The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-05-12
a form came SpIdSIing through the
1DUteF.
CHAPTER Z.
IN THE UNDER WORLD.

a form came SpIdShing through the
GOGteT.
There was not ray of light; the very
darkness seemed to press upon him bodi-
1y, 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-
heve that they really meant to leave
him there. But the minutes passed.; he
could now hear his heart beating in a
tumult of mingled dread and vexation.
Angry resentment against Kulcan, Ikla-
pei and Jan-ila burned in his bosom, al
ternating with regret and despair when
he thought of Leila, probably also a vic
tim to Chalpa's wiles. i
Suddenly distant sound fell upon
his ears. He raised his head to listen.
It came muf1ed to him, as of blows
upon stone; then a sound of falling ma
sorry, clear and distinct, though far
away. Was help coming to him even
now? He lay fiat upon his back, bound
hand and foot, and already felt stiff and
feeble. He hoped they would hurry;
this irksome position and continued
strain was not the best treatment for
convalescent. How long they were in
comingI 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 in bringing
him there. Perhaps they might wander
of into other passages, too, before they
reached him.
He tried to be patient and to wait
9th mind 1Onor
g 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 in this man
ner, and he almost lost consciousness.
Then came another accession of cOur-
age, and he tried to remember how long
human endurance would resist death by
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 in that
black Vault-a death full of nameless
terrors, unseen horrors, unable even to
3; struggle against tor beat his hands
against the prison walls-without one
raw of light? He tried to turn over,
intending to make an effort to hob
: bic 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 ne 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 fitful 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, ripping and darting close to his
side. With silvery cadence 1t splashed
and gurgled, and he felt its presence in
the sudden GOODNESS and dampness that
1t brought. With every sense alert he
listened. It was close beside him. What
could it mean? 1t flowed thus for awhile,
and then its spiashing seemed to cease,
and there remained a gentle ripping.
Then, to his horror, he felt its icy touch
upon his feet, and in q moment it was
round and about him, tapping his body
hungrily.
It 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 reeling
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 light ap-
preaching, and form came splashing
through the water, and he was seized by
. strong hand. How his life and strength
came surging back! He heard the words;
ga moment more and old Listah would
have been too later and then Listah cut
the thongs which bound his arms, and
reaching down into the water severed
those about his feet. Hasten, Quetzal,
or we shall die like rats in a trap! Fol
low thy servant quickly"
It was no easy matter; but few
stumbling steps brought the blood into
circulation, and leaning upon the old
man he staggered on. Up they went,
the water decreasing in depth at every
step until at last Listah stopped, saying;
"XNa ara safe here, for we are above