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

plain that the lioness could not 60 up nor
down the perpendicular walls of the pit
where he got in any more than lie could.
But how was this to be accomplished
The lioness stood still and grow!ed and
seemed ready 10 make the attack at any
moment Ii was also apparent that she
did not do so for fear OF the light But lie
could not keep that burning very long,
and when that was gone there would be
nothing to do but fight.
After some reflection he got his revolver
and blew the light our. For an instant all
was quiet, and then Frank heard growl
and the sound of soft feet coming in his
direction. He waited until he could near
the breathing, and then suddenly flashed
his lamp. The lIoness was very near him,
but at the instant the light flashed she re-
tired to her place by the altar growing
with rage.
This movement was hailed by Frank
with feeling OF JOY, and he at once blew
his lamp out and as quickly as possible
went in the direction of the lioness and
flashed it again. This time she ran back
into the tunnel for several yards and
stopped growing as before. Frank re-
peated his operation, and at the next flash
she seemed TO jump through the rocky
walls.
Frank made an examination and found a
very small opening, and looking inside
saw the lioness growing as before. He
had crawled down the main tunnel, and
went past the small opening without seeing
II. lie did not know whether to go in or
not, because he knew he would have to
squeeze through. and if he was attacked
then there was no hope. But it was
death II be declined. so, holding his lamp
In front of him. lie managed to get inside,
ana the lioness retreated little further
before him.
Inc passage he was now in was too small
for him to stand erect in and he could see
lnnumerable assures leading of in all
directions and realized that if he was not
led to the outside world he would die in a
place not much larger than a grave
He seemed to be ages crawling through
the passage. and his lamp had burned out
and he now had TO depend entirely on the
percussion caps to keep the beast away
But at last eveR those were gone and he
felt that an attack would soon follow. He
was right. In less than two minutes he
heard growl and then the heavy form
attempted to jump past him. But he was
expecting IT. and grabbed the brute's lett
hind leg with his left hand, and quickly
reaching round placed his revolver over
her heart and fired. Oue ball was all that
was necessary and the lioress rolled over
dead.
Now he was alone in passage hardly
large enough to crawl through. ana did not
know that he would ever get out. But
there was nothing to do but crawl, which
he did for hours, and at last sank to sleep
from lack of food and exhaustion, wishing
that he would never wake up to continue
the horror of crawling through the dark
and silent passages.
But he eventually opened his eyes and
looked ahead OF him, because he couldn't
look any other way. He wondered why he
had not cut OFF piece of the loness to
eat, but as he couldn't go back with any
hope Of finding her. he crawled ahead and
soon found his passage blocked. There
was no use in attempting to 90 further. so
he commenced IN a.vl hac a bao
he could not turn around.
There was no telling which way he was
going and he often backed into passages
that seemed to turn at very short angles.
1t was certain that he was not in the pas
sage he had come through, but he kent on
determined not to stop until he was ready
to die.
At last he came to a place that was
very small, and ne had all he could do
to force his body through, but when he
ala ne was conscious OF little light
around his hands. This gave him a little
hope. and as he couldn't look over his
shoulder he backed with increased yigor
until he came to another tight place.
This was worse than the other, and
when he got his feet through he felt that
they were not touching anything. II
seemed as If he had come to the edge of
another preclpice, and as his body filled
the opening he was still in total darkness
He hung there fer several moments and
then gave an almost superhuman push that
made his ribs crack. But he got through,
and when he did there was light all around
him and he could see the dry and barren
desert. but 1t looked like a glimpse of
paradise.
Frank found himself high on the side of
mountain, and saw the sun near the
horizon. AS he had lost all reckoning of
time, lie did not know whether it was
rising or setting until he had watched
few minutes. He then saw the orb of day
slowly sink from view. and knew that he
had crawled clear through the mountain,
because lie had entered through en- the
eastern side.
All that night he lay In crevice in the
rocks. and waited for morning, although
he didn't know that would do him any
good, because there was no water in
sight. But at the first streak of dawn he
made an effort to get around the mountain
to where the wagon had been left in the
hope that the Indian guide had not taken
everything away.
He got to his destination much sooner
than lie expected. He saw the wagon and
the horses, but no sign of his guide To
get down to the wagon was the work of a
few minutes only. and he raised the red
flap and looked in. There was the guide
sleeping soundly, the demijohn beside HIM
explaining why he had not left. But he
woke with start, and seeing the man he
had LETT to starve to death thought it must
have been ghost. One glance was
enough; giving a wild howl he Jumped
through the front of the wagon and ran
across the desert like a frightened deer.
Frank refreshed himself with food and
water and then slept several hours. When
he awoke he lost no time in starting for
Nogales, which he reached few hours
after dark. He brought no relics with
him and is not going back for those ne
iett In the cave. 1t Is also an assured fact