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

This, however, gave them no un-
easiness, and they kept fearlessly
on, the sought-for golden treasure
ever just ahead.
The bottom Of the passage grew
damper and suggested the idea Of
having been recently flooded. Pre-
sentlY it widened into two elongated
chambers, with uneven rocky shell
yes along the walls. These rooms
we're larger than the ones first en-
tered, and we're darker and at q
much lower level.
Hal and Harvey managed to feel
their way among the shelving rocks,
which felt vet and slippery to the
touch.
1.-The ancient Spanish explorers
might have bid their treasures
among the lodges, !" observed Hal,
throwing his light aloft.
eyes, they might" replied Har-
vey. "Geel What's that ?"
Both listened to Q doll, roaring
sound that came from another pas
sage just before them. They tried
to pierce the darkness TO learn the
source of the singular sound. In
another moment something dark
rushed toward then over the floor
of the cave, and before either of
the boys could realize the peril of
the situation they found themselves
up to their knees in water
Their first impulse was to hurry
back to the pas &c, climb the in
cline, and escai from the subj, r
ranean stream that had risen with
such mysterious suddenuess.
Taking hands, the boys made q
swiftrush through the water toward
the passage leading mp the incline.
But terror and haste bewildered
them, and they missed the right
direction. Escape now appeared
to be impossible. It was a moment
Of singular apprehension to both
boys.
Down the passage back of them
came the dull roar of the rising
flood, sweeping toward them with
sullen fury. With q gurgle Of tri-
umph the water deepened around
them. They stood for a moment
at q loss what to do. As fresh
undulation almost swept Harvey
off his feet, he g,asped Hal franti-
cally by the shoulder. This sud-
den movement threw both boys
with no gentle force against pro-
jecting rock.
Coming in contact with the rock
suggested a new avenue Of escape.
After q good deal of slipping and
sliding, the boys managed to climb
up the rough wall to a ledge or
shelving part of the wall.
The water continued to rise, un-
til, by reaching down over the edge,
Hal could touch the surface of the
food with the tips of his fingers.
The roaring of the angry water
was terrifying. To Hal and Harvey
it seemed like an army of demons
below them, gloating over their
misadventure.
"There must have been a big
cloudburst up the canon" said,
Hal, accidently guessing the truth,
"and the water has poured into an
opening OF the cave"
"Well, it has rs in an ugly fix,
whatever it is," replied Harvey.
al wish we'd minded what Navajo
Ike said and not come here alone"
Hal did not answer. He did not
like to confess that he had been
rash In entering the cave without o
guide. He did wish, however, that
he had told his parents where he
and Harvey were going. He would
have felt better about it, even if he
never escaped from the cave.
The water did not rise any higher,
but it gave no signs of subsiding.
Weary. chilled, aud hungry, they
lay on that rocky shelf, afraid to
stir. In spite Of an effort to keep
up the appearance of q brave spirit,
both boys began to lose courage,
and it was hard work to refrain
from giving vent to feelings of de-
spair.
Their opinion of hidden Spanish
treasures had undergone radical
change, and both heartily wished
they had never heard Of such stuff.
1t was Q night Of discomfort and