt into
ne well-worn ruts.
At the approach to the cavern, on
he Chevreuil pasture, the procession
anne to halt, the torches were lighted
nd We moved on toward the whirlpool.
The clear water gliding over its rocky
'ed reflected back the blue flames OF the
torches whose rays illuminated
he SUBMITS of the black fr-trees which
ent over from the rock.
We must unload here,' said the doc
Or, and piled the wood at the mouth of
be cavern.
Each man was soon at work, tho
ot without a feeling of half tear. The
igots were quickly pulled down from
Ne wagons, some stakes were driven in
1HO HCau VI Iiic spring " keep Dack
ne water from entering the cave.
BY midnight the cavern's mouth was
closed. The stream, i'm
eded in its course, spread ou. to right
nd lett over the velvety turf, but lett
ne wood on the uppermost part of the |
lie perfectly dry. Then Doctor Weber, q
,izing torch, himself applied light. =
lie flame running from branch to E
ranch with angry cracking, leaped up
ward the sky, chasing before it dense =
uuds Of smoke.
" 1t was strange and weird sight.
rom the cavern there belched forth a
Iick smoke, which as it made Its exit
as as quickly replaced by that from the
lrnlng pile. the wood cutters stood
ound in semicircle, silent, motion
rs, and with eyes intently fixed upon
e opening. | myself, tho trembling
om head to foot with fear, was COM :
etely fascinated, and could not with
aw my looks.
9 At the end of quarter of an hour :,
e doctor exhibited signs of impatience, y
hen suddenly black object, with long 81
ooked claws, appeared in the shadow
the cavern, and darted toward the
ening.
" a general cry went up from all those
0und the pile.
The spider, driven back by the K
mes drew back into the cave. then.