New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03
FOUR MEN IN A CAVE.
LIKEWISE FOUR QUEENS; AND A SULLIVAN
COUNTY HERMIT.

| tall pine Oh HILL - .,
The little man was standing In iroho vi 'ne
campfire making Grafton to his companions
1--WE can tell a great tale when we get back 10
tho city II we investigate this thing said he
| in conclusion
They wtr: won.
Tho U.t,. r.on Yves determined to explore
cave. because its black mouth had gaped at him.
| The four men took lighted pine-knots ana CAM
bered over boulders down hill. In thicke'
on the mountaiu-side lay little tilted hole. Al
, its side they halted.
We'll ~ said the little man.
They fonght for last place and the little man
was overwhelmed. lie tried to struggle Hoh
under by crying that if the fat, pudgy man came
| after he would be corked. But he finally ad-
| m;nistercd a cursng over his shoulder and
crawlcd into the hole. His companions glngery
followed.
4 passage, the floor OF damp clay and pebbles,
the walls Shiny, green-mossed and dripping, soped
downward In the cave-atmosphere the torcheS
became studio, in red blaze and black smoke
"IIo., cried the little man, stiied and be-
dragglcd lets 90 back His companions were
not brave They were last. The next one 10
the little man pushed him on, so the little man
said suphurous words aud cautiously continue"
his crawl.
uneven ceiling, ready TO drop upon the mems
bar. nccks Under their hands the clammy
Toor seemed alive and writing. When
Tho little nan enicavored to stand
crec, the ceiling forced him down. Knobs
and noints came out and punched him. HIS
clothes were wet and Undiscovered, and his eyes,
NEARLY blinded by smoke, tried TO pierce the
darkness always before his torch
"Oh. / say, You fellows, LET'S go back criei
he At that moment he caught the CLEAN OF
trembling light in the blurred shadows before
him.
"Ho!7 10 said, here's another way out"
The passage turned abruptly. The little man
put one hand around the corner but IL tonchei
no,bing lie investigated and discovered that
the little corridor took sudden dip down bill
At the bottom shone yellow light.
The little man wrigg!cI painfully about ana
descended feet In advance The others followed
his plan All picked their way with ANXIOUS
care Tie traitOrous rocks rolled from *neat"
the litte man feet and roared thnnderouSiy
below him. Lesser stones, looscned ny the men
ahove him, hit him in the back. lie galne1
seemtnQly firm foothpi and turning half about.
sworc redly at his companions for dolts and care
less fools The pudgy man sat, putting ana per-
spring. 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
angered him.
Go on, you fool he shouted Poor painted
man, you are afraid
Ilol- sad the lirtle man. come down here
and go on yourself imbecile!'
The pud2y man vbrated with passion lie
leaned downward idiot
lie was interrupted by one OF his feet which
flew ont and crashed into tle man il front OF and
below him. II IL not well TO quarrel upon slip
perry incline, when the unknown is below. Inc
fat man, having lost the support of one pillar
ike foot, lurchcd forward. His body sno'e
the next man, who hurtled into the next man.
Then they all fell upon the cursng little man
They slid in a body down over the slippery.
Shiny floor of the passage The stone avenue
must have wibhlewobbcd with the rush of this
hall of tangled men and stranglci cries The
torches went out with the combined assault
upon the little man. The adventures whirled
20 the unknown in darkness The little man
felt that he WINS pitching 10 death. but even In
his convolutons he bit and scratched AZ his
companions. for he WINS satisfied that il was their
fault The swiring mass went some twenty feet
and liz upon a level dry place in strong, yell
low light OF candles II dissolved and became
eyes.
The four men lay IN heap upon the floor Of
a gray chamber. a small fire smouldered In
corner, the smoke disappearing in n crack In
another corner was bed Of faded hemlock boughs
and two blankets Cooking utensils and clothes
lay about, with boxes and II barrel.
OF these things the four men took small cog
uizance The pudgy man did not cure the
little man. nor did the little man swear. in the
abstract Eight widened eyes were fixed upon
the centre OF the room Of rocks
A great gray stone. ont squarey. like an altar,
AT in the middle OF the floor. Over il burned
three, candles in swaylng tin cups hung from
the ceiling Before IL. with what seemed TO b.
a small volume claspd in his yellow fingers,
stood man He an Infinitely sallow person
in the brown checked shirt Of the rloughs and
COWS. The rest OF his apparel was boots. long
gray beard dangled from his chin. lie fixed
elinting, fiery eyes upon the heap Of men and
remained motionless Fascinated. their tongues
clcaving their blood cold. they arose 10 their
feet The cleaning glance of the recluse swept
slowly over The group until II found the face of
the little man. There 1t stayed and burned.
The little man shyiveled and crumpled AS the
dried leaf under the glass
Finally the rccluse slowly. deeply spoke
IL WIS true voice from cave. cold. solemn aud
damp.
It's your ante he said.
What? p" said the little man.
The hermit tilted his beard and laughed
laugh that WINS either the chatter of lanshec
in "A storm OF the rattle of pebbles in n tin box.
His visitors flesh seemed ready 10 drop from
their bones.
They huddlcd together and cast fearful eyes
over their shoulders. They whispered.
A vampire said one
A ghoul." snid another
"A Druid before the sacrifice murmured
another.
The shade Of an Aztec witch DOCTOR" said
the little man.
As they looked. the inscrutabe's face under
went change. IL necarc II livd background