The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-03-11


self SO that there might be as little as
ipossible to impede her movements in
climbing the stair, and twisted her
hair into knot. Next she tied the
cord about her middle and the water
skin, to which she fastened the flint
and steel upon her shoulders. Light
ing two of the largest torches she fixed
them slantingwise in crevices OF the
rock, SO that their flames 'shonc over
the mouth of the shaft, down which she
threw, first bundle of unlit torches,
and lastly one on fire. This torch did
not 20 out, as she had expected that it
would, for presently looking down tho
,pit she saw a spark of light shining
one hundred aud fifty feet or more be-
meath her.
Now all her preparations were COM
,plete, and nothing remained to be done
except to descend and search for the
water.
BY the time that she was third OF
the way down the shaft her courage re-
turned to her, and the only fear she
felt was lest some of the inches should
he broken. Fortunately this was not
the CAGE. although one of them was so
much worn that her toes slipped ont of
u.
her hands. Recovering herself, she
went on from step to step till at length
she stood@t the bottom OF the shaft:
After a few minutes pause to get her
breath, Maya found one of the dry aloe
stems and lit it at the embers OF the
torch. which she had thrown down the
lpit. Then she looked round her to lind
herself in large, natural cavern OF no
great height, which sloped gently
downward furthe: than she could see.
Turning her eyes to the hoor she
searched for and found the patti that
lad been followed out by the feet OF
the ancients, but now was half hidden
in sand and dust.
It ran straight down the cave and she
followed it for fifty PAGES or more
holding the light in one hand and
some spare torches under her arm.
Suddenly the passage took turn
and there in the center OF wonderful
place, such as she had never seen be.
fore, CLEANED the water which she hac
risked her life to reach.
This water, though clear as crystal
was not still, for once in every two sec
onds great bubble rose in the center O.
the pool to burst on its surface and sent
IA ring of ripples to the rocky sides. 81
beautiful was this bubble, and SO regu
lar it's appearance, that for some min
lutes Maya watched it, then, remember
ling that she had no time to spare, Sc
herself to get to the water, only to tint
that she was confronted by new dlti
Guilty, and one that but for her fore
sight might have proved insuperable
The rock bank of the pool was so smootl
and sloped so steeply to the water tina
it was quite impossible for anyone t
keep footing on it.
The ancient had overcome tn
trouble by means of a wooden stail
ease. as was evident from the place
!hollowed in the rock to receive the W
lriphts, but this structure had long sine
!rotted away. At the head OF wheT
this staircase had stood q hole wa
bored in the rock, doubtless to receiv
n rome by which the water bearers SUI
iported themselves while they file
their lars, and the sight OF this :,
gave Maya an idea.
Uutying the cord which ,hc h
brought with her, she mT de II fp
Through the hole, and having fixea
torch into one of the spG.ces hole -
hold the timbers of che stair ,wet
slid down the bank ill she = way,
Z high in the water. For ,dood bre
more she remained th mlnr 20
fill and enjoying y .us drink Ing
bath, then, first .ne cooir ess Of
ra,nove the tiry -4aving t" IS, 600 oO,, =.
she slipped der that was asIa tieS G1to to
shoulder. Inc Inc vat wa sr skin from s0
placed J. 'aoneu = ont, filed and
Ne>t II. -
apZ bv the i .eged herselfup the ba
r.or tbe foS % 4ght of new torch star
u rested IT OF the shaft. Here M;
ries awhile, gathering up her er
then she commenced the ascent
There were 101 of the notches, for
mad counted them as she came do,
and now again she began to count
that she might know her exact posit
in the shaft, of which she could
nothing because of the intense da
ness. Before she had ascended n
steps she was dismayed to find a feel
of WEAKNESS taking possession of h
which forced her to pause awhile, ha,
ing to the face of the shaft. Then
went on again, and with great effo
reached the seventy fifth step.
Then It seemed that a voice cal
her, and she struggled, writhing forwI
like wounded snake. It'll darlsn
closed IN upon her mind.
When Maya recovered few rninlt
later she found that she was lying ii1j
the edge of the pit, over which her 4
still hung. Instantly she remember
u ~ H