Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-05-02
dark abyss that was frishtful to b.

dark abyss that was frightful to b.
hold.
] As we stopped and contemplated this
wonder o. nature with the lurid torch
lighting w the awful scene, ] suddenly
perceived what appeared to be several
bright sparks of fire In the bed Of the
stream.
AS the depth of the water was only
a few inches, / fixed my eye on one,
descended into the current. stopped
down, picked 1t up, and held it to the
light.
What have you found. Benson?"
asked my companion
What is it?, said I. handing 1t to
him
Never shall forget his wild eager
look as he fairly shouted:
Cold gold. gold. AS / live, goldl Hur-
rah! Our torture is nader
In moment 7 was as much excited
as he And. forgetting everything, we
both began hurried search along the
bed Of the stream for gold.
we found 1t in particles, here, there.
and everywhere. sparkling like fire be-
meath the light of our torch and while
we gathered it. looking eagerly among
The rocks on either side for some en-
ricning vein. we INDUCED in the widest
dreams Of wealth and ambition.
At last. coming back down the stream
toward the edge Of the dark abyss, my
companion saw something that drew
him forward in haste l perceived his
danger and shouted:
Have a carer
The words had not done echofng
through the subterranean gloom when
there was a sudden slip. the dashing
IF
scream, the ghostly CLEAN of quickly
descending torch, and then I was all
alone in the bowels Of the earth. in the
most appalling darkness.
For time ] was bewildered and
supplied. and sat down IN the rayless
darkness, moaning and wringing my
hands. Then I shouted the name Of my
companion many times, and begged him
10 answer me. though / knew it was
al in vain Each echo responded-an
awful echo. that finally died out far
away IN the terrific gloom
at last l aroused myself to thoughts
Of my own preservation. Fortunately.
had brought with me the means q.
striking light. and one bundle Of
sticks was still in my possession.
lighted the torch, cast around me
one terrified glance, and hurried away
from the roaring water that was sing
Ing the funeral dirge of my late COM
panion.
My presence here now is proof that
| reached the outer world alive: hut
more than once / was la despair, be-
Iieving | had lost my way. After that
| had long. weary journey back to
Port-au-Prince. and it was not till near
the close of the fourth day that / came
n of
deal during those four days. and, after
being completely drenched. / was often
exposed 10 a scorching sun.
The effect Of all this was d fever
which kept me on my bed for six weeks,
during which time my life was more
than once despaired Of; and 1t was
nearly four months from my first at
tack before / was again fit for BUSH
ness.
My purse had now become pretty low.
l bethought me of the golden cave, and
al once endeavored to turn il To some
account.
I mentioned my discovery to several
different parties, telling them at the
same time the sad tale of the loss Of
my companion.
Most Of them listened with indiffer-
ence, saying that they did not think that
gold enough could be found there to
defray the expense Of searching for It:
and l was about to give up the idea
of making any money out Of ii. when
] fortunately met with a Specializing
Frenchman. who asked me what sum
I would require to guide him to the
cavern and relinquish all claim 70 what
ever might be found within.
/ named five thousand pounds, and
after considerable arguing. he offered
me four thousand, which | finally ac-
copied
/ guided him 10 the grotto. conducted
him to the subterranean stream-at
which / shuddered as / again beheld it.
showed him the little sparkles of gold.
and received my promised reward
never saw him afterward. but heard
that he made fortune by his pur-
chase.
That four thousand pounds. so
strangely acquired | may say was my
first real start in life With that l be-
gan 20 trade In different articles. buy
and selling. and two years afterward
returned home in a vessel freighted by
myself
l was prosperous in all my undertake
ings. and twenty years ago retired from
business. having what ] considered TO
be enough of this worlds goods.
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