Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-05-14

I possible visit from a providing wildcat
/ Then they wrapped themselves 10 tbcii
Blankets, and lay on the fragrant pine
bdngis.
: In spite Of the recent exciting events
they fol- asleep readily, and whcn
they opened their eyes The gray light
81 morning was spreading into the
cavern. There was scant spncr for Il
10 shine through. however. for the
ledge outside was blocked with snow
% The height Of seven or eight feet.
ever.
1t made the boys slightly uneasy TO
realize that they were securely impris.
nnrh from the outer world. and cunld
not 20 homo now n they wished. They
lrlt touch of homcsickucss. too. and
with the added reflection that their all
sence was By this time causing pain
/ ana s0rEsw 10 their mOthprs thcy be-
came utterly miserable. But the peni.
tent mood lid moi last long. Dismal
! lNonghis fled when they remembered
| tnfous Journey that lay before them.
They hastily built up the IRE aud
cooked a satisfactory breakfast
| We needn't worry about the
| storm said Roger For one thug
| there is no danger that anyone will
| trouble aus. and as far as provisions go
| we can stand the blockade for week.
By thnt time we will be- able to get out
after fish md game"
After removing the breakfast things.
tue upys began TO prepare for their
expedition. They had at first some idea
Of innnellng through the snow to the
brow of the hin. 20 as TO show their
Whereabouts to Gid Akcrs II he should
chance TO turn up on the opposite side
OF the creek,
but after little discussion tho pro,
iect was tbatilonod ut viii take too
much time said Roger, "and besides
,'ld Akers Isn't within five miles Of
Lost Gave. ! don't believe he came In
ms direction at al. II h. was ont 10
that storm last night lie Is showed Hp
fast nnd deep ,omcwheres"
"lNats so,' asscutrd Glen. "Aud
anyhow what good would il do him Ia
sep the tunnel. when he had no way To
cross tie creek: The boat is on our
side
This settled the question, and the boys
hnrriedly completed their prcpurn-
lions for che start, They stuffd their
overcoat packets with bread, crackers.
Hlices Of cold meat, bottle Of oil, |
maichcs. powder aud shot aud also |
took Nong small axe, Roger bad |
melted some snow In a lin pail, aud he |
now poured the water into an old cnn- |
teen that belonged TO the treasures from
tho CHEST
we viii have need of this" he said.
lnleS We find the subtcrranrnu
river suggestcd Glen, laughingly |
Hut don't you think we ought To take
moro bread and meat nougi'
What we have will be plenty" re-
piled Roger. "if the cavern is too hig
TO explore In one day we will come
bach, aud prepare for a longer trip"
Az was now ready Glen should
TOOK the lantern, which he had just
filled and lighted. They strobe along
IN Tie end of the cavern and entered
the square passage
They bent nearly double ns they
crep through the narrow part but At
lhr end of twenty yards the path
grew slightly higher, and permitted
them To stnmd erect.
They were now descending at u
slight angle. Presently they reached
! circular chamber fully twenty feet
high by rs many wide. The walls were
smooth aud glossy, aud tue iloor was
sireWn with whitish sand Here the
Young explorers found the first tangi-
bic reward for their daring They
picked W. half a dozen arrow heads OF
blush Mint aud several broken hits Of
'lay pottery.
This settles one thing said Roger
'Iho cave has been used by Indians"
'lbcrr arc certainly no traces OF
aid Glen.
4 nUrrow aperture opened out ut the
liler end Of The chamber aud Roger
led the way there with
he lantern. In this passage the boys
we're compelled To crawl on hands aud
'nces, aud even then they frequently
innlprd thcir heads aud backs.
rms crnmnel aud Uncomfortable
,alll coutinllcd for thirty yards, and
len gradually widcueh ont Ike tho
liE enl of funnel until the boys
4fl1 Hta La al. IL. all
en feet wide, which stretched inter. ,,
ninnhly into shadowy distance.
overhead were insrnStaiiOns OF stalAc- ,
Ito that glistcned like diamonds pend. /,
luts In The rays of the lantern. With i,
Jew emotions Of awe and wonder. the i
i9or' hut keculy on the alert for fresh :
discoveries, They were rewarded I
Ihcy had gone but few yards when
wo balls of fire glarcd ~ them from n
he darkness ahead, and low, waiting :
ny made their blood run cold
wild animal was the last thing
hat the boys expected to find In The
avcrn; hut there was no lonbt that
omething of tho Kind confronted them
NV
Clem quickly drew his gun to his
boulder and sighted between the fiery
yos
"siopl stopl don't do thatm cried
logger
The warning came too late, CLIENTS
niger was already pressing the trig-
er and ns the hammer descended a
'rrilc report, magniied n hundred
Old by the pent-up walls, ex,inguished
hc lantern, and mpdc the boys reel
nd stagger It was followed hy an
wful roar and crash that seemed 10
hakc. The earth This died away Ia
imbllng echoes
IL was q fill minute before they could
lmprchcnd what had happened Their
eads seemed 80 he bursting from the
incussion, Finally Roger mmblcd IN
IL pocket for q match and struck Il
a his knee He looked eagerly around
: the little ilatue hlazcl on and
y of horror burst from his lips MIXERS I
u funncblike passage had stretched |
fioir them moment before. thprc was 4
led high TO the roof
IN he tonfinun1l