The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-01

directed our steps to the right, examinin,
all the while ~ Tie light of the torche:
the small gaps 10 lie seen in the sides O
the galley, when at last, after many un
successful attempts, We discovered a hole
through which man $ arm could scarcely
pass.
By introducing torch into it, how grea
was our surprise to see within it an i'm.
mense space studded with rock crystal
need not add that such a discovery in.
splred us with the greatest desire of more
closely examining that which we had but
an imperfect view of. We therefore sci
our Indian to work with his pick-ax to
widen the hole and make a passage for
us. His labor went on slowly; he struck
his blows gently and cautiously, so as tC
avoid a falling-in of the rock, which
would not only have marred our hopes, but
would, besides, have caused a great dis
aster. The vault of rocks suspended over
our heads might bury us all alive.
A DANGEROUS MOMENT.
At the very moment when our hopes
ing now wide enough to admit of us pass
ing through it, suddenly and above our
heads We heard hollow, prolonged, rust
ling noise that froze us TO death. The
vault had loen shaken, and we dreaded
its falling uEOn us. For moment, which
all terrified; the Indian himself was stand
ing as notiOnless as a statue, with his
hands upon the handle of his pick-ax,
Just IN the same position as he was when
he gave his last blow.
After moments solemn silence when
our fright had little subsidized, we began
to examine the ature OF the danger we
had Just escaped. Above our heads a
long wide split ran along the vault to a
distance OF several yards, and at the place
where it stopped an enormous rock, de-
tached from the dome, had been most
prOvidentially impeded in it's fall down.
wards by one OF the columns which, act
ing as sort of buttress, kept it suspend
ed over the opening we had lust made.
| Having after mature examination as
certained that the column and the rock
were pretty solid, like rash men ac-
customcd to daunt all danger and sur
mount any sort of obstacle and difficulty
we resolved upon gliding one by one into
the dangerous yawnine. DIR. Genu, who
till then had kept profound silence, on
hearing OF our resolution was suddenly
seized with such panic fear that he re-
covered bis voice implOring and begging
OF us to take him out of the cavern, and
as If he had been suddenly seized with a
sort of vertigo, he told us, with inter
ruptcd accents, that he could not breathe;
that re felt hlmSelfaS if he were smothering
that his heart was beating SO violently
| WcIC HC 10 Say diy longer dEtlUSt tHt
dangers we were running he was cerain
of dying from the effects OF a rupture OF
the heart. He offered all he possessed on
earth to him who would save his life, and
with clasped hands he supplicated our
Indians not to fOrSake him, but to guide
him out of the place.
We therefore took compassion upon his
state of mind, and allowed the Indian to
| guide him out, but as soon as the latter
returned, and having aScertained during
his absence that neither the rocky frag-
ment nor the column had stirred but
which had been the mOmentary cause Of
our alarm, we put our project into execu-
ton, and like SerpentS, one after the other
we crawled into the dangerous opening
which was scarcely large enough for our
passing through.
We soon ceased thinking of our past
dangers, nor did our present imprudence
much pre-occupy our minds, all our at
tention being entirely absorbed by what
presented itself TO our raviShed eyes.
Here we were in the midst of a saloon
wearing a most fairy aspect, and by the
light of our torches the vault, the floor,
and the wall were shining and dazzling,
as If they had been covered over with the
most admirably transparent rock crystal.
Even in some places did the hand of
menting of this enchanted palace.
Numberless stalactites and stalagmites,
as pellucid as the limpid stream that has
Just been seized by the frost, assumed
here and there the most fantastic forms
and shapes. They represented brilliant
draperieS, rows of columns, busters, and
chandeliers. At one end, close to the wall
was to be seen an altar with steps leading
up to it. and which seemed to be in ex-