The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-20

h known how to swim it wouldn't
'c been anyt ing to swim ashore, And
3yn't learn to sw m mamml"' and so
for a quarter of an hour at least.
But when Roy went into his house.
ripping wet, and his mother alarmed at
is appearance, said, "Oh, my dearie,
what has haDpened?" he merely said,
"Boat upset" and she had to go next
.oor to ask Charley for his version, and
Of course, he was only too glad to tell
nee more just how it happened, and he
took longer than ever to do it.
I've spoken of this i cident so that
you might get a good iuea of the sort
Of boy Roy was AS it turned out, there
was no one in Plainville so we'll fitted to
discover the Cave of the Jumps of Gold
as he.
The cave had always stood in Farmer
Mellison's five-acre lot, known as the
wintergreen lot" but the opening was
too small to allow even a small boy to
enter it, although many boy had let
in his leg as far as the knee, and then
been half-afIaid that something would
bite it off.
1 dare say that you felt something of
the earthquake that on Sept. Is, 1S9-
there, the year has escaped me, but, at
eny rate, the earthquake was strictly on
time, and besides demolishing good deal
of crockery in Plainville pantrys 1t cleft
the rock that guarded the cave and made
an opening over two feet wide.
1t happened that the afternoon after
the earthquake Roy, who had been down
10 Burrtown, and was coming back across
lots discovered the new opening, and
without a thought of danger he let him.
self down until his feet touched something
firm, and then bending his head, he TOOK
step forward, and there he was In the
cave. But such a cavel 1t was lighted
by some mysterious light, similar TO gas
in its mellow quality, but coming from
nowhere in particular The cave was
about the size of an ordinary sitting
room, and at the further end there was
a great pile of what looked like golden
rocks. Roy walked fearlessly forward
He did not cry out, as Charley would
have done, but stopped silently, and pick
ed up one of the humps. His uncle was
jeweler in the city, and Roy knew gold
and he was sure that in this cave there
was enough gold to supply him and his
friends with everything they needed in
the sport line for years and years.
While he was admiring the heavy lump
OF gold he heard Rufus Gridley calling to
him. Rufus had been out chestnutting.
and had seen Roy approach the rock, and
was now calling him az the top of his
lungs.
Roy said, Coming" and in the fifth
part of a moment the gold turned to
stone, the cave became dark and he CROPPED
ms way TO the opening and climbed out
with an ordinary stone In his hand.
A chauerbox like Charley would never
nave guessed why the gold disappeared,
out Roy was quite sure it was because
ne mad spoken. and he determined to say
nothing about II to any one, but next day
ne would go again and keep his mouth
smut until he was out OF the cave.
he dropped the stone, and when Ru-
rus came around he found Roy looking
at the opening.
Hello" said Rufus. what idid thaty'
earthquake" said Roy. briefly.
Let's go in" said Rufus.
Been" answered Boy
WHAT'S in there?" asked Rufus.
80 see" said Roy He knew Rufcs to
unu and wos sure he would not dare
- ~ or else he would not have told him
80, Tor he was certain that the cave
80 iighted up again as soon as he had
H. and he wanted to get the gold
.'.it'set. lie meant to share It with the
te noys' but 1t was natural that, hav-
tain the credit.
u Mhder hate TO go in, said Rufus.
cave '' "a'Neu away iionl 'he
.t " mere are you going?" asked Rufus
ti. 'otne'' said Roy, and Rufus knew
.t 40 Wen that he did not ask him to
'' 10y always knew what he wanted