The sun., 1894-09-30

o.
| .Thenceforward the descent was easier, sine
hands from hole TO hole and remember ip whic
| line she must search with her foot for the SUI
ceeding niche. SO far from hindertng her th
darkness proved a boon. since ~ prevented he
tSe issnS ne tns ha sSs %as SI hd Of the
down the SHAFT her courage returned to her, an
the only fear she felt was lest some Of th
not the case, although one of them was so mucl
worn that her toes slipped out OF u, and for
TG sRs sHs vent hTps ~ @er to step m
length she stood at the bottom of the shaft
After few minutes pause to get her breath
at the embers OF the torch. which she has
thrown down the nit. Then che looked rount
heT S Mbc aenS
the floor she searched for and found the pati
followed out by the feet Of the ancients. bu
nov, was half hidden in sand and dust.
II ran straight down the cnye and she followed
fob nd may psces or Ir rcSss nsr sns
Here in this cave the atmosphere was SO hot and
still that she was scarcely able to breathe
strange, eddying wind roaring in the shaft down
which she had come.
Presently the cavern began TO decrease IN
size till II narrowed into a small passage, and
Maya sighed aloud, fearing lest she should be
coming to the mouth Of second shaft. for she
had heard me say that the water In these cuevas
was sometimes at depth Of 500 or 800 feet,
whereas she had not descended more than 200.
w nen she hau Wulkcu another ten or ntIecn
PAGES, however, the passage took q sudden turn,
and her doubts were set ut rest, for there IN the
centre OF a wonderful place, such as she had
had risked her life to reach.
How large the place where she found md herself ,
light Of her torch could not pierce far into the
gloom. All that she could see was a number Of
white, columns without doubt stalactites,
iOned by man-rising from the floor Of the cav
ern TO its roof, and in the midst of them clrcu-
lar pit thirty feet or more across, in which lay
This water. though clear as crystal. was not
still, for once in every two seconds great bub-
BILE three or four feet In diameter rose In the
centre Of the pool to hurst on its surface and
send ring Of ripples TO the rocky sides So
pearanoe, that for some minutes Maya watched
II, then, remembering that she had no time to
spare set herselft to get TO the water only to find
that she was confronted by anew difficulty. and
one that but for her foresight might have proved
The rock bank Of the pool was so
It was quite impossible for any one to keep
The ancients had overcome the trouble by
means OF q wooden staircase, as was evident
from the places followed In the rock to receive
the uprights, but this structure had long since
roued away. At the head of where this stair
case had stood hole was bored in the rock.
doubtless to receive rope by which the water
bearers supported themselves while they filled
their jars, and the sight of this hole gave Maya
an idea.
Untying the cord which she had brought with
having fxed the torch into one OF the spaces
followed to hold the timbers of the stairway,
she slid down the bank till she stood breast high
N the water. For minute or more she remained
thus drinking her fll and enjoying the coolness
n her bath, which was pleasant after the stupe-
,are to remove the tinder that was tied to it. she
'lipped the water ok in from her shoulder, washed
t out, filled and replaced y.
he light of q new torch started for the foot OF
he shaft. Here Maya rested a while, gathering
o grow AFRAID she commenced the ascent
There were 101 Of the Dotches. for she had
counted them as she came down. and now again
he began TO count so that she might know her
xact position in the shaft, Of which she could
sb Of The
mayed to find feeling OF WEAKNESS taking pos
eseion of her, which forced her to pause awhile.
hanging to the face of the shaft. Then she went
evenly fifth step, where once more she was
obliged to hang gaining breath. till a pain in her
warned her that she must % stay no longer. '''''''
For the third time she struggled upward
desperately and despairingly, dragging her feet
he straps of the heavy water skin cut into her
ender hesh and her brain began to reel. Now
here were but ten more steps.
II came into her head that she might save her
elf BY loosing the burden OF water from her
TO fall 10 the bottom OF the pit, but
emained and the goal would be won, but now
ls9 S her brain was giving away. II grew darker !
Dme fragment Of her senses ''' N''
Her foot wasin the topmost hole, her body
,as balanced upon the edge Of the pit, and,
he was likely to fall backward. Then IL seemed
hat voice called her. and for the last time she
make, till darkness closed in upon her mind.
When Maya recovered a few minutes later she |
1und that she was lying on the edge OF the pit, |
rendered all, and with little scream Of terror |
,r,Egl,ed ,r,ENI,. forward % along the floor Then with
luscles seemed to have no strength she rose TO |
er feet; and. having felt for and picked up her
men robe; crept toward the spot of light which
he was through 1t, and, with a sigh of thank |
illness, sank TO the earth and put on her gar
Meanwhile, knowing nothing of all this, also
ad been thinking, remember how. when
sntured his life to save me- should not. then,
enture mine To save hisr 1t seemed so. With
dreaded to attempt the descent OF the cueva,
i Il must be done. Leaving the hammock, !
srehed III n,T f1r the Lady Maya, but could no! find
y r. so, so called called aloud: senora' sehora! Where
:. !. fIere, she said. What is itr Is he dead ?"
} win die within little more than an hour.
lerefore have made up my mind to try 10 de-
end the egeya; Will YOU be 50 good as to
ore. pre- as 81 is probable tell your father what has
tno tdlleInhn OF tne Broken
cart lying with my clothes at the mouth OF
g pit. pray that he will take It, and pray
so that he should descend TO Mexico hearing
th him some OF the wealth of his city, there TO
ntinue the work that have begun, of which
rave spoken to him. Farewell, sehora."
stop, Don IgnAtio." said Maya In a hoarse
ice; There is no need TO descend the cueva"
: Why not lady? ! should be glad to escape
task, but this Is question of life and
Yes" she answered. land because IL is A
estion Of life or death, Don IgnatiO, / have
'eady climbed that hdeous place, and-here is
water"
md once more she fell forward and swooned
on the ground: ! said nothing. | was too
lch amazed, and, indeed too much ashamed,
speak. Lifting Maya's senseless form from |
3 ground, placed her in a hammock that was
ing close by. Then took the water SIX In and
Gather cup and ran with them to my friend ,
tut now the senior was in a state OF collapse
q lay still. moaning from time 10 time. IN
Ing the mouth OF the skin, poured out n CUP
Of water with which began 10 sprinkle his
NV and To mOisten his cracked lips. Al the
lch and smell OF the fluid a singular change
ne over the seniors face; the empty look LEFT ,
md the eyes opened.
That was water" he muttered. 81 can
te IT," Then he saw the cup and the sight :
med 10 give him sudden strength, for sud- :
ally he stretched out his arms and snatchinR !
rom my hand, he drained i in three gulps