Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06

cave again. We may have missed some part
of it when we were here before We are so well
prepared that we can explore 1t now without
risk of being lost. | want to the marble
! room with a good light. anyway
. | too wanted to see the cave again
| prepared the lamps. took dozen candles,
| fastened one end of the Irvine at the opening OF
| the cave. and entered on our second explora-
| ton, lighting torches. and unwinding the
| Irvine we proceeded \ few minutes walk
| brought to the wonderful marble chamber.
| and we again examined every square foot OF
| the room AS on our former visit. we were soon
convinced that no treasure was concealed there
| While we were bordering gloomlly over our
| second failure, Wyandottes instructions to
call to the god occurred to f5alser, and he.
| lifting his face as if in prayer. exclaimed.
| Gold gold. gold
NO answer came and laughed His call
to Wyandotte Wyolyo reminded us of Mon
vomos map | took it from my pocket, and
by the light of the lanterns examined the rude
tracings We easily recognized the route IN
| the cave up to the marble chamber in which
we were sitting: but if Wyandottes map was
| correct there were still many rooms beyond
| I'VE had not been able to find an opening
in the marble chamber but after our eXamina-
ton of the map Balser sprang to his feet and
began irving to move the rocks that rested
near the wall of the cavern. | joined IN the
labor and soon | heard cry of delight from
nv friend l looked toward him, and saw
not only that he had moved 4 large rock, but
|
trating the stone wall of the chamber
Here is the opening represented by the
dim line on Wyandottes map. cried Balser.
4 and I'm sure it leads to the chamber indicated
| by the circular line the parchment.
| We examined the opening and found 1T SO
small that to pass through it we must lie on
| our breasts. For moment We hes1tated to
enter: but no danger would have baked
| Balser in his determination to ind the treas
ure. He lay down on his breast, and, pushing
/ 49, 1~,f/> rlaI mt
narrow tunnel, and | crawled after him. push
| ing my lantern ahead OF me
| AFTER covering distance of ten or fifteen
yards in the tunnel. we came to a point where
it made sharp turn at r1ght angles. here the
| tunnel was SO narrow that we were compelled
| to turn on our sides to enable us to pass the
angle. 1t was scarv work, tell you; but after
a long, hard spell of playing snake we emerged
| into another beautiful marble chamber. more
| marvellous even than the first
| I'VE easily searched the new room. but
found no possible hiding place for the tres' .ure
| Here too Balser lifted his face to the ceiling
and called out Gold. gold, gold but no an
swering voice of the god greeted us Again
| laughed, and Balser thought my levlty was
| far amiss. The passageways to other cham
bers were all large. and We examined eight or
| ten beautiful rooms in short time. In each
chamber Baser called Gold. gold, gold' and
V/E had been in the cave perhaps four or
w five hours, when entered a chamber
that was more lofty and more beautiful than
any we had seen. Balser at once turned his
| face to the ceiling and made his adjuration to
Wyandotte Wyolyo, Gold, gold. gold
Il again felt like laughing: but | didn't
laugh, for to my surprise there came rever-
berating answer, loud at first, but diminish
ing to a ghostly whisper, Gold, gold gold
gold, g-o-o-o-old!
An echo, said l. awed by the wonderful
response.
"'Yes, that's what Wyandotte meant
swered Balser Now if we don't fall dead from
excitement, well have that treasure soon
We lighted all candles and placed
| them about at points best calculated to light
the chamber. and with lanterns in hand pro-
ceeded to search the wonderful place. | had
taken shovel in with me, and Balser had
| carried a pick: were prepared to begin
digging as soon as we found soft spot in the
| rock But the floor was of solid stone. and in
| ten minutes we convinced that the
| treasure could not be buried in that cave.
Our excitement of course was great Our
| nerves were wrought to the highest pitch The
cave was cool: but had discarded
coats and were perspiring like wheat binders
in July We went over and over every square
foot of the place. and were almost wild with
despair. When we heard the echo. we felt
that the treasure surely ours, and to come
down from the glittering heights of expec-
fancy to the black depths of disappointment
was like falling from heaven to the other place.
Il thought Balser was going to cry; |