The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-03
CHAPTER III.
A Wonderful Discovery.

that eAtenueu 1Or some distance. 1t at
tracted the attention of the Professor
who called halt and proceeded to set
up the machine to see IL 1t contained
| mineral
Having placed the instrument in a
satisfactory position the Professor
looked in for a moment and then
throwing up his hands and staggering
back pace or two, his face nearly
white as his hair and long flowing
beard, he uttered the exclamation in
| an awed voice, my God, gentlemen,
there Is man in there!'
What are you giving us?" asked
Charles.
Look for yourself" replied the Pro-
fessor, as he pointed towards the in
strument with trembling hand
Charles slid off his pony and ap-
preaching the instrument, looked in
and then facing around said,--"Great
Scott, boys. the Professor is right.
There is a man in there, sure"
Each one advanced to the instrument
to take a glance at the grewsome
sight hidden away in the rock. Who
was he? How did he come there? And
many other questions were asked, tha.
for the time being remained unans-
wered.
AS 1t was nearly noon, we descended
Into the vale below and went into camp
While the Mexican, or greaser was
looking after the animals and making
preparations for dinner, we boys ac-
companied by the Professor returned
to the base Of the rock. We found that
the rock had settled down at some
previous time, which had effectually
closed the entrance under 1t, assuming
that there had been one. Everett was
dispatched to the camp and soon re-
turned with a battery and some dy-
Mantle. Charles forced four sticks of
dynamite in a small crevice and at
tachlng the wires, we retired to a safe
distance when there was terrific en-
piosion. Masses of rock and stones
were hurled in the air, while the report
OF the explosion echoed and re-echoed
from hill to hill and from mountain to
mountain.
returning to the base of the rock, a
gapping hole under it exposed a cavern
Wltnln. Again a man was sent to
camp for lamps and on his return we
llghted them and entered. An awful
sight met our gaze. There on the
strong floor lay the remains of four
human beings-a man and woman
about fifty years of age, and a son and
daughter about twenty or twenty-five
years of age. They were Of different
race than the red man who now
roamed over the mountains. Their
complexion was but shade darker
than ours. All We're in a remarkable
state of preservation and had we not
known that they were dead, we would
have said a. the first glance that they
were but sleeping.
The Professor called our attention to
the beautiful and symmetrical form of
the young woman who lay a little to
one side of the others with cloth
made of some kind of hair about her
loins while a band of beaten gold en-.
circled her right wrist.
what model she would make for
an artist" said he, "were she but liv-
ing"
After gazing on the faces of the dead
for some time and vainly trying to un.
ravel the mystery that surrounded
theh', we wandered to other parts of
the cavern and at last came to a foun-
tain that flowed through one chamber
or the grotto. Billy unloOsened a small
cup from his side and dipping 1t in the
water raised 1t to his lips as he made
the remark, boys, am going to have
a drink"
Scarcely had he lowered the Gun to
his side when he staggered and would
nave fallen had not Everett caught
him in his arms. At first we thought
he was fooling, but as his head rolled
to one side with closed eyes and his
legs doubled up under him, we knew
That something serious had happenea
to him.
Iaking him tenderly up, we bore hir,
out or the cavern into the sunlight and
then to the camp and laid him down on
some blankets.
What Is the matter with him?"
asked Everett, land what can we do to
save him?"
he does not seem to be in any
pam. said Alonzo and as he placed
his hand over Billy's heart he added.
Il can just feel slight flutter. If anv
thing is done for the poor boy, 1t must
pe done very quickly. Charles. GET
some whiskey."
A few drops were poured down his
throat, but it did not seem to revive
MN In the least. He seemed to quietly
sup away and in fifteen minutes was
pronounced dead. Had the water in
tne cavern been poisonous? Or had he
aied from apoplexy or heart failureo
Poor Billy. How we will miss his
genial smile and pleasant WAYS. IT
breaks me all up, boys" said Charles
10 thlnk that We must leave him
alone In this great wilderness while
we travel onward. 1t would break the
heart or his mother were she TO know
tne rate that has befallen him. But
then, he added philosophically, II
don't see as any blame can he attach
ed TO any OF us If he had heart
trouble he was liable to die at any
time had he remained at home"
win sorrowful hearts we partook
OF dinner and remained in camp. The
middle of the afternoon the professor
took his gun and strolled down the
valley ana returned towards night,
During the evening we decided THAI
we would place the remains of Billy
IN the cavern in the morning and wall
up the entrance so that nothing could
enter 1T would make a sple ndid sep
ulcher and should his friends in the
east see fit to remove his remains at
some future time they could easily
hnd his resting place. The present oc.
cupants could not seriously object TO
having an addition to their party. The
professor said that the accident had
made such deep and painful impress.
sion on him that he would ask us to
perform the ceremony. as he had a
natural aversion in taking part that
he could not easily overcome; that he
would take a stroll down the valley to
a delightful spring of water that he
had discovered and would raturn s,>
time to assist in getting ready for the
journey.