Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-12
CHAPTER XII.

In the Prophets cave, where slep
Captain Brandon, Louis Kyle and How
ard Blanchard, there was no variation
Of light to tell the changes that were
going on in the outer world The
Prophet had that rare gift, an intuitivt
conception Of the passage Of time He
carried no watch, and he but rarely
looked up at the sun, for which he had
as idolatrous reverence as the fire wor'
shippers, who, in the far back ages in.
habited these mountains and kept their
sacrifcial altars burning on the highest
summit.
Awake, arise! The Philistines be in
our bordersr" shouted the Prophet,
when the time allotted for slumber had
passed At the sound Of the deep sono-
rous voice the men sprang from the
ground, some Of them seizing their
arms in alarm. Howard Blanchard, who
was wholly ignorant Of the methods OF
tbs remarkable man, stared wildly
about him as if expecting an attack
As the Prophet spoke he brought out
dried meat from the recesses that honey
combed the immense chamber, and set
ting the example he would have the
others fellow he ate heartily and filled
a pouch ,slung o1er his shoulder.
"See that yoar arms and ammunition
are in good order. Gird up your loins
as did the Gideonites Of old, for, as my
soul liveth, it will not fare well with
them who beset our paths in these
mountains
"We are all ready" said Captain
Brandon.
''It is we'll Now. that we may ad-
vance with more rapidity, I have pro-
vided torches. Here are three" He
handed the captain, Howard Blanchard
and Louis Kyle each one. Light them
at this altar.
There was always light burning on
the altar when a fire was not blazing
there. The Prophet lit four large earthen
lamps, and placing one on each corner
muttered prayer that sounded like an
incarnation, then shouldered his rifle
and strobe away in advance.
To Howard Blanchard it looked as If
their course lay into the heart of the
Titanic cliff that lowered above the en-
trance of the cave, and such in truth
was the case. On they went past the
fountain where they had bathed that
morning, and along gloomy galleries
whose vaults the torches failed to reveal
and whose black glistening walls looked
like the mythical furnaces Of the lower
world in which the fire had been long
extinguished On and on and up and
up, through this awful temple Of silence,
this cave of the shadows, this hiding
place Of night The lightest football
echoed and re-echoed farther and farther
off till lost in shadowy whispers Up and
on, the chambers becoming smaller and
the passages or galleries shorter and
narrower, until at length the most slen-
der had difficulty in getting through.
Without any premonitory glimmer OF
twilight the Prophet led them through
q narrow opening and out into the gold
en- sunlight and under the deep blue
vault.
"Thank God for the lightl' exclaim-
ed Howard Blanchard as he tossed away
the smoking fragments Of his torch.
The Prophet waved his arms, and
turning to Captain Brandon said:
"Now you take the lead"
1.-THE horses are near by in the
Prophets glen," said Louis Kyle.
"Then we must 60 there first"
The captain stepped into the advance,
and within mile he led them to bowl
shaped valley, in which were many
horses, the two herders left back by Louis
Kyle keeping watch over number that
were staked.
II have here horses and saddles
enough for all. The plunderers do not
lay hands on my property" The Proph-
ct went to little hut near the center
Of the valley and came out with three
sets Of equipments.
In short time all the horses neces-
sary to give each man o mount were
saddled The delight Of the herders.