Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-01-26
FOUR MEN In A CAVE.

The little man was slanuluH q"
front OF the camp fire making an Or
alton to his companions.
I'VE can tell a great tale when we
get back to the city, If we investigate
this thing, said he in conclusion.
They were won.
The little man was determined to
explore a cave because Its black
mouth had gaped at him. The four
men took lighted pine knots and
clambered over bowlders down hill.
In a thicket on the mountain side lay
a little titled hole. At Its side they
halted.
We'll p said the little man.
They fought for last place and the
little man was overwhelmed. He
tried to struggle from under by cry
ing that il the fat, pudgy man came
after he would be corked. But he
finally administered a cursing over
his shoulder and crawled into the
hole. His companions gingerly fol
, lowed.
A passage. the floor of damp clay
and pebbles the walls, Shiny, green
mossed and dripping, sloped down
ward. In the cave atmosphere the
torches became studies in red blaze
and black smoke.
'Hol' cried the little man, stifed
and bedraggled, lets go back His
companions were not brave, They
lost. The next one to the little man
pushed him on, so the little man said
sulphurous words and cautiously con-
timed his crawl.
Things that hung seemed to be up.
on the wet, uneven ceiling, ready to
drop upon the mems bare necks. I'm,
der their hands the clammy floor
seemed alive and wrlthing. When
the little man endeavored to stand
erect the ceiling forced him down.
Knobs and points came out and punch
ed him. His clothes were wet and
mud covered, and his eyes nearly
blinded by smoke, tried to pierce the
darkness always before his torch.
'Oh, l say, you fellows let's go
back = cried he. At that moment he
caught the CLEAN of trembling light
in the blurred shadows before him.
'Ho = he said, heres another way
The passage turned abruptly, The
little man put one hand around the
corner, but it touched nothing. He
investigated and discovered that the
little corridor took sudden dip down
hill. At the bottom shown a yellow
light.
The little man wriggled painfully
about and descended feet in advance
The others followed his plan. AL
picked their way with anxious care
The traitorous rocks rolled from be-
meath the little mans feet and roarec
thunderously below him. Lesser
stones, loossened by the men above
him, hit him in the back. He agair
seemingly lost foothold, and turning
half about swore redly at his com
panions for dolts and careless fools
The pudgy man sat. putting and per
spring, high in the rear of the pro
cession. The fumes and smoke from
four pine knots were in his blood
Cinders and sparks lay thick in hi
eyes and hair. The pause Of the lit
tie man angered him.
go on, you fool, he shouted. Poor
painted man, you are afraid !
'Ho y said the little man. com
down here and 60 on yourself, imbe
cile 7
The pudgy man vibrated with pas
sion. He leaned downward. Idiot
He was interrupted by one of hi
feet which flew out and crashed in
to the man in front and below hin
1t is not well to quarrel upon slip
ry incline, when the unknown is be
low. The fat man having lost tn
support of one pillarlike foot, lurche
forward. His body smote the mex
man, who hurtled into the next mai
Then they all fell upon the cursin
little man.
They slid in body dow over til
slippery, Shiny floor of the passag'
The stone avenue must have wibbl'
wobbled with rush of this ball (
tangled men and strangled cries. III
torches went out with the combine
assault upon the little man. The a.
venturers whlrled to the unknown
darkness The little man felt that /
was pitching to death, but even In h
convulsions he bit and scratched
his companions, for he was Statistic
that it was their fault The swirlir
mass went some twenty feet and
upon level dry place In strong, yt
low light of candles 1t dissolved al
became eyes.
The four men lay in heap upt
the floor of gray chamber. A sms
fire smoldered in corner, the smol
disappe airing in crack. In anoth
corner was bed of faded hemlo'
boughs and two blankets. Cookir
utensils and clothes lay about WI
boxes and q barrel.
OF these things the four men to-
small cognizance. The pudgy mi
did not curse the little man, no. d
the little man swear in the abstra'
Eight eyes were fixed upon the cent
of the room of rocks.
A gray stone, cut squarely, like
alter, sat in the middle of the roo
nxou L,,,,al th,oo oon11oc