The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-01-04
A Listener Against His Will.

The shades of nightfall were begin
ming to creep over the old Swiss town
OF Lucerne, several hundred years ago,
when a tall, active boy of fourteen
came with a quick step, but with the
set, stern look of one who felt that he
was bound on a dangerous errand,
along one of the streets that led down
to the lake.
To any one in our own day, indeed,
his errand would not have seemed so
very terrific, for it was noting more
than the exploring of a rocky cave that
lay close to the waters edge; but the
boldest men of that ignorant age would
have thought such an undertaking Sc
rious enough.
Local tradi ion called this grotto
"The Wizards Cave" and declared
that, like every cavern, glen, wood and
ruin of those superstttious days, it was
haunted. In fact, it was believed to
have been the chosen home of a ter
rible sorcerer, who had practiced un-
holy rites of magic, called up evil
spirits, murdered numbers of children
whom he had decoye6 into his den, and
done many other things which, strictly
speaking, he ought not to have done.
And although this d|isreputable old
gentleman was no longer there Gf, in
deed, he had been there at alD,
his supposed haunt was as well guarded
by the terror of his memory as if it
were garrisoned by all the specters with
whom he was believed to have been so
intimate.
But Kaspar Stein was one of the
bo.dest as well as shrewdest lads in the
town, and such an adventure was Just
the thing to suit him. He had often
heard Father Joseph, the good old pas
tor of the place, declare that a man
who feared God need fear nothing else;
and the idea of making his way after
dark into a place which most men were
very shy of approaching ever in broad
daylight, was irresistibly attractive to
the brave boys daring spirit. In short,
he had fully made up his mind that,
come what might of it,, he would see
for himself what the inside of hat cave
was like.
Meanwhile the growing shadows
, were fast deepening into darkness,
: aud by the IL ne X tspar came up to the
mouth of the dreaded cavern, its int.
rior, gloomy enough even at midday,
was as dark as the inside of a tunnel.
But for this our hero cared little, for
he had already provided for it. With
2 his flint and steel he quickly struck a
light, kindled a huge splinter of resin
Gus pine-woOd that he bad brought
along with him, and, armed with this
primitive torch, went boldly forward
into the dismal den.
Brave as he was, however, he coull
not restrain a start when a leathery
wing brushed his face, and a black
formless shadow fitted past him with a
tiny circle of light into the deeper
gloom beyond. But he had seen a bal
. many a time before, and he was laugh
ing heartily the next moment at his
own causeless panic, though he felt in.
clined to shudder again as he heard hi;
laugh sent back in hoarse and hollow
echoes from every cleft and Granny Of
n that gloomy dungeon, like the mockery
" of evil spirits.
Low and narrow at first, the cave
grew higher and wider as the bold boy
went on; and it ended at last in a kline
of natural chamber, nearly circular il
shape, the vaulted roof of which was
upheld by eight or nine pillar.likt
masses of stone, worn by time anC
damp into strange goblin shapes.
This recess was supposed to have
been the actual den of the redoubtet
wizard; and Kaspar, having seen it
aud finding nothing more for him t.
No. m; do, was just about to retrace his steps
tie towards the outer air, when he wa
startled by a sound of voices at thu
mouth of the cave!
Who could these intruders be, an
o what could they want here?
N But whoever they might be, it wa
plain that they were coming RICH
into the cave; and the shrewd laC
us quickly made up his mind that mel
"' who came to such a place, at such al
hour, must be after no good. The,
might very possibly be a gang of rob
bers, who had just come hither to hid
W their %plundei; and, in any case, j
w. would be just as well for him not to lie
them catch him there. So he at one
put out his light, and covering dow
in a dark nook behind the farthest pill
g. lar, lay as still as a mouse
" Hardly had he done so when stealth.
steps were heard along the stony flop
y. of the cavern, a light cleaned through
the darkness, and into the pillared rig
cess came gliding a number OF shadow,
: forms, all of whom were armed Gas GU
hero saw from his h~iding-place with Sc
cret dismay), for the light of a Lantern
carried by the foremost man was lashe'
- back from sword-blades and dagger
points, and the steel heads of shor
hunting.spears.
of Here was a dilemmal
AT any moment he might be discoy
&c: cred; and if he were discovered, h
by had no mercy to hope for from sue
Is men as these. For the first time tn
II brave lad began to repent of his Dol
;. undertaking; but the first words tina
he caught of their talk put every othe
thought clean out of his head.
1.-THE Austrians are already on thei
nd march to help us, and if we do our par
he success is sure"
AT Our hero's bold heart beat quickei
for these few words told him that tn
r man hufora him were far wOraa tha