Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-05-02
Saint Mary $ Beacon.
EXPLORING CAVE.



vey, were very ambitious. They
were strong. healthy boys, in their
thirteenth year, and had grown up
among the mountains OF New
Mexico.
Two young prospectors had dis.
covered an old Spanish mine about
seven miles from the Stevens ranch.
They had sold their discovery to
an eastern syndicate for what seemed
to the boys o fabulous amount.
81 tell you, Harve, il we try, we
can surely find some good ore in
these hills, too" said Hal.
81 wish we could find q fortune. +"
returned Harvey. "My I'd have
the finest ranch in New Mexico, If
! could only find q mine like the
Davidson brothers,"
"I'd 60 to O military academy
and become . big United States
officer" announced Hal, giving
voice to the ambition of his soul.
'But, say. Harve, let's 90 over the
Divide, this morning, and explore
that cave that Navajo Ike pointed
ont to me one day last MONTH"
"But ] thought you said that
Navajo Ike warned you not to 20
there without a guide" cautioned
Harvey.
$50 he did," said Hal. "But
I'm not afraid to explore any old
cave in these mountains.
"Neither am l." quickly return
ed Harvey, not willing to let his
cousin carry of alone the palm for
bravery.
"Let's 60, then," said Hal.
"All right"
In a few minutes they were on
their ponies, speeding rapidly away
oyer the smooth road that led mp
into the mountains.
After q brisk ride Of two hours,
Hal and Harvey descended into a
deep, irregular gorge.
"There's the opening" cried
Hal excitedly, pointing to narrow
aperture half-hidden by some rough
rocks that jutted upward before the
face Of some reddish cliffs, whose
tops lowered far above and were
lost in the shadowy masses Of white
clouds.
Dismounting and leaving their
ponies to Craze on the short heritage
IN the canyon, the boys ran forward,
and soon squeezed their bodies
through the narrow opening.
Once within the entrance to the
cave, they lighted one of the torches
which Hal had brought with him,
and Immediately began exploring
the interior.
The possibility Of finding some
secreted treasures arose in their ex-
cited imagination and urged them
forward.
"No telling what we'll find in
this old cave" said Hal. peering
about him in the gloom of the damp
passage.
"Maybe some old Indian pottery
and turquoise ornaments" an
swered Harvey, close to Halls elbow.
owe can sell them for big money
il we do"
Pushing their way through the
outer passage, they reached an
apartment where the cave widened
and increased in height. The fitful
Pickering of the torch's light made
the crystals of the rough walls
scintlllate with o marvellous bril-
iancy that was quite sufficient to
raise their ambitions a hundred
fold. Visions of golden nuggets,
rainbow-hued opals, and garnets
like ruby dew-drops floated before
their minds and lured them on.
AWed into silence by the wonderful
sights Of the secret cave, Hal and
Harvey proceeded, scarcely daring
to breathe for fear the entire thing
might vanish like Q scene of en-
chantment.
"Hello, Halp cried Harvey,
suddenly. "Look Here's another
passage"
ESQ there is !" said Hal, pausing
in the entrance and surveying the
narrow walls little suspiciously.
"Come on, Harve, it's ell right. Z"
So saying. the boys crept through
the inner passage, which presently
wideDed into q triangular-s shaped
vault, with wonderful crystals de-
pending from the top in the most