Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-08-14
FOUR MEN IN A CAVE


panions.
1--WE can tell a great tale when we get
back to the city, if we investigate this
thing" said he in conclusion.
They were won.
The little man was determined to explore
cave because its black mouth had CAPPED
at him. The four men took lighted pine
knots and clambered over powders down a
hill. In thicket ON the mountain side
lay little tilted hole. At its side they
halted.
''Wellp' said the little man.
They fought for last place and the little
man was overwhelmed. He tried to strug-
gle from under by crying that if the fat,
pudgy man came after he would be corked.
But be finally administered a cursing over
his shoulder and crawled into the hole.
His companions gingerly followed.
A passage, the floor Of damp clay and
pebbles, the walls, Shiny, green messed
and dripping, sloped downward. In the
cave atmosphere the torches became studies
in red blaze and black smoke
"Ho" cried the little man, stihed and
bedraggled, lets go back" His COM
panions were not brave. They were last.
The next one to the little man pushed him
on, so the little man said sulphurous words
and cautiously continued his crawl.
Things that hung seemed to be upon
the wet, uneven ceiling, ready TO drop
upon the mems bare necks. Under their
hands the clammy floor seemed alive and
writhing. When the little man endeav-
ored to stand erect the ceiling forced him
down. Knobs and points came out and
punched him. His clothes were wet and
mud covered, and his eyes, nearly blinded
by smoke, tried to pierce the darkness
always before his torch.
''Oh, | say, you fellows, let's go backl"
cried he. At that moment he caught the
CLEAN of trembling light in the blurred
shadows before him.
HOP he said, here's another way out
The passage turned abruptly. The little
man put one hand around the corner, but
it touched nothing. He investigated and
discovered that the little corridor took a
sudden dip down a hill At the bottom
shone yellow light.
The little man wriggled painfully about
and descended feet in advance. The others
followed his plan. All picked their way
with anxious care. The traitorous rocks
rolled from beneath the little mans feet
and rOared thunderously below him. Lesser
stones, loosened by the men above him, hit
him in the back. He gained seemingly
firm foothold, and turning half about
swore redly at his companions for dolts
and careless fools. The pudgy man sat,
putting and perspiring, high in the rear of
the procession. The fumes and smoke
from four pine knots were in his blood.
Cinders and sparks lay thick in his eyes
and hair, The pause of the little man an
gered him.
go on, you fool" he shouted. poor,
painted man, you are afraidr
Hop said the little man, come down
here and go on yourself, imbeciler
The pudgy man vibrated with passion.
He leaned downward. "Idiot"-
He was interrupted by one of his feet
which flew out and crashed into the man
in front of and below him. 1t is not well
to quarrel upon a slippery incline, when
the unknown is below. The fat man, hav-
ing lost the support of one pillarlike foot,
lurched forward. His body smote the next
man, who hurtled into the next man. Then
they all fell upon the cursing little man.
They slid in body down over the slip
perry, Shiny floor Of the passage. The stone
avenue must have wibblewobbled with
the rush of this ball of tangled men and
the combined assault upon the little man.
The adventures shirled to the unknown
in darkness. The little man felt that he
was pitching to death, but even in his con-
volutions he bit and scratched at his COM
panions, for he was satisfied that it was
their fault. The swirling mass went some
twenty feet and lit upon level dry place
in a strong, yellow light of candles. 1t dis
solved and became eyes.
The four men lay in heap upon the floor
of a gray chamber. a small fire smold-
cred in a corner, the smoke disappearing in
a crack. III another corner was a bed of
faded hemlock boughs and. two blankets.
Cooking utensils and clothes lay about,
with boxes and a barrel
OF these things the four men took small
cognizance. The pudgy man did not curse
the little man, nor did the little man swear
in the abstract. Eight widened eyes were
fixed upon the center of the room of rocks.
A gray stone, cut squarely, like an altar,
sat in the middle of the room. Over it
burned three candles in swaying tin cups
hung from the ceiling. Before it, with
what seemed to he a small volume clasped
in his yellow fingers, stood man. He was
an infinitely sallow person in the brown
checked shirt of the plows and cows. The
rest of his apparel was boots. A long gray
beard dangled from his chin. He fixed
glinting, fiery eyes upon the heap Of men
and remained motionless. Fascinated.
their tongues cleaving, their blood cold,
they arose to their feet. The cleaning
glance of the recluse swept slowly over the
group until it found the face of the little
man. There it staid and burned.
The little man shriveled and crumpled
as the dried leaf under the glass.
Finally the recluse slowly, deeply spoke.
II was a true voice from cave-cold, sol
emn and damp.
ats your ante" he said.
"Whati" said the little man.
The hermit tilted his beard and laughed
a laugh that was either the chatter of
banshee in a storm or the rattle of pebbles
in tin box. His visitors flesh seemed
ready to drop from their bones.
They. huddled together and cast fearful
nj