The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-11-19
A TRYING ORDEAL

for what wanted and was NJ last
startled by wild yell from tho guide,
who came rushing toward me, his face
distorted. his mouth open ANA his eyes
flaming and ~ that disagreeahlc green
| ish color
stood looking at him. not knowing
| the cause Of his strange actions.
Was the volcano about 10 commcnc"
another eruption and crisp us 10 a elm
der:
by this time hc had reached my side.
and before ! knew II he had grasped
me 10y the throat and borne me down
Another sacrifice Ia offer 10 my
charming queen" ne cried as he com
mcnccd dragging me toward the steep,
smoking cone.
II WAS some time before | recovered
from the surprise which this uncXpcct-
ed mancuvcr occaSioned.
But at last did and struggled 80 my
feet.
Come" said You have carried
this joke far enough.
"Ha. ha. ha" he laughed. fighting
desperately 10 force me- up 10 the cone.
My pets think it Is capital Joke
Don't YOU hear them growing for
foodg Come l is your flesh. and it
alone. that viii appcaSc their hunger
His hrudi~h eyes glared into mine
flakes of foam dropping from his livid
lips.
| saw il ia an instant.
| was i'm the hands ~ a raving ma
mac
To plead or argue would amount To
raught: nothing but strength and agil-
ity could save me from a most horri-
bic death. for il was his intention to
throw me into the mouth Of the cone
there falling into the seethng, boiling
ocean ~ fire and flame beneath. |
should hc burned to crisp in Soc
Ond Of time
struggled desperately. shouting the
while in hope Of calling back my
friends To my aid.
But all my shouting was useless
lost in the mighty surroundings and
the ever shifting clouds of smoke and
mist rendered their seeing mo IN i'm
possibility.
My only hope was TO overpowcr my
asSailaut
We were now within Few yards ~
the base of the cone and the heat was
almost m~uderahlr
Clouds Of >mokc and flame. followed
10y huge pieces Of blood red >coria,
were ,om.tcd from the black funnel
Ike peak
WAS gradually forced nearer and
nearer.
The prr>pration started from every
pore. and hccamr conscious that /
was groV ,uc weaker and would soon
have To- ~uccumh my physical strength
being uo match fer his urged on 10y a
hend.,h purpose. The product of dis
caSrd intellect
The earth was uuakinE beneath our
feet the air was sitting and deeply
imprceuatcd with the fumes OF gas.
My face and hand, had already com
mcnccd To blister under the intense
heat.
And while WAS slowly losing my
strength h~ appeared To have his aug
mented at every step.
could not light much longer.
Death. IN one ~ ijs most horrible
forms. would in fcw moments be my
fate.
Ny slgh' grew dim; my brain seemed
10 be- pierced 10y hot irons. my limbs
refused to move.
God help ne" / murmurcd.
The prayer had hardly left my lips
whom I felt sudden flash OF intense
heat. and Tie same instant the hold Of
the maniac guide was looscned.
opened NY eyes \ mass Of redhot
scorla had IN iis descent crushed him,
a CHARGED >hapclrSs heap 10 the earth.
By great cn0rt ~ will I rcgained
sufficient strength to stagger OF and
reach the PERCEPTIONS side Of the basin,
when all became black. impenetrahlo
void
When again opened my eyes. |
found myself lying in bed. with my
friends bending anNiously over me.
They Informed me- that they did not
miss me until they had reached the
top Of the crater and there my nOnap-
pearance was attributed TO my eXplor-
Ing propcnsitics. and as had. as they
supposed an excellent guide. they felt
no fear as 30 my arrival IN due sea
son to accompany them back to the
city
But as hour after hour rolled by and
! was still absent an underlined. vague
feeling for my safety ran through
them and finally took such hold that
they determined To once more descend
the ugly pit IN quest OF me. which they
did. at the risk Of their lives. for II
was late in the afternoon when they
started
Upon reaching the bottom they. after
a long search. found me lying IN
deathlikc swOon near one side and my
guide crushed to jelly beneath the
mass Of scOrla NJ tho base Of the cone
They let him liz where he was and
after the greatest difficulty and dan
ger conveyed me up and brought me
to the city
1t was some weeks before | was able
10 leave my room but thanks TO
good constitution and the indefatigable
attention Of my kind friends, did at
last.
And now. kind reader. can you won
der that even here, thousands OF miles
distant from the scene of my trying
ordeal Il blood chilling thrill runs
through me when look nj the old coin
imbedded in its covering OF scoria 2
New York News.
RemorsP.