The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-04
SPIRITED AWAY.
Tho Exciting Adventure or a wost-
cra Lover.

| Tho inhabitants IL Albuquerque. N.
M.. had become greatly excited % ac-
count ~ saIics of daring rohberics
that ha. hcsn peFpetrated il their
midst.
Alarming as was The eApsinuntion ~
the rohheries. Il was surpassed by an
occurrences that proved 10 be the cul-
mination Of the work Of the dcspcra.
docs.
One night the beautiful daughter Of
Col. BECKER, the richest citizen On tho
city, was kidnapcil That the deed
had been done nv Tho robbers for the
purpose Of keeping the maiden captive
until they could nltain Il liberal ram
som from the distracted fnther there
could scarcely III doubt
Helen hal 4 lover name1 Malcolm
Macdonald shrcRd young lawyer,
who WINS confident that the hcadqnar-
tiers ~ tie lianapera were ia the crater
Of lava besls about twonty mics south
west 81 Albuquerque.
Macdonald knew what lie wms about
when he resolved u attempt tho res
cue of the dear pirf h whom IL was ba.
| truthca bY argnnixinga party to search
for her captors among the lava beds
Five IL his frieads, al Of them stout
hearted and adventurous young fell
lows, agrced 10 aud him Armed to
tho teeth and mounted Un g9od llnrsoa
the paIty Quietly loft Albuquerque
three hours alter the abduction of
Helen became known
The lava beds were sevrrni acres III
extent and were III the shape III d low
and broken cone, the te,p ~ which was
followed ont 30 as IL resemble d huge
bowl. The latter wns MI that re-
maincd ~ the crnttsr Of an extinct vols
cnno.
Tho young men, holding their rifles
In readiness IN cnsc Of an attack, de-
seconded into the great bowl and nd
vanccd until they came to the mouth
Of the cave. The opening was larEe
enough. and from 1t d good.aiza pas
sage wound downward IA distance IL
ten feet 10 the cave, which was about
rod long and shared like u right.
nngled triangle.
The adventufcrs satisfied themselves
by Il cantiotig exploration that tho rob,
i,ers were net ia the cavity little
later, while, torch In hand, they were
examining the bottom 81 the hollow,
they discovered square section Of the
lava floor which was dignity separated
from the snrruunding lava
The excited men onnded on the slab
IL lava until they broke II sufficiently
To enable them 10 grasp the pieces and
remove them A deep hole was re-
vcalcsl, except whore narrow ghclvcs.
support the edges Of the block.
Macdonald determined to make the
descent of the shelving sides ~ the
hole, IIc argued that the robbers were
undoubtedly aslecp at that hour. and
that the chance OF coming upon them
before reaching the main cave WINS
small
Seeing that they could not dissnnde
him. and admiring his boidncss, the
young Mon their objection;
and after they had assured him that
they would defend him should lie come
forth pursued, and would r. venge his
him godspced AZ he entered tine cavity.
lie was armed with long hunting
knife ana braes Of pistols, and car
ried in his hand d dark lantern. Clos
ing the slide Of tho lantern sd as TO
conceal tho light, he crept in darkness
down the passage.
The sound 81 washing waters came
to his startled ears, and he inferred
that he stood upon the edge Of d sub
tcTranean lake, After considerable
hesitation he vcntured to turn on the
light
soon MacDonald's attention was ar
rested by a singular sight a huge
mass appeared from the gloom beyond
the reach Of the lanterns rays and
slowly advanced toward him.
1t was not craft belonging to tho
robbers, as Mac Donald had at first
feared, bns was an island OF lava That
SO great a mass Of lava could float
seemed Incredible, until Macdonald
tethought that the mass was undoubt-
eddy composed Of pumice, lighter than
water.
Immediately occurred to our hero
that the robbers were probably on the
lava vessel. and he closed the lantern
without delay.
As the island came nearer he could
discern a dim light. He at once came
70 the comciuaion that the mass was 81
considerable size and that the light
arose near its center from campfire.
aroand which the outlaws were proba-
bly, gathered Wien Che island had
almost reached the shore 1t caused a
slight swashing % tho watcr and guided
by shc sound Macdonald could almost
tell where The iiositing lava was Can-
tiously putting out his hands no felt
them come IN contact with hard and
moving substances; and as the island
touched the shore he gayc leap Of
sufficient power to carry him well upon,
the singular craft
He sat still for few moments, and
TO his alarm noticed that the island
had not fingered at the shore. as he had
hoped that 1t would do.