Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-09-26
Four Men In A Cave.

The moon rested for a moment on
the top of tall pine on hill.
The little man was standing in front
of the camp fire making an Grafton to
his companions.
eve can tell great tale when we
get back to the city, if we investigate
this tEing,'' said he in conclusion.
They were won.
The little man was determined to
explore a cave because its black
mouth had gaped at him. The four
men took lighted pine knots and clam
bered over powders down a hill. In
a thicket on the mountain side lay a
little tilted hole. At it's side they
halted
<<Well?' said the little man.
They fought for last place and the
little man was overwhelmed. He
tried to struggle from under by cry
ing that if the fat, pudgy man came
after he would be corked. But he
finally administered cursing over his
shoulder and crawled into the hole.
His companions gingerly followed.
4 passage, the floor of damp clay
and pebbles, the walls, Shiny, green
messed and dripping, sloped down
ward. In the cave atmosphere the
torches became studies in red blaze
and black smoke.
S'Ho!" cried the little man, stifed
and bedraggled, '1et's go back" His
companions 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 endeavored to stand erect the
ceiling forced him down. Knobs and
points came out and punched him.
His clothes were wet and mud cover
ed, and his eyes, nearly blinded by
smoke, tried to pierce the darkness
always before his torch.
sob, I say, you fellows, let's go
back" cried he. At that moment he
caught the CLEAN of trembling light
IN the blurred shadows before him.
"HoI' 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 sudden dip down
Il hill. At the bottom shone yellow
light.
The little man wriggled painfully
about and decended feet in advance.
The others followed his plan. All
picked their way with anxious care.
The traitorous rocks rolled from be-
meath the little mans feet and roared
thunderously below him. Lesser
stones, loosened by the men above
him, hit him in the back. He gained
a seemingly firm foothold, and turn
ing half about swore redly at his COM
panfons for dolts and careless fools.
The pudgy man sat, putting and per-
spring, high in the rear Of the pro-
cession. 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.
$50 on, you fool" he shouted,
sEPoor, painted man, you are afraid!'
"Ho!" said the little man, "come
down here and go on yourself, imbe
ciiei"
The pudgy man vibrated with pas
sion. He leaned downward. "Idiot"-
He was interrupted by one Of his
feet which flew out and crashed into
the man in front and below him. 1t
Is not well to quarrel upon slippery
incline, when the unknown is below.
The fat man, having 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 slide in a body down over the
slippery, Shiny floor of the passage.
The stone avenue must have wibble
wobbled with the rush of this ball of
tangled men and strangled cries. The
torches went out with with the COM
bined assault upon the little man. The
adventures whirled TO the unknown
IN darkness. The little man felt that
ne was pitching to death, but even in
his constitutions he bit and scratched
at his companions, for ne was satisfied |
that it was their fault The swirling
mass went some twenty feet and lit
upon level dry place in strong,
yellow light of candles. 1t dissolved |
and became eyes. The four men Law