The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-23

started for Sedgwick, Frank was left be-
hind, the fatigue of SO long a journey being
deemed too great for his enfeebled con
dition.
Frank, who was dreamer, as all boys
are, lay there on his lofty perch watching
the receding tide. while his mind was oc'
cupied with series of the most enchanting
pictures ever painted by the youthful i'm.
agination. Lower and lower the boiling
waters fell, disclosing the black and Jagged
rocks at the foot of the cliff.
After time the boy sat up, looking over
toward the village as if to assure himself
that he was unmatched, but the juttinR
rocks effectually hid him from the view
of any who might be disposed to look that
way.
He drew from his pocket luncheon OF
bread, dried fish and cheese, portion OF
which be proceeded to eat, carefully re-
serving the remainder for his further need.
When be had dispatched his frugal meal
he opened package which lay beside him
and examined with care the contents,
which were several candles, box OF
matches and a quantity of thin but strong
cord, such as the fishermen used for thelr
lines.
The tide was now at its lowest ebb. The
boy brought from the stunted bushes a
| shovel and pick, which he attached to
the line, and, dropping them over the edge
of the cliff, lowered them down into the
surging waters below. Then he secured
the end of the line to stout stake which
be drove into crevice of the rock.
Steadying himself with the cord the
youth began to Chamber down the almost
perDendscuiar wall beneath him. 1t was a
periIous descent, but the light frame and
clear head'of the young adventurer enabled
him to accomplish it without accident
The spray dashed up by the waves fell
upon him like rain as he paused to rest for
a moment on a narrow ledge at the base OF
the cliff. Resur ng his journey he care
! fully advanced ,ntil he stood beside an
opening in the rock. The furious waters
boiled beneath him, and at intervals a
wave higher than the rest threatened to in.
! gulf him.
! Watching his opportunity Frank placed
! his foot upon the dripping threshold, and
/ passed under the low, natural arch that
/ formed the upper part of the opening. A
wave came Kissing after him as if to drag
! him back, but he clung to the rugged sides
| of this strange doorway, and after sharp
| scramble stood upon the floor of the cave
within.
A flush of triumph glowed upon the pale
cheek of the boy and new light CLEANED
! in his eye as he broke the silence, saying:
"Here l am in King Solomon's tomb! 1t
was an awful job to get here, and wonder
! if | shall find what ] came after?"
His audible soiiloquy brought him no re-
/ sponse but the echoes which rolled and
! reverberated like distant thunder through
! the cave.
Frank relapsed into silence, but con-
tinued his line Of thought:
"It is strange that none of the people OF
! the village ever dared venture into this
| cave. Really, am Christopher Colum-
/ bus on a small scale, discovering new
worlds, or, at least, reclaiming that which
| has almost passed from the memory Of
man"
! Remembering some ulterior purpose that
had brought him to the place he hauled in
/ the cord, which he still retained in his
hand, until the shovel and pick, which
/ were attached to the end, clattered on the
/ floor at his feet.
! When This was done he turned his atten-
tion to his surroundings.
Pitchy darkness prevailed throughout
the cave, except for small space around
where the young explorer stood; there it
was relieved by the faint light which came
through the entrance.
Lighting a candle he held it aloft and
beheld a scene 81 dazzling beauty. vast
gothic catheurl seemed to rise out of the
darkness. Great arches of living rock
formed the roof, from which depended
stalactiues Lich rrlracted the light and
giitjercd wit III ile hues of the rain bow.
Tue walls -eauad set with rubies, dia.
monds, emerald and sapphires, and the
drops of WAFER as lAey fell upon the hard
floor and splashcd in the rebound spread
Il misty spIen iOr through the empty space.
That one li,,ie candle flame was multi
piled a thousand fold. filing the boy with
awe and admiration at the beauty it re-
vealed
in the middle Of the cave a large object
attracted Fraua's attention. 1t was a rock,
carvel and fge,tci by natures hand into
the most fantastic and beautiful designs
boah ia color and form Il seemed a huge
s.lrcophagus, gorgeoUsly adorned, the last
resting place of one of the tabled giants of
Arabian story.
Il See" cried the boy with enthusiasm,
Il see why the cave bears the name 1t does.
This is The coffin of King Solomon, as it is
called
1t was, indeed, tomb worthy of Israel's
wiseSt king.
Having satisfied himself as to the gen.
eral appearance Of the cave, Frank ap-
preached the coffin for the purpose of
closely inspecting it. 1t was evidently a
bowlder detached from the roof. and had
no doubt lain in its present position for
thousands OF years
Placing his candle upon a rock, he took
his pick and proceeded to make careful
examination OF the floor around the mimic
sarcophagus. At every stroke the point Of
the implement encountered the solid rock,
but the motive that inspired the labor
would not permit the boy to desist until
convinced that the stratum upon which he
stood was intact, as natures hand had
laid it.
Wearied with his exertious, he sat down
upon projection of the sarcophagus. and,
resting his head upon his hand, gave him
self up TO profound thought. His rehec-
tions at last found utterance in muttered
words. "Frauk." " said his inner self, you
are disappointed again. The pirates gold
you expected 70 find behind the coffin of
Solomon is not there. and you will have to
return to Boston as poer as you came"
Tears filled the boys eyes as the vision Of
his gentle, palefaced mother weary and
worn with toll aud anxiety, rose before him.
While he had been engaged in his search
the tide had turned. A wave rising TO the
level of the floor of the cave stole gently
toward him aud broke AZ foam around bis
feet He cast n startled glance at the en-
trance, where he saw that the water had
risen high enough TO bar that avenue of
escape