Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-01-27

az i'i Poof Nun- 40 possessed |
only brass tobae, .-uax short,
black pipe, and one smiling and six
pence; yet he was speedily deprived
OF them by one who seemed to be the
leader OF the gang.
You raseally Jack Spaniard!" said
Tom, shaking his elenched fist in the
robbers face. IF ever | haul alongside
oil you elsewhere, look out for squalls,"
Al this they all laughed, and seized
us by the arms. dragged us into the
back part OF the cavern or assure In
the rocks, leaving one OF their num-
Der, armed with musket. as sentinel,
al the entrance. where he lit paper
cigar. and stretching himself on the
grassy bank. placed his hands under
his head, and proceeded to leisurely
smoke in the sunshine.
These proceedings filled us with
great alarm. now that they had rob-
bed us of everything save our
clothes. what could their object be?
One Of them produced two pieces OF
rope. with which our hands were
4 t-tis pAAEIfh W Eoilits anu ttktiflh6
severe blows and bruises from the
/ clenehed hands and musket-butts OF
| others-accompanied by the impreca-
| tons and coarse laughter OF alive
were conveyed through low-roofed
grotto. or natural gallery in the rocks,
the echoes of which repeated their
voices with thousand reyerberations.
The only light here was by the re-
lection OF the sunshine at the en-
trance. where the basalt was coated by
white substance. the debris of some
old volcanic eruption; for the slope
up which We had been ascending all
the morning formed a portion OF the
great Peak. And now We became SEN
sihle OF a strange sound and a strange
odor peryading all the place.
Through rent In the rocky roof OF
the grotto there fell clear. bright
stream OF sunlight. that revealed the
terrors OF the place toward which our
captors dragged u.s.
On one side there yawned vast
black fssure or ehasm. In the somber
masses OF obsidian and red blocks OF
lava which composed the floor OF that
horrid cavern; and from this assure
there assembled. and doubtless still as
esnds at times. hot. sulphurous
steam. which rendered breathing diff
fcult and induced an inclination to
| sneeze.
From the depth of that hideous
ehasm. the profundity of which nc
mortal eye could Measure. and no hui
man being could contemplate without
awe and terror, We heard strange
buzzlng sound. as II from the bowels
! of the inner earth. far-heaven alont
knows how far-down below.
In fact. We we're upon the verge o.
one Of those natural spiracles which
the natives term the nostrils." or ave
= nues through which the hot vapors o
, that tremendous Piton ascend: ant
! the buzzlng sound that made on
: hearts shrink. We scarcely knew why
was caused by some volcanic throe
the bottom of the mountain, who's
(, base is many mile below the water
n of the sea.
: The assure was also twelve fee
!, broad. and across II there lay plank
!. forming species of bridge.
Two of our eaptors crossed, and the
: ordered us to follow them.
!, followed like one in a dream; bu
my heart was chilled by terror S
l. deadly that had no power c
!, thought of resistance. My first fea
was that the plank might be trundle
from under our feet. and that "
would be launched into the black abys
: below; but such was not the object
these spaniards. as Tom and | wer
r permitted TO pass In safety
The remainder OF the thieves TO
lowed and We found ourselves in al
other grotto, the roof of which wa
. covered by stalactites. that glittere
|" like gothic pendants of alabaster in th
light that fell from the upper fssur
. which formed natural window, an
= through IL we could see the thin. whit
!, steam ascending and curling In th
"a sunshine.
:, Now. supposing that they had us
. perfect security. our eaptors proceed
" cd 10 hold a consultation as 10 VIII
" thew should do with us; and imagii
= ing that we were both ignorant oil the
= language. or. what is more 1oabl
~ caring little whether we El 1t
not they canvassed the most terfib
: resolutions with perfect GOODNESS al
- freedom of speech.