Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-10

''Now, if go in there, how can I get out again?" he thought sadly. After all, perhaps I should have done better to re- turn while it was still light, for then by the help of my staff and the rope might have made shift to climb the overhanglng ledge of rock, and to try this now were madness. I will go back and sit in the cave with the ghosts of the god and his dead till the morning comes again, though do not crave their company" ~ -
 So he retreated a few paces and sat in silence near the tail of the dead crocodile. After awhile loneliness took hold of him. He tried to sleep and could not, for it seemed to him that he saw eyes staring at him from the depths of the cave and heard dead men whispering to each other tales of their dreadful ends. Moment by moment his fears grew upon him, and Ot- I ter was very superstitious. Now he fan cied that he could distinguish the head of the reptile lined in fire and resting on the edge of the rock as he had seen 1t that morning. Doubtless" he thought, 'this monster is a devil and has come to life again to be revenged upon me. Wow, liked him bet ter when he was in the flesh than now, that he has turned himself into fire" Then, to comfort himself, he began to talk aloud, saying: OllCEY hhIuShy NAdO yOu WHY uAu you not die nt once instead of living on to be tormented by ghostsf Perhaps your | master, the baas, whom alone you love, is | dead now and waits for you to come and serve him. You are very tired. Say, now, Otter, would it not be well if you took | that rope which is about your middle and hung yourselff Thus you, too, would be- come ghost and be able to do battle with | them in their own fashion," and he groaned aloud.
 Then of a sudden he grew fearful in- deed. The short wool stood up upon his | head, his teeth chattered, and as he said l afterward his very nose seemed to grow I cold with terror, for as he sat he heard | or seemed to hear a voice speaking to him | from the air, and that voice was his mas- ter's. "Otter, Otter" said the voice He made no answer. He was too frightened. "Otter, Is that you?" whispered the | voice again.
 Then ho spoke Yes, baas, it is I. I know that you are dead and call me. l Give me one minute till 1 can undo my rope, and will kill myself and come to | you"
 "Thank you, Otter," said the voice, with ghastly attempt at a laugh, but | If 1t is all the same would much rather that you came alive" l "Yes, baas, and I, too, would rather stop alive, but being alive how can join you who are deadP"
 You fool, am not dead" said Leon- ard.
 "Then, bans, how Is it that you speak out of the airf Come near to me that may touch you and be comforted.'
 II cannot, Otter. am bound and in | Q prison above you. There is hole in the floor, and if you have a rope, as heard you say, perhaps you could climb up to me.
 Now the dwarf began to understand. Rising, he stretched the long staff he had | with him high above his head and found | to his delight that he could touch the roof of the cave. Presently the point of the staff ceased to press upon the rock.
 1t is here, but you must throw the stick up like a spear through the hole, for nm tied and cannot put out my hand to | take it.
 Stay awhile, baas. First must make the line fast to it.
 Good, but be swift. for am in dan ger"
 Hurriedly Otter undid the hide rope from about his middle, knotting 1t secure ly to the center of the stick. Then some five feet below the stick he made a loop large enough for n man to place his foot in, and having ascertained the exact situa- tion of the opening in the roof of the cave he hurled the stick upward and jerked at the line
 Ut is fixed" whispered Leonard from above. Now come mp if you can."
 The dwarf required no second invita. tion. Seizing the rope as high as he could reach above his head, he began to drag himself up hand over hand, no easy task, for the hide cord was thin and cut his fingers and his right leg, round which he had twisted it to get a better purchase.
 Presently, however, he succeeded in set ting his foot in the loop he had prepared when he found that his head and shout. ders were in the hole, and that by reach.
 ing upward he could grasp the staff,
 which lay across It. The rest was easy,
 and within half a minute he was gaspine
 at his masters side.
 "Have you knife, Otter:'
 "Yes, baas, my small one. Tho big ones
 are down there. will tell you that story
 by and by"
 Never mind the story now, Otter. My
 hands are tied behind my back. Feel fol
 the lashings and cut them. Then give me I the knife, that may free my legs"
 Otter obeyed, and presently Leonard
 rose and stretched himself with sigh oi
 relief.
 Where is the Shepherdess, baasf'
 "Thcrc, in tho next cell. They separat
 ed mo from her, md since then havt
 been dangled by the legs over that hole
 bound and gagged, fancy, in order tC
 persuade her to consent to something ol
 other by tho sight of my danger, fol
 doubtless she was placed where she coult
 to spit out thSgag, but could not undo
 tho cords. I expect that they will soon b'
 back again."
 Then had we not better fly, baasi
 have found a passage that leads to thu | mountains"
 How can we fly and leave the Shepherd
 ess, Otter? Since have been held dowI
 the hole only two mon have visited mI from time to time, for they think me help less. Let us seize these men when the! come in and take their knives, for we ar
 uuarmed. Then We can think; also VI 8 ! shall have their keys" | "Yes, haas, we may do that. You talk t the staff. It is stout" . And what will you use'" asked Leon a ard.
 Fear not, baas. Do these men bsa
 lightsS"
 Yes"
 Then in two minutes will make m o a weapon"
 And untying the hide ropc from tn d stick he began to tumble at 1t busily. "Now I am ready, baas, " he said pres ently. Where shall we standr' @ "Here, " answered Leonard, leading hin 1T to the door. We will crouch down in tn a shadow, ono on either side of this door O and when the priests have entered ant Q closed it and begin to look round for m
 then we will spring upon them. Only 't Otter there must he no bungling and n n noise"
 ls II think that there will be none, baas N They will be too frightened to cry out a first, and after that they will becom dumb" tEE E 1H "Otter," whispered Leonard as the Is stood in the dark, did you Kill the wate