The herald., 1898-01-09
SCARCE GOT WORDS WHEN THERE WAS CRASH

tain. "In that case I shall go alone
Captain Archway, I'll go with your
cried, springing up. He seized my
hand and said:
"Thank you, Harry. was sure yor
would"
That very night was awakened from
sound sleep by knocking at my door
I found it pitch dark, and it was, as
soon learned, no more than two O'Clock
in the morning.
Dress yourself, Harry" said the
Captain, as 1 opened the door, "and
come on. The horse is hitched up and
we're all ready to start"
I hurried on my clothes, and in ten
minutes was climbing into the buggy.
By the light of lantern I saw an ak,
a gun, a dozen or more candles in a
box, and a great coil of rope. We
drove off, not along the valley of the
Zumbro, where the robbers had gone,
but up a narrow, winding coulie, which
1 thought must lead to the prairie
north of that river.
The night was cool, though 1t was
in the latter part of July. AS I had
come out Of the house I had noticed
that a mist was hanging over the river,
and out of it had come the deep, reg
ular breathing of a steamboat feeling
it's way round Shelter Nose Island. The
moon was set, but I thought the
stars shone with greater brightness
than common.
The Captain scarcely spoke till we
were we'll up onto the prairie, where
we bore away due west. 1t was then
that he explained his plan. Thus !
may very briefly give 1t: To get down
into Frontenac Cave through some of
the sink-holes on the prairie, if any
of them led into it, as he believed
they did.
"Of course" he went on, 1--WE can do
nothing at capturing that band of out
laws alone. 1t is not even my idea to
try to find them, for it would not be
safe. What we'll do will be to get down,
If we can, and see if we are not in q
cave which promises to be the right
one. Then we can come back for
help, and people will be willing enough
to listen to us. They would only laugh
at us now, as they do at my engine"
and there was tone of sadness in his
voice as he said this. 1--WE ought to be
able to find out all we want to know in
down this morning, be up before night.
Then, if we think we are right, we can
go down with enough men tomorrow
to hunt out the robbers. believe the
water that goes down these sink-holes
and probably much more that comes
from farther, follows a cave and gets
into the Zumbro through springs in the
bottom of the river. ! know there are
such springs all along there, for I've
I've got long rope and plenty of can
dies. Then I brought a gun, too,
though of course we shan't need that,
and food enough for two or three days;
so If we have trouble in getting down
We'll not have to go back for sup
plies"
"But, Captain" put in, having, ]
will say plainly, no relish for the pros
pect, caves are so crooked-they lead
up, down, everywhere; with pits and
domes where sink-holes come in, and
ten thousand holes, pockets, crevices
tunnels, and every shape of opening
YOU can think Of Besides, don't you
suppose the men have gone out some
other way?"
"Ay, like enough" he answered, nc
whit discouraged. Though probably
not, since the whole country Is on the
lookout for them, and they have moi
been seen anywhere. Besides, evet
If they have gone. maybe their plundei
can be found and given back to the
people they have robbed; and they