The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-08-10

line along to tie around my ankle-one
end OF it, you know-and the other around
something outside, SOS we can't git lost
in the cave. You know lots OF people
have been lost in caves and starved to
death-many times" Pete. shuddered.
"Huh," he grunted. I'VE don't want no
sich experience"
Nor we don't have 1t so long as Thomas
Andrew Long is leadin the expedition"
asserted Tom, with a wise shake OF the
head, as he tied one end of the string
about his ankle, and the other about a
huge rock lying at the outer edge of the
spring Then he dragged his body through
the small aperture that led into the earth
through solid rock. Pete followed Tom
and soon the two found themselves some
10 feet from the little doorway they had
entered and through which only the dim
full glad I've got some matches tied up In
a rag In my cap" said Tom. Il knowed
we'd need en-.
Just then they came to a sharp angle,
around which they crawled into total
darkness. "Whew 7" whispered Pete.
This is as dark as a pocket. Let's have
a light
Tom took the box of matches from hts
cap and made n light. The din flicker
from the match showed the boys that
they were In q frst-class cave, high and
dry. Opening from the sides were dark
recesses which the boys. supposed were
other chambers leading further into the
earth.
What did ] tell your asked Tom,
end more treasure here than you can
shake a stick 1T. But we've got to git out
of here and hide our tracks till We find
out whose ground this is, What work VIC
awful TO so this far an then have some
body else come In an claim the gold"
They crawled back through the little
tunnel entrance, and after quickly dress.
N nCnlNt aC flnNs lnarD - Ill H.
work of the previous night by fillIng up
the outlet for the water and covering the
signs OF their work by hiding the new
earth with stones; dry leaves and dend
till late In the afternoon. Then they be-
gan TO look about the neighbOrhood or the
cave for human habitatlOn. The barking
of a dog led them over the mountain side,
the distance of half a mile, where they
came upon q mountain hut. Seated on 4
fallen tree trunk was an old hermit with
face ,overgrown with long beard, Tom
and Pete advanced toward the old man,
and Tom, bowling respectfully, asked n
they might get a drink of water there.
The old hermit pointed to n sprink near
the door, where the boys refreshed them.
selves by means of an old oyster can.
Then Tom remarked In an nff-hand man
ncr: You've got nice spring I'D here
Any others round here on this muuntalns'
Yep, there's the Magic Spring down
apiece. the old man answered.
Tom and Pete pretended surprise. "Oh,
that so? Where 'boutsf' And Tom looked
interested.
"Oh, down under that big ledge" ex.
plained the old man. Then he hufIcd ut
his pipe and became uncnmmnnicati rive.
But Tom pressed more questions. Don't
reckon there's any caves about here. ph?"
Aud he slyly winked Mt Pete, who crlnnel
behind his hand In a knowing way
Yep, there's one whoppn' big one
down at Magic Spring" the old man an
swered. But It's full of rattlers anl
xy-fi1oata U0ciIar nj F.J
Tom almost gasped. Pete felt cold
shivetS running up his spine AMI chilling
the roots of his hair. Pete ventured re-
mark. in a weak voice:
is II certain it's hantCd-an' full of
rattlers an wilGcats?'
Sure" the old man replied with