Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-01-23
CHAPTER V.
fCONTINUED.]
I could not give up.

going over every 1ncn OF surface, Dotn
with eye and finger, and make sure of
the absence of all secret springs or
openings.
Down, way down at the very bot.
tom, 1 found small niche that was
cut from under so that it was hidden
from view. L felt inside the niche.
There seemed to be small wooden
ball or button in it.
had had so many disappointments
that I did not allow myself to even re-
gain hope at this discovery. ex-
pected nothing from it.
Upon minute examination there APP
peared to be line in the rock diverg.
ing on each side from the niche. il
it was crack, it was so close as to be
perfectly water-tight and air-tight.
I placed my finger on the little
wooden button and pressed it. I ex.
erIed all my strength on that ball OF
wood without even knowing what ]
expected it to do.
My heart almost leaped from my
mouth at the result. The great wall
in front of me opened. The rock
rolled back and away from me. 1t
rolled hallway over and stopped. 1t
presented, on its under side, O fiat,
smooth surface. Beyond it was a
huge chamber or vault, evidently
natural one, running deep into the
stone island. T walked into it and
carefully made my way around. 1t
was empty, as was the pit. But now
/ was convinced that the labor and
expense of the mechanism that moved
the rock were for something greater
than appeared in the discovery of an
empty cavern.
I CROPPED along the walls, for the
only light came from the mysterious
door I had opened, feeling, as I had
done in the pit, for another niche.
Near the farther end I found pas
sage, and found that it ended, as
everything else seemed to end there.
in solid rock. But I was now thor
oughly convinced that something else
lay beyond. In the passage it was
pitch dark, and I was not sure of my
footing, hence the work of searching
for hidden spring simply by the
sense of touch was difficult and
tedious. After what seemed like
hours of lingering, in which my
knuckles and fnger-ends had been
made sore by contact with the rock, I
had the qualification of finding but
ton similar to the first. I exerted my
strength once more and pressed this
new button.
The end of the passage rolled
open.
I was blinded by glare of light.
My eyes could not stand the sudden
rush of sunlight in my weakened con-
dition.
It was some minutes before I re-
covered my sight, but when I did |
was bewildered by what saw.
A most beautiful vision was spread
before me.
I was in an oriental garden. To the
right, to the left and before me were
handsome blooming trees and shrubs.
Flowering plants, that in America
would be priceless, grew in methodi-
cal, well-arranged profusion on every
side. The musical play of siivery
water from dozen fountains sounded
like the tinkling music of an orchestra
of heaven in my ears.
True, the bottom of this Elysian
field was below the level of the sea,
but high walls of solid rock surrounded
it ON every side, and protected il
from the waters. Straight above me
the blue sky smiled down upon the
scene.
Through the center of this garden
q wide wall extended, the floor of
which was alabaster or porcelain. On
either side grew fragrant flowers and
beautifully colored plants.
1 wandered through this wonderful
place, gazing at the work of human
hands with awe. The like ] had
never seen before. Nor had l ever
dreamed of the beauties with which
now found myself surrounded.
At first I thought it was all q
phantasmagora. believed my mind |
had given way and these beautiful
visions were but the symptoms Of on
coming madness.
1 pinched myself to make sure that
I was awake. 1 was awake, most de- |
cidedIy so, and my hunger was as
acute as ever. The beautiful scene
could not satisfy my craving for food.
There was no fruit growing there.
There might, I thought hopefully, be
fish in the waters surrounding the |
fountains.
Each fountain jutted from basin
of dazzling wilderness. 1 leaned over
one and peered down into the spark
ling water. There was no sign of an
imal life.
With sigh, I wandered on.
I traversed the garden, and found
at the farther end of the porcelain
avenue an archway hewn in the rock.
Curtains of heavy damask and silk
hung in the archway, and these I
pushed cautiously aside. I peered
through and looked around. saw
no person. Invent in.
Now was in what must be tenn
pie. 1t was much smaller than the
garden, and was lighted by GOV.
eral perfumed lamps clustered
about large fountain in the
center OF the chamber. These
lamps had no wicks, but tho oil itself
that they contained burned with