Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-07-28

nfe, iay lhere on MS lofty perch watching
the receding tide, while his miud was oc
cnpird with series of the most enchanting
pictures ever painted by the youthful i'm
aRnation Lower and lower the boiling
! waters fell. disclosing the black and Jagged
rocks nj the foot OF the cliff
After time the hoy sat up, looking over
toward The village as II to assure himself
that he WIS unmatched, but the iuttinQ
rocks effectually hid him from the view
OF any who might be disposed to look that
way
lie drew from his pocket luncheon OF
bread. dried fish and cheese, portion OF
winch lie proceeded to eat, carefully re-
serving the remainder for his further need
When he had dispatched his frugal meal
he opened package which lay beside him
and examined with care the contents,
which were several candles, a box OF
matches and quantity of thin but strong
cord. such as the fishermen used for their
lines
The tide was now at it's lowest ebb. The
boy brought from the stunted bushes a
shovel and pick, which he attached to
the line and dropping them over the edge
of the cliff, lowered them down into the
surging waters below Then he secured
the end OF the line to stosIt stake which
he drove into "A crevice of the rock.
Steadyng himself with the cord the
youth began to Chamber down the almost
perpendicular wall beneath him 1t was a
perilous descent. but the light frame and
clear head OF the young advent urer enabled
him TO accomplish it without accident.
The spray dashed up by the waves fell
upon him like rain III he paused to rest for
a moment on a narrow ledge AT the base Of
the cliff. Resuming his journey he care
fully advanced until he stood beside an
opening in the rock The furious waters
boiled beneath him. and at intervals a
wave higher than the rest threatened to in
gulf him.
Watching his opportunity Frank placed
his foot upon the dripping threshold. and
passed under the low, natural arch that
formed the upper part of the opening. A
wave came kissing after him as If to drag
him back. but he chung to the rugged sides
OF this strange doorway. and after sharp
scramble stood upon the floor of the cave
Within
flush of triumph glowed upon the pale
cheek Of the boy and a new light CLEANED
in his eye as he broke the silence, saying.
Here am in King Solomon's tombl 1t
was an awful job to get here, and wonder
if shall find what came after2''
His audible soliloquy brought him no re
Spouse but the echoes which rolled and
reverberated like distant thunder through
the cave.
Frank relapsed into silence. but con
tinued his line of thought:
ut is strange that none of the people of
the village ever dared venture into this
cave Really, | am Christopher Colum
bus on small scale. discovering new
worlds, or at least, retaining that which
hop OH -
man"
Remembering some Interior purpose that
had brought him to the place he hauled in
the cord, which he still retained in his
hand, until the shovel and pick, which
were attached to the end. clattered on the
floor at his feet
When this was done he turned his atten
ton to his surroundings
Pitchy darkness prevailed throughout
the cave, except for small space around
where the Young explorer stood, there 1t
was relieved by the faint light which came
through the entrance.
Lighting candle he held it aloft and
beheld a scene of dazzling beauty A vast
gothic cathedral seemed to rise out of the
darkness. Great arches of living rock
formed the roof from which depended
stalactites which refracted the light and
SutItTcu WIN All tHe nNeS Oh tHe
The walls seemed set with rubies, dia-
monds, emeralds and sapphires, and the
drops of water as they fell upon the hard
floor and splashed in the rebound spread
II misty splendor through the empty space
That one little candle flame was multi
piled thousand fold, filling the boy with
awe and admiration at the beauty it re
vealed
In the middle of the cave a large object
attracted Franks attention. 1t was rock,
carved and fretted by natures hand into
the most fantastic and beautiful designs
both in color and form. 1t seemed a huge
sarcophagHs, gorgeously adorned, the last
resting place of one of the tabled giants of
Arabian story
81 see," cried the boy with enthusiasm,
Il see why the cave bears the name it does
This is the coffin of King Solomon, as it is
called"
1t was, indeed. tomb worthy of Israel's
wisest king,
Having satisfied himself as to the gen
eral appearance of the cave. Frank APP
preached the coffin for the purpose OF
closely inspecting it. 1t was evidently a
bowlder detached from the roof, and had
no doubt lain in its present position for
thousands OF years.
ihSluS MS Cdn'ile upOu IOCh, ue JcOh
his pick and proceeded to make careful
examination of the floor around the mimic
sarcophagus. At every stroke the point of
the implement encountered the solid rock,
but the motive that inspired the labor
would not permit the boy to desist until
convinced that the stratum upon which he
stood was intact, as natures hand had
laid it.
Wearied with his eXertions, he sat down
upon projection of the sarcophagus, and
resting his head upon his hand, gave him
self up to profound thought. His refiec.
tions at last found utterance in muttered
words Frank" said his inner self, You
are disappointed again. The pirates gold
you expected to find behind the coffin of
Solomon is not there, and you will have to
return to Boston as poor as you came"
Tears filled the boys eyes as the vision of
his gentle, palefaced mother, weary and
worn with toll and anxiety, rose before him.
While he had been engaged III his search
the tide had turned. A wave rising to the
| level of the floor of the cave stole gently
toward him and broke in foam around his
feet. He cast Il startled glance at the en-
trance, here he saw that the water had
risen high enough to bar that avenue of
escape.
Another wave recalled him to sense OF
his immediate danger, and he flashed his
OF refuge, his eyes resting upon a part