Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-04-25


be obtainable when the tropical luxu.
rance Of foliage outside was dispensed
| with.
At present the interior was dark.
With the stick he tapped the walls and
roof. A startled cluck and the rush OF
wings herulded the flight Of two birds
alarmed By the noise. Soon his eyes.
more accustomed to the gloom, made
out that the place was about thirty
feet deep, ten feet wide In the center
and seven or eight feet high.
At the farther end was collection OF
objects inviting prompt attention. Each
moment he could see with greater dis
tinctness. Kneeling on one side Of the
little pile. he discsrned that on large
stone serving as rude bench were
some tin utensils, some knives. sex
tant and quantity Of empty cartridge
cases. Between the stone and what
miner terms the face" Of the rock was
a four foot space. Here, half imbedded
In the sand which covered the floor,
We're two pickaxes, shovel, q sledge
hammer. fine timber telling ak and
three crowbars.
In the darkest corner Of the caves
extremity the wall appeared to be
very smooth. He prodded with the
stick. and there was sharp clang OF
tin. He discovered six square kerosene
oil cases carefully stacked up. Three
were empty. one seemed to be half full,
and the contents Of two were un-
touched. With almost feverish haste
lie ascertained that the half filled tin
did really contain oil.
"What fndw he circulated aloud.
So far as he could judge. the cave
harbored no further surprises. Return
ing toward the exit. his boots dislodged
more empty cartridges from the sand
They were shells adapted to revolve:
of heavy caliber. At n short distance
from the doorway they were present In
dozens.
1.-The remnants of fight" he
thought. THE man was attacked and
defended himself here. Not expecting
the arrival Of enemies. he provided no
store of food or water. He was killed
while trying to reach the well, proba-
bly, ut night
He vividly pictured the scene-a
brave. hardy European keeping ut bay
u boat load of Dyak savages. enduring
manfully the agonies Of hunger, thirst.
perhaps wounds; then the siege. fol
lowed by wild effort to gain the life
giving well, the hiss of Malay parang
welded by lurking foe and the last
despairing struggle before death came.
He might be mistaken. Perchance
there was less dramatic explanation.
But lie could not shake off his first i'm
presSions.
What was the poor devil doing
here" he asked. why did lie bury
himself in this rock, with mining uten-
sils and few rough stores: He could
not he castaway. There is the indi-
cation of purpose, Of preparation. OF
method combined with ignorance. for
none who knew the ways of Dyaks and
Chinese pirates would venture to live
here alone II he could help it, and II he
really wee alone"
There was relief in hearing his own
voice. He could hum and think and
act. Aiming himself with the aX. lie
attacked the bushes and branches Of
trees in front Of the cave. He cut a
fresh approach to the well and threw
the litter over the skeleton. At first
he was inclined to bury it where it
lay. but lie disiked the idea Of Iris
walking unconsciously over the place.
No time could be wasted that day. He
would seize an early opportunity to
acc as gravedigger.
After an absence Of little more than
an hour he rejoined the girl She saw
him from afar and wondered whence
he obtained the AK he shOuldered.
You are a successful explorer" she
cried when he drew near.
"Yes, Miss Deane. have found wa
ter, implements. shelter, even light"
"What sort Of light?"
"On."
"And the sfe!ter-is it house"
40. n cave. If you are sufficiently
rested you might come and take pos
session"
Her eyes danced with excitement
He told her what he had seen. with
reservations. and she ran Oh before
him to witness these marvcls.
why did you muAe II new path tG
the wel:' she inquired after Il rapid
survey.
"a new path" The pertinent ques
tion staggered him.
"Yes, the people who lived here must
have had some sort of free passage"
He lied easily. II have only cleared
away recent growth" he said.
"And why did they dig cave? 1t
surely would be much more simple to
build Il house from all these trees"
There you puzzle me- he said
frankly.
They had entered the cavern but
little way and now came out.
"These empty cartridges are FUNNY.
They suggest a fort. a battle" WO-
manlike. her words were carelessly
chosen, but they were crammed with
inductive force.
Embarked on the toboggan slope OF
untruth. the sailor slid smoothly down
ward.
events have colored your imagina'
ton. Miss Deane. Even in England
men often preserve such things for fu'
ture use. They can he reloaded"
"Yes. | have seen keepers do that.
This il different. There is an air Of
"There is Il lot to be done" broke
In Jouks emnhotically I'VE must