The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-07-06
A form came splnahiHg through the
CHAPTER y.
IN THE USDEK wOELD.


4.-------
A form cn7ae SpIHAhing through the
1IttcT.
There was not a ray Of light; the very
darkness seemed 10 press upon him bodi-
ly. and the silence was only broken by
that ceaseless murmur Of the Swollen
river. He fancied every moment that
he heard Chalpa or one Of his compan-
ions returning. He could scarcely be-
Iieve that they really meant to leave
him there. But the minutes passed; he
could now hear his heart beating in a
tu1uult Of mingled dread and vexation.
Angry resentment against Kulcan, Ikla-
pei and Jau-ila burned in his bosom, al |
teruating with regret and despair when |
he thought Of Leila, probably also vic
tim to Chalpa's wilcS.
Suddenly distant sound fell upon
his ears. He raised his head to listen.
II came Inuffled to him, as Of blows |
upon stone; then sound of falling ma
sonry, clear and distinct, though far |
away. Was help coming to him even |
now? He lay fiat upon ms back, bound |
hand and foot, and already felt stiff and
feeble. lie hoped they would hurry;
this irksome position and continued
strain was not the best treatment for "a
convalescent How long they were III
coming! He tried to wait patiently, to
think Of other things, in order to dis
tract his mind, for he felt that they
might be longer in the search for him
than his captOrs had been III bringing
him there. Perhaps they might wander
off into other passages, too, before they
reached him.
He tried to be patient and to wait
with a serene mind. A long time
elapsed; he Thought that he had been
there for perhaps two hours and began
to feel again the horrible creeping
dread. The idea now occurred to him
that the noises he had heard had been
caused by Chalpa blocking up the
mouth of the tunnel This came with
the force of conviction to his mind and
took his breath away. His mind reeled
with the thought of dying III this man
ner, and he almost lost consciousness.
Then came another accession of cour-
age, and he tried to remember how long
starvation. Men have lived, he knew,
for days, then died in wild insanity, I'M
conscious of suffering. Must he lie there
and feel death creeping closer i'll that
black yault--a death full Of nameless
terrors, unseen horrors, unable even to
struggle against it-or beat his hands
against the prison walls-without one
ray of light? He tried to turn over,
intending to make an effort to hob
BILE on his knees back toward the en-
trance, but he was too stiff and feeble to
more than raise his head and shoulders
by pressing his elbows upon the floor.
After half minutes struggle he sank
back with groan.
Benumbed and lethargic he began to
hear strange music; the songs of birds,
the lowing of cattle and the barking of
dogs, and then fitfnl CLEANS of light
danced and flickered before his eyes.
Yet he knew they were unreal-that the
silence of the grave enCompassed him,
and that his unruly brain engendered
them. Then suddenly, in the midst of
these, he heard a real sound, SO clear
and distinct that it smote upon his ear
like bells tolling. TWAS the sound of
water. ripplinr aud darling close to his
side. With silvery cadence it splashed
and gurgled, and he felt its presence in
the sudden GOODNESS and dampness that
it brought. With every sense alert he
listened. twas close beside him. What
could it mean? 1t flowed thus for awhile,
and then its splashing seemed to cease,
and there remained gentle ripping.
Then, to his horror, he felt its icy touch
upon his feet, and in moment it was
round and about. him, tapping his body
hungrily.
1t rose rapidly. He could feel it COM
Ing up and swelling against his sides.
He had raised his head when he first be-
gan to listen, and when he let it fall now
the water was above his chin. He raised
his head again, and then began another
struggle to lift himself upon his feet.
He gained his knees, his head Keeling
with the effort; the water was already
up to his waist. He swayed from side
to side, scarcely able to support himself
Cold shivers racked him; he trembled as
with an ague, and he felt that in an
other minute he would lose conscious
ness.
Then, while life seemed just departing
he-almost disbelieving-saw a light an
preaching, and form came splashine
through the water, and he was seized by
strong hand. How his life and strength
came surging back. He heard the words
"a moment more and old Listah would
have been too later and then Listah GU
the thongs which bound his arms. ant
reaching down into the water severed
those about his feet. Hasten, Quetzal
or wa shall die like rats in trapl Fol
low thy servant quickly"
1t was no easy matter; but a few
stumbling steps brought the blood int
circulation, and leaning upon the ole
man he staggered on. Up they went
the water decreasing in depth at every
step until at last Listah stopped, saying
"We are safe here, for we are abov,
the rivers surface. Now rest awhile
and then We will eat. Then my maste
viii strike and punish the accursed O.
Atzlan, the cheating Chalpa, will b,
not!''
Eric said nothing. He looked at Listah
wondering by what strange providenc,
he had found him and saved his life
After moment he drew his revolver ant
examined it. The waterproof cartridges
he knew, were able to Withstand sever,
soaking. He wiped the weapon upo1
the bosom of his Atzlan trnic, the onl,
dry portion of his garments, then he an
swered:
eyes, my brother, will repay Chal
pa, and speedily. But tell me how 70,
found me?''
"Last night /, thy servant-abroa(
from my hiding place under the city
saw them seize thee. Fearing them,
made no outcry, but followed stealthily
Trey disappeared in the old tomb, ant
When they emerged saw that they hat