The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-09

I
"Stand backr' he ordered gruffly
at is the heat. Let me alone.
The American sank into his seat. The
heat became more and more intense
Both men were purple in the face. and
the perspiration was rolling from their
bodies in streams. Down sank the ma
chine.
II can't manage it," said Branasko
hoarsely Wed as we'll give up"
just then Johnston noticed the mouth
of cave behind Branasko.
Look, he cried; cant We get in
to it:'
Branasko looked over his shoulder,
and as be saw the cave he uttered a
glad cry. He quickly turned the wheel
and drew out lever at his right. The
machine obeyed instantly. 1t swerved
round suddenly and dived into the cave.
The cool air soon revived them. and
Branasko had little trouble in bringing
the car TO resting place on the rocky
floor Of the cave. Before them hung i'm
penetrable darkness, behind curtain Of
red light.
I'VE are in a pretty pickle now,"
said Johnston despondently as they
alighted from the car.
Nothing 10 do but to make the best
of it," sighed Branasko. Perhaps this
cave may lead out into some place of
safety
Johnston s eyes had become somewhat
accustomed to the gloom, and he began
TO peer into the darkness
Il see a light" he exclaimed. "It
cannot be a reflection from the fire in
the pit, for it is whittier.
The Alphian gazed at it steadily for
moment; then he said decidedly, "We
must go and see what it is. " Without
another word he started toward the
white, starlike spot, sliding his hand
over the rocky wall and springing over
fssure in the floor.
Gradually the light grew brighter
till, as they suddenly rounded cliff,
grand sight burst upon their view. They
found themselves in vast dome shaped
cavern, thousands Of yards in diameter
and height, and almost III the center of
the floor from red and purple mound
of cooling lava leaped white stream
of molten matter from the floor to the
dome, and in the black dome, where
the lava tunnel to molten spray, hung
countless stalactites Of every color
known to the artistic eye, and from the
foot of the fountain ran tortuous rivu-
let that lighted the walls and roof of
narrow chamber that extended for miles
down toward the bowels of the earth
Branasko was delighted.
THE king does not know of this, !" he
declared. 'else he would make it ac-
cessible to his people and call it one of
the wonders of Alpha. By accidentally
sinking into the pit we have discovered
| it; but" he concluded, 1--WE must at
once try to find some way out other
than that by which we came.
They turned from the beautiful foun-
tain, and, holding to each others hands
and aided by the light behind them,
they stumbled laboriously through the
semidarkness. Branasko's ears were
very acute. He paused to listen.
Hark yep' he cautioned.
The combined roar of the pit and the
fountain of lava had sunk to a low muir
muir, but-ahead of them they now heard
rushing sound like a distant tornado.
Come on, said the Alphian, and he
drew his companion after him with an
eagerness the American was slow to I'M
derstand The light in the cavern grad
ually grew brighter. By a circuitous
route they were again approaching the
pit of fire, though it was still hidden
from sight.
Finally they reached a point where
the wind was blowing stiffiy, and farther
on volume of cold spray suddenly
dashed upon them and wet them to the
skin, and when their eyes had become
accustomed to the rolling mist they saw
great lake, and pouring into it from
high above was mighty waterfall.
"Mercy" CALCULATED the Alphian i'll
great alarm. IF this is salt water, we
are lost. All Alpha will come to an
end"
What do you mean?" And Johnston
wondered if Branasko's trials and strug-
giles could have turned his brain.
IF it be salt water, then it has bro
ken in from the ocean above Alpha"
he explained. The king has often said
that not drop OF the ocean has ever
entered the great cavern"
Branasko stopped and wet his hand
in little pool at his feet. II am al
most afraid to taste it," said he, hold
ing his hand near his mouth. 1T would
settle all our fates. He waited a mo-
ment and then touched his fingers to
his tongue.
'Saltp That was all he said for sew
eral moments. He folded his arms and
looked mutely toward the boiling lake.
Presently he raised his eyes to the great
hole in the roof and groaned:
THE break is gradually widening.
These stones are freshly broken, and
the great bowl is filing"
1T will fill all Alpha with water
and drown every soul in it," added the
terrified American.
THAT however, is not the most i'm
mediate danger ~ said Rranasko uiseIv