The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-04-18
SPIRITED AWAY.
The Exciting Adventure of West,
ern Lover.

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 liberal ran
som from the distracted father there
conld scarcely be doubt.
Helen had lover named Malcolm
Macdonald, shrewd young lawyer,
who was confident that the headquar-
ters 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
cue of the dear girl to whom be was be.
trothed by organizing 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 tc
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 IL
extent and were in the shape Of low
and broken cone, the top Of which was
followed out SO as to resemble q huge
bowl. The latter was all that re-
manned of the crater of an extinct vol
cano.
The young men, holding their rifles
In readiness In case of an attack, de-
scended into the great bowl and ad
vanced until they came to the mouth
Of the cave. The opening was large
enough, and from 1t good-sized pas
sage wound downward distance Of
ten feet to the cave. which was about
u rod long and shaped like right
angled triangle.
The adventurers satisfied themselves
by 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 square section of the
lava floor which was slightly separated
from the surrounding lava.
The excited men pounded on the slat
Of lava until they broke it sufficiently
to enable them to grasp the pieces and
remove them. A deep hole was re-
vealed, except whore narrow shelves,
extending on four sides. had served tc
support the edges Of the block.
Macdonald determined to make the
descent Of the shelving sides Of the
hole. he argued that the robbers were
undoubtedly asleep at that hour, ano
that the chance Of coming upon them
before reaching the main cave was
small.
Seeing that they could not dissuade
him, and admiring his boldness, the
young men discontinued their objectionl
and after they had assured him that
they would defend him should he come
forth pursued, and would revenge his
death should he be killed, they bade
him godspeed as he entered the cavity.
He was armed with long hunting
knife and brace Of pistols, and car
ried in his hand 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 washing waters came
to his startled ears, and he inferred
that he stood upon the edge of sub
terranean lake. After considerable
hesitation he ventured 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 the
robbers, as Macdonald had at first
feared. but was an island of lava That
SO great a mass of lava could float
seemed incredible, until Macdonald
bethought that the mass was undoubt-
edly composed of pumice, lighter than
water.
1t 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 dim light He at once came
to the conclusion that the mass was OF
considerable size and that the light
arose near it's center from campfire,
around which the outlaws were proba-
bly, gathered. Wien the island had
almost reached the shore 1t caused a
slight smashing of the water and guided
by the sound Macdonald could almost
tell where the floating lava was eau
tiously putting out his hands he felt
them come In contact with hard and
moving substances, and as the island
touched the shore he gave a 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 it would do.
It was already moving steadily away,
and he surmised that the currents OF
the singular lake, or river, so ran as to
carry the mass round and round the
cave.
After slowly climbing upward for
six or seven feet Macdonald came to
the top of the island, and then learned
that his theory as to the dim illumina-
ton was correct The island was cir
cular, about half an acre In extent and
nesr It's center was the Are, now burn
ing low.
The island shelved from it's elevated
sides toward the center, and on &C.
count of the bowl-like surface It was
impossible to see the entire area, al
though the edges could not be distinct
ly seen on account Of the inability of
the fire, except in It's immediate vicin-
ity, to overcome the power of the dark
ness.
Rolled in blankets and stretched
around the fire were eight robbers.
About ten feet from the FIRE was wig
wan covered with strips Of straw mat
ting that had been laid upon the slant
ing poles of the frame. That hts dear
Helen was in this wigwam Macdonald
felt almost certain.
How TO act under the circumstances
was most perplexing. To attempt to
rescue Helen, or even to communicate
with her, would be an undertaking
fraught with the greatest hazard.
While our hero hesitated his eyes
we're attracted to some plumber that
the robbers had left in pile short
distance from where he stood.
Among the articles were heavy horse
blankets. A bright idea came TO Mac
Donald. He removed bis shoes, went
In bis stocking feet TO the pile, select-
cd two blankets and approached the
Are end the eight men. who slept
soundly after the arduous work OF the