Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-09-12

at any moment. The sides of the cav
ern were equally rough, and with the
exception of the shelf of lava on which
Macdonald stood the bottom of the
cave was covered with a gloomy waste
of waters.
Soon Macdonald attention was ar
rested by singular sight. A huge mass
appeared from the gloom beyond the
reach of the lanterns rays and slowly
advanced toward him. 1t was not a craft
belonging to the robbers. as MacDon-
aid had at first feared, but was an
island of lava. That SO great mass
of lava could float stemed incredible,
until Macdonald bethought him that
the mass was undoubtedly composed
of pumice, a feldspat--lc scoria pro-
duced by volcanoes, that is lighter
than water.
1t Immediately occurred to our hero
that the robbers were probably on the
lava vessel, and he closed the lantern
without delay.
Once more he was in intense dark
ness. AS the island came nearer he
could distinguish dim light. He at
once came to the conclusion that the
mass was of considerable size, and
that the light arose near it's centre from
were probably gathered. He breathed
more freely, feeling confident that he
had not been discovered.
When the i:land had almost reached
the shore it caused slight swashing
of the water, and guided by the sound,
Macdonald could almost tell where
the floating lava was. Cautiously put
ting out his hands, he felt them come
in contact with hard and moving
surface; and as the island touched the
shore he gave leap of sufficient power
to carry him well upon the singular
craft. He sat still for a few moments,
and to his alarm noticed that the
island had not fingered at the shore, as
he had hoped that it would do. 1t was
already moving steadily away, and he
surmised that the currents of the
singular lake or river, so ran as to
carry the mass round and round the
cave. So regular appeared 10 be the
movement that he believed the robbers
had been able to ascertain just at what
times during the "a hours of the day
(for he could not believe that the lake
was of so vast size as to require
days to make it's circuit) the island
could be depended upon to touch the
shore that he had left.
After slowly climbing upward for
six or seven feet Macdonald came to
the top of the island and tnen learned
that the theory as to the dim illumina-
ton was correct. I lie island was cir
cular, about one-half acre in extent,
and near its centre was the fire, now
burning low. The island shelved from
its elevated sides toward ,4e centre,
and on account of the bowl-like sur
face it was possible to see the entire
area, although its edges could not be
distinctly seen on account of the in
bility of the IRE except in its imme-
diate vicinity, to overcome the power
of the intense darkness. Rolled in
blankets and stretched around the fire
were eight ROBBERS, asleep. bout ten
feet from the fire was a wigwam cov
had been lad upon the slanting poles
of the frame That his dear Helen
was in this wigwall Macdonald felt al
most certain.
How to act under the circumstances
was most perplexing. To attempt to
rescue Helen, or even to communicate
with her, would be an undertaking
fraught with the greatest hazard.
While our hero hesitated his eyes
We're attracted to some plunder that
the robbers had left in a pile short
distance from where he stood.
Among the articles were heavy
horse blankets. A bright idea came
TO Macdonald. He removed his shoes,
went in his stocking feet to the pile,
selected two blankets, folded them into
as small compass as possible, placed
them on one arm, and, lantern in hand,
approached the fire and the eight men,
who slept soundly after the arduous
work of the previous night
When he was a few feet from the
fire Macdonald paused and laid the
blankets on the lava. 1t was a singu-
lar and most exciting situation. Far
from the aid of friends, in a cavern,
on mysterious lavaisland that fioated
in a subterranean lake of unknown
depth and extent, our hero stood in the
presence of foes who should one of
their number happen to awake and
give the alarm. would shoot him down
in an instant.
Macdonald did not, however, spend
any time in thinking of the singularity
and peril of his situation. In the
most careful manner he proceeded to
cover the burning sticks with the
blankets and to smother the fire.
Owing to his precautions, should the
robbers awake. before they could light
their lanterns he could escape in the
darkness.
Once more the cave was wrapped in
inky blackness. Macdonald moved
tho clida of his lanterp SlIfficiapt1v tO