Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-03-18
HEART OF The WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAoGARD.
Copyrighted. 1894 ov Ii Rider Hassara.
CHAPTER xIl-coxr,Surn

sell so that there might be as little as
possible to impede her movements in
climbing the stair, and twisted her
hair into a 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 i'm crevices of the
rock. so that their flames shonc over
the mouth of the shaft. down which She
threw, first a bundle of unlit torches,
and lastly one on fire. This torch did
not go out, Us she had expected that ii
would. for presently looking down the
pit she saw spark of light shining
one hundred and fifty feet or more be-
meath her.
Now all her preparations were COM
plctc. and nothing remained tn bc done
eXccpt 40 descend and search for the
water. ....-.
by The time that She was a 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
be broken. Fortunately this was not
the case. although one of them was so
much worn that her toes slipped out of
IL. and Cor a second or two she hung by
her hands Recovering herself she
went on from step to step till ut length
she stood at the bottom of the shaft
After few minutes pause to get her
breath, Maya found one of the dry aloe
stems and lit it at the cmbcrs of the
torch. which she had thrown down the
pit Then she looked round her 10 find
herself in large, natural cavern of no
great height, which sloped gently
downward furthe: than She could see.
Turning her eyes To the floor she
searched for and found the patN that
Lad been followed out by the feet of
the ancicnts, but now was half hidden
in sand and dust.
1t ran straight down the cave and she
followed ii for fifty PAGES or more
holding the light in one hand and
some spare torches under her arm.
Suddenly the passage took "A turn.
and there in the center OF Il wonderful
place, such as she had never seen be-
fore, CLEANED the water which she had
risScd her life 10 reach.
This water, though clear as crystal.
was not still, iOr once in every twose,.-
onds n great bubble rose in the center of
the pool to burst on its surface and send
"A ring OF ripples to the rocky sides. SO
beautiful was this bubble. and so regu-
lar its appearance, that for some min
uteS Maya watched il, then. remember
ing that she had no time to spare, set
herself TO get to the water, only to find
that she was confronted by new diff
sight might have proved insuperable.
The rock bank of the pool was so smooth
and Sloped so Steeply TO the water that
II was quite impossible for anyone TO
keep footing on it,
The ancient had overcome the
trouble by means of a wooden stair
case, as was evident from the places
followed in the rock To receive the up
rights, but this structure had long since
rotted away. At the head Of where
this staircase had stood hole was
bored III the rock, doubtless to receive
"a rope by which the water bearers sup
ported themselves while they filed
their jars, and the sight of this hole
gave Maya an idea.
Untying the cord which she had
brought with her, she made il fast
through the hole. and having fixed 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 In the water. For minute or
more she remained thus drinking her
fill and enjoying the GOODNESS of her
bath, then. first having taken care to
remove the finder that was tied To it,
she slipped the water skin from her
shoulder, washed it out, filed and re-
placed il.
Next she dragged hcrselfup the bank,
and 10y the light of a new torch started
for the foot IF the shaft. Here MAYA
rested awhile, gathering up her cner-
gicS, then She commenced the ascent
There were lOi OF the notchc,. for she
had counted them as she came down.
and now agaia she began TO count So
tl-St .hc might know her exact position
Ia tic shaft, OF which She could see
nothing because OF the intense dark
ness. Before che had assembled fifty
steps sh" WIS diEma ged To lind q feeling
OF WEAKNESS taking possession Of her.
which forced he. to pause awhile. hang
ing 10 the face % the shaft Then She
went on again, and with great efforts
reached the - Ycntv-tifth step.
Then il scc-acd that q voice. called
her. and she struggled writing forward
like wounded snake. tin darIncs-
closed in upon her mind.
When MAYA recovered u few minutes
later size found tuat sii. wa. lying upou
The edl-" II the Ut. over '.h ich her feet
still hung. Instantly she remembered
all. and vi.h little scream OF terror
wriggicd forward along The floor Then
she rose 10 her feet. and picking M "r
linen robe. crcpt coward the entrance
90 TIE cave. where she put on her gar
men'S and walked SLOWLY toward the
camp. bearing tbe precious water with
her.
meanwhile knowing nothing 81 all
this. also Rad been thinking. re-
lucmhcred how. when la ~ruSncd bc.
meath the rocks. ~" senior hud ven
turcd his life 70 "a SC me. should not.
then. venture mine 10 save hie2 ~
seemed 90 Without water lac would
certainly die. and greatly t. dreaded
u attempt the descent 81 tie enc va. vet
y mist uc done. Leaving hr hamGo.l.
J searched for the Lady Naya. but "ou'd
not find her. 80 + called aloud: "~cu"ra
sonora Where arr Won. ,pno~aT
Dlcre. slc Answered. 'NUdf o. it"
J. ice dcad""
40: but am sure that unle-, Do I..
wai"r hc win die within e HtfIr more
than ~ hour. Therefore ! have made
~ NJ mind go try todcsccrd Tho cucya.
WI rou bc 30 good a. 90 watch the
senor tiiI return and IL return no
NOR. - b. probable. tell Your fitlc..
wnat has happencd?-
Stop, Don lVnatio." said MAYA iu n
hOarsc voice. There i- 900 need fnr
You 90 descend the cuay."
"Whv not. lady? Should DO olad to
cScaPc thc task. bu' thi. E. question
Of life and death.
'GC~. she answered .and bn.au-. d.
j. question % life and death Don g..
natio. have already climbed fItt hide
Gus place and here j. tiio "atrr."
and once more She f,.Il forward and
ewooncd upon thc ground { said moth
ing wa too much amazed and IN