The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-14

not want it and returned it to tie Indian.
But the.latter refused to take it back, and
said as the sale had been made he should
have the money. A long dispute followed.
which ended by Frank throwing the bow
and arrows on the ground and driving
away.
The next day the party discovered a
magnificent cave, but were afraid 10 ex-
plore it very far, ard went away intend
ing to return shortly and get some of the
Indians TO act as guides TO its intricate
passages. But somehow or another they
never got to it. All went 10 their homes,
but Frank never forgot the cave, and last
week returned by himself and went to the
village to hunt an Indian guide. He had
forgotten all about his dispute over the
bow and arrows, and when the same big
Indian offered his services, did not recog-
nize him.
A bargain was soon made and some adj
vance money paid and they got in the
wagon and started for the cave, which was
reached IN couple OF hours. All the
time they spent on the road the Indian
acted rs If he could not do enough for the
man who had hired him. He would point
out interesting features of the landscape
and tell stories about different spots as
they drove past them. Frank was con-
graduating himself that he had secured
such valuable guide and the Indians
knowledge of the cave they we're about
to visit was all that could be expected.
The entrance to the cave was through a
very small opening, so horses and wagon
had to be left outside, and the Indian was
very careful to make them comfortable
and give them plenty of feed, as he said
they would be left alone for several hours
If thorough exploration of the interior
was made.
The inside of the cavern was certainly
wonder of nature and of the grandest di-
mansions. 1t was also full of broken pot
teIy and many curious utensils were seat
tered about. From the central chamber
passages led out in all directions. some of
which led 10 other chambers and others
simply became too small TO crawl through.
All of them were interesting and showed
unmistakable signs of having been occupied
by human beings at some very remote
period.
The guide was very particular to show
Frank all that he could find that he thought
would interest him, and no nook or corner
was left UNEMPLOYED. When Frank thought
he had about seen it all. the Indian an
neunced that the best part was still to
come, and led the way down very mar
row passage for several hundred yards,
when a large chamber was reached that
was literally filled with the most interest
ing relics.
Frank wanted to stop and make an ex-
come to the other side, where he said there
were many things much more interesting
Frank went. of course, and they reached
the edge of precipice ana looked down
into vault OF blackness. But it was not
black long. for the guide took bundle of
straw, and, after lighting it. threw it down.
1t burned brightly on the floor for several
minutes, and the surrounding walls were
shown to be most curious. The longer
Frank looked the more he saw, and at
once made up his mind to go down. The
walls were very steep, almost straight in
fact. and to get up or down them without
rope was impossible. But the guide had
carried n rope with him, which he pro-
duced, and dropped one end OF it TO the
bottom of the pit, about twenty-five feet
below.
He told Frank to hold one end as there
was nothing to tie it to and went down
himself to see that there was no danger of
any kind. He soon came back and told
Frank that he could go down and make a
more careful exploration.
That the Indian meant treachery never
entered Franks head. SO he climbed down
the rope with ease and was soon deeply in
teresLed in all the things he saw around
him. He gathered up few articles which
he intended to carry away as relics and
started for the place where the rope was
but did not tind it. He looked to the top
TO see where his guide was, but that gentle
man was not visible, so he called. A grunt
of an answer came and Frank called out TO
have the rope thrown down. 1t was done
in an instant and Frank was surprised to
find the whole thing in coil at his feet.
To say that he was surprised would be To
put II most mildly, but he thought it had
been dropped by accident, and that he
would have to wait while another was
obtained
But he was not left in doubt long as to
the real state of affairs. for his guide called
out, on like cave; you stay there. Me
no like you," and he then explained Win
he was aud told all about the bow and
arrow incident. Frank remembered IL
with difficulty, as TO him it was trivial
Incident; but ne realized how important
it had now become and attempted TO make
peace with the redskin. But it was lao use;
the Indian wanted only revenge and re-
fused offers of money and everything else
that he would generally have liked to
possess.
The argument was kept up for some
time, but the Indian only laughed and at
last took his departure. saying, You stay
there; nice place."
When Frank was left alone in the dark
ness lie realized that death stared him in
the face. He had never been all around
the chamber ana there was no apparent
way to get to the top. and if he could have
done so 1t would have been next to impos-
sible TO have got back to the entrance SO
many Intricate turnings were there and so
many tunnels that it was just as easy to get
into as not aud never strike the right one
There really seemed no hope and lie sank
in corner overcome with the horror of his
position.
But he didn't lay there long Nature
asserted herself. aud he was soon on his
feet and examining the rocky walls TO see
II there might be some place that would
give him hold enough so that he could
reach the top. He had only small piece
of candle. and that was rapidly burning SO
short that he could scarcely hold Ii.
Franks tour around the pit forced him