Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-05-27

ter were scattered among the older rel
les. They wore the clothes of Dyaks.
Characteristic hats and weapons de-
noted their nationality. The others.
the first harvest of this modern Col
gotha. might have been Chinese COO
lies When the sailors fascinated Vi
sion could register details he distin-
guished Jokes. baskets. odd looking
spades and picks strewn amid the
bones. The animals were all OF one
ype-small. lanky. with long pointed
skulls. At last he spied a withered
hoof. They were pigs.
over all lay a thick coating of fine
sand, deposited from the eddying winds
that could never reach the silent
depths. The place was grewsome. hor-
ribly depressing. jerks broke out into
clammy perspiration. He seemed 10
be looking at the secrets of the grave
At last his superior intelligence as
serted itself. His brain became clear
er, recovered its power of analysis. He
began to criticise. reflect. and this is
the theory he evolved
Some one. long ago. had discovered
valuable minerals in the volcanic rock.
Mining operations were in full blast
when the extinct volcano took its re
venge upon the human ants gnawing
at its vitals and smothered them by
a deadly outpOuring Of carbonic acid
gas, the bottled up poison OF the ages.
horde of pigs. running wild over the
island-placed there no doubt by Chi
nese fishers-had met the same fate
while intent on dreadful orgy.
Then there came European who
knew how the anhydrate gas. being
heavier than the surrounding air. set
tied like water i'm that terrible hollow.
He. too. had striven TO wrest the treas
ure from the stone by driving a tunnel
into the cliT. He had partly succeeded
and had gone away. perhaps to obtain
help. after crudely registering his
knowledge on the lid OF a tin canister.
This. again. probably fell into the
hands of another man. who. curious
but unconviuCed. caused himself to be
set ashore ON this desolate spot with
a few Inadequate stores. Possibly he
had arranged 20 be taken OF within
fixed time.
But "A sampan laden with Dynk pi-
rates came first. and the intrepid ex-
plorcr's bones rested near the well.
while his head had gone to decorate
the hut OF some fierce village chief.
The murderers. after burying their own
dead-for the white man fought hard.
witness the empty cartridges-searched
the island. Some OF them. iguorantly
inquisitive. descended into the hollow.
They remained there. The others. SUI
perstitious barbarian-. fed for their
iives. embarklng 50 hastily that they
took from tho cave neither tools nor
oil. though they would greatly prize
these articles.
Such was the tragic web ne spun. n
compound OF fact and fancy. II ex-
planned all perplcXitles save one. What
did % divided by /" meant Was
there yet another fearsome riddle
awaiting solstion2
And then his thoughts few to Iris.
Happen what might her bright picture
was seldom absent from his brain.
Suppose. egg hunting. she had STUN
bled across this valley OF death, How
could ne hope 20 keen IL hidden from
her? Was not the CHASTITY knowledge
better than the horror 81 a chance ram
bic through the wood and the shock OF
discovery-nay. indeed. the risk or
He rushed back through tho trees I'M
I'll he caught sight of Iris Industrious
ly kneading the sago pith I'm one OF
those most useful dish covers.
lie called 10 her. led her wondering
TO the track ana pointed out the fatal
quarry. but i'm such wise that she could
not look inside IT,
You remember that round hole we
saw from the summit rock =" he said.
Well, il is fun of carbonic acid gas. TO
breathe which means Inconsistencies
and death. IL gives no warning 10 the
inexperienced IT is rather pleasant
than otherwise. Promise me YOU Will
never come near this place again"
Now, Iris, too. had been thinking
deeply. Robert jerks bulked large In
her day dreams. Her nerves were not
yet quite normal. There was "A catch
in her throat as she answered:
81 don't want % die. OF course l
Will keep away What a horrid island
this Is. Yet il might be paradise"
She bit her lip 10 suppress her tears:
but. being the Eve in this garden. she
continued.
How did YOU find out? Is there
anything thereT"
"Yes, the remains of animals and
other things. / would not have told
you We're IL not imperative"
Are you keeping other secrets from
me-"
"Oh. quite n number"
He managed u cOnjure up smile
and the ruse was effective. She ap-
Piled the words TO his past history.
Il hope they will not be revealed so
dramatically" she said.
You never can tell" he answered.
They We're in prophetic vein that
They returned in silence to
the cave
IL wish To go inside with a lamp.
May L" he asked.
May cone toOf" she demanded.
He aSsented. with an explanation OF
his design. When the lamp was in Or
der he held it close 10 the wall and |
conducted a systematic survey. The
geological fault which favored the con
structiOn OF the tunnel seemed TO IL