The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-03-18
SPIRITED AWAY.

SPIRITED AWAY.
The Exciting Adventure of a West
err Lover.
The inhabitants Of Album ueriae, n.
NJ, had become greatly excited on nc
count 1t 4 series of daring robberies
that had been perpetrated In their
midst.
Alarming as was the continuation of
the robberies. 1t was surpassed by an
occurrence that proved to be the cul-
mination of the work of the despera-
does.
One night the beautiful daughter of
Col Blocker, the richest citizen of the
city, was kidnapped That the deed
had been done by the robbers for the
purpose of keeping the maiden captive
until they could obtain a liberal ran
som from the distracted father there
could scarcely be a doubt.
Helen had q lover named Malcolm
Macdonald, a shrewd young lawyer,
who was confident that the headquar.
tiers of the kidnapers were in the crater
of lava beds about twenty miles south
west of Albuquerque.
Macdonald knew what he was about
when he resolved to attempt the res
of the dear girl to whom he was be-
trothed by organizing d party to search
for her captors among the lava beds.
Five of his friends, all of them stout
hearted and adventurous young fell
lows. agreed to aid him. Armed to
the teeth and mounted on good horses
the party quietly left Albuquerque
three hours after the abduction of
Helen became known.
The lava beds were several acres in
extent and were in the shape of a low
and broken cone, the top of winch was
followed out SO as TO resemble q huge
bowl. The latter was all that tes
manned Of the crater Of an extinct vol
cano
The young men, holding their rifles
in readiness in case of an attack. de-
seconded into the great bowl and adj
vanced until they came to the mouth
of the cave. The opening was large
enough, and from It a good-sizcd pas
sage wound downward n distance of
len feet to the cave, which was about
a rod long and shaped like a right
angled triangle.
The adventures satisfied themselves
by a cautious exploration that the rob
bers were not in the cavity. A little
later. while, torch in hand, they were
examining the bottom Of the hollow,
they discovered a square section of the
lava floor which was slightly separated
from the surrounding lava
The excited men pounded on the slab
of lava until they broke it sufficiently
to enable them to grasp the pieces and
them. A deep hole was re-
vealed, except where narrow shelves,
on four sides, had served to
support the edges of the block.
Macdonald determined to make the
of the shelving sides of the
hole. lie argued hat the robbers were
undoubtedly asleep at that hour. and
that the chance of coming upon them
before reaching the main cave was
Seeing that they could not dissuade
him, and admiring his boldncss. the
young men discontinued their objection;
and after they had assured him that
they would defend him should he come
forth pursued, and would re venge his
death should he be killed. they babe
him godspeed as he entered the cavity.
lie was armed with a long hunting
knife and a brace of pistols, and car
ried in his hand a dark lantern. Clos
ing the slide of the lantern SO as to
conceal the light, he crept in darkness
down the passage.
The sound Of wa:hing waters came
TO his startled ears. and he inferred
he stood upon the edge Of n sub
lake. After considerable
he ventured to turf on the
light
Soon MacDonald's attention was ar
by a singular sight. A huge
mass appeared from the gloom beyond
The reach of the lanterns rays and
advanced toward him.
1t was not a craft belonging to the
as Macdonald had at first
bus was an island of lava That
20 great a mass of lava could float
incredible, until Macdonald
that the mass was undoubt- |
composed of pumice, lighter than
water.
nN,alsaNa nrra g. @. 49,. I
that the robbers were probably on the
ava vessel, and he closed the lantern
without delay.
As the island came nearer he could
a dim light He at once came |
the conclusion that the mass was of
considerable size and that the light
rose Ear its center from a campfire,
lround which the outlaws were proba-
by gathered. Wren the island had
Utmost reached the shore it caused a
light smashing of the water and guided
" the sound Macdonald could almost
ell where the floating lava was Cau-
putting out his hands he felt
hem come in contact with a hard ard
substance; and as the island
ouched the shore he gave a leap of
efficient power to carry him well upon
he singular craft
He sat still for a few moments. anc
o his alarm noticed that the island
lad not fingered at the shore, as he had
loped that it would do.
1t was already moving steadily away,
md he surmised that the currents of
he singular lake, or river, so ran as to
AIRY the mass round and round tic
After slowly climbing upward for
tx or seven feet Macdonald came to
he top of the island, and then learned
lat his theory as to the dim illumina-
ioa was correct The island was cir
about half an acre in extent, and
Iear liz center was the fire. now burn.
ng low.
The isla.d shelved from its eleyaaS
toward the center, and on &C
cunt of the bowl-like surface it was
impossible to see the entire area, al
hough the edges could not be distinct
Y seen on account of the inability Of
he fire, except in its immediate vicin-
~, to overcome the power Of the dark
Rolled in blankets and stretched
round the fire were eight robbers
bout ten feet from the fire was n wig