Catoctin clarion., 1897-07-08

over there And he led the American
into the blaokness behind them. Every
now and then, as they stumbled along,
Johnston would look longingly back TO-
ward the faint pink light that shone
above the high black wall, but Branas'
ko hastened on.
Presently they came to the edge Of
black chasm, and the American was
hlled with awe, for, from the seemingly
fathomless depths. came great roaring
sound like that of mighty wind, and
the air that came from 1t was hot.
though pure and free from the odor Of
gas.
"What is thisa'' he asked.
"They are everywhere" answered
Branasko. III It were not for their hot
breathing, the Land of the Changing
Sun would be cold and damp"
"Theu the sun does not give out
heat?"
"No'
"It is cold?'
II believe So I have never thought
much about 1t"
The American was mystifed, but he
did not question further, for Branasko
was carefully lowering himself into the
hot gulf.
"Follow me-" he said. 1--WE must
cross it to reach the caves. will guido
you. I have been over this way before"
"But can we stand the heat!"
"Oh, yes. When we get used to II, IL
is inyigorating. perspire in streams,
but feel better afterward. Come on"
Branasko's head only was above the
ground. II am standing on ledge"
he said. "Get down beside me. Fear
nothing. 1t is solid. Besides, what does
it matter? You can die but once, and it
would really, be. better to fall down
there into the internal fires than to
starve slowly"
Johnston shuddered convulsively as
he let himself down beside Branasko.
His foot dislodged stone. With crash
It fell upon lower ledge and bounded
of and went whizzing down into the
depths. Both men listened. They heard
the stone bounding from ledge to ledge
till the sound was lost in the internal
roaring.
ut is mighty deep" said Johnston.
eyes; but follow me. We cannot stop
here. We must 90 along this ledge till
we get to the point where the chasm is
narrow enough to jump across. l have
done it.
"The American held to his companion
with one hand and the rock with the
other and they slowly made their way
along the narrow ledge, pausing every
now and then to rest At every step the
path grew more perilous and narrower,
and the cliff Oh their left rose higher
and higher, till the reflected light of the
sun had entirely disappeared. At GER
tain points the hot wind dashed upon
them as furiously as the whirling mist
in the Cave of the Winds at Niagara
falls. Once Johnston's foot slipped and
he fell, but was drawn back to safety
by the strong arm Of the Alphian.
''Be careful. Hold to the cliff faCe,
warned Branasko indifferently. and he
moved onward as if nothing unusual
had occurred. Presently they reached
a point where a narrow bowlder jutted
out over the chasm toward the opposite
side, and Branasko cautiously crawled
out upon it. When he had got to its
end, Johnston could not see him in the
gloom, but his voice came to him OUT
Of the roaring of the chasm.
II can see the other side and am 60
ing to jump" An instant later the
American heard the clatter Of the Al
phian's shoes ON the rock and his grune
Of satisfaction. Then Branasko called
out: "Come on. Crawl out till you feef
the end Of the rock, and then you can
see me-"
In great tTepidation the American
slowly crawled out on the narrow rock.
Below him yawned the hot darkness:
abbve hung that black, ominous canopy
81 nothingness. Slowly he advanced on
hands and knees, every moment feeling
the sharp rock growing narrower, NIL
AnaIly he reached the end. He looked
ahead. He could but family see the
ledge and Branasko's tall form silhou'
cited upon it.
"See, this is where you have to
alight," cried the Alphian. Jump. I
will oatch you.
II am afraid I shall topple over when
I stand up," replied the American.
"The rock is narrow, and my head 10
already swimming. / fear / oannos
reach you. 1t is no use"
Tut, tutr' exclaimed Branasko.
"stand up quickly and jump at once.
Don't stop to think about it."
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