The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-04-18
Me
MYSTERY
By Stewart Edward White
And Samuel Hopkins Adams
Copyright, 1900. by Mcclure, Phillips & Co.
Copyright, 1907. by Mcclure. Phillips q @


cave was wide enough for that. As
we penetrated the believing and bark
Ing became more deafening II was
impossible to see anything. although
we felt an indistingulshable tumbling
mass receding before our footsteps,
Thrackles swore violently as he stun
bled over laggard. With uncanny
Iabruptness the black wall of darkness
In front OF us was alive with fiery
leyebals. The seals had reached the
end of the cave and had turned toward
us. We, too, stopped, little uncertain
rs TO how to proceed.
The first plan had been TO get behind
the band and drive II slowly toward
the entrance to the cave. This was
now seen TO be impossible. The cav
ern was too narrow, its sides at this
point too steep and the animals too
| thickly congeSted. Our eyes. becom-
ing accustomed TO the twilight. now
began 10 make out dimly the individ-
ual bodies of the seals and the general
conflguration of the rocks. One big
bowlder lay directly in our path. like
nm island in the shalc of the caves
floor Perlosa stepped to the top of
It for a better look. The men attempt
I'd TO communicate their ideas of what
was TO he done. but could not make
themselves heard above the uproar. |
could see their faces comforting with
the fury Of being bafiled 4 big bull
made a dash TO get by. All the herd
| 6iDpered after him. II he had won
past they would have followed as
obstinately as sheep and nothing coull
nave stopped them, but the big bull
went down beneath the clubs. Thrac-
kles hit the animal two vindictiye
blows after il had succumbed.
This settled the revolt. and we stood
as before. Pull and Handy solomon
tried TO converse by signs, but evident
~ failed. for their faces showed angry
in the twilight. Perdosa. on his rock.
rolled and lit cigarette. Thrackles
paced to and fro, and the Niger lean
ed on his club farther down the cave.
They had been left at the entrance
but now In lack of results had joined
their companions.
Now Thrackles approached and
screamed himself black trying to i'm
part some plan. He failed, but stoop-
ed and picked up stone and threw it
into the mass of seals. She others un-
derstood 4 shower Of stones follow
ed. The animals milled like cattle,
beloved the louder. but would not
face their tormcntors. Finally an old
COW Topped by in a panic. | thought
they would have let her go, but she
died a little beyond the bull No more
followed. although the men threw
stones as fast and as hard as they
were able. Their faces were livid with
anger, like that of an evil tempered
man with an obstinate horse.
Suddenly Handy Solomon put his
head down and with roar distinctly
audible even above the din that filed
the cave charged directly into the herd.
saw the beasts cringe before him. |
saw his club rising and falling indis-
criminately. AMI then the whole back
of the cave seemed to rise and come
at us.
This was no chance of sport now.
but a struggle for very life. We real
lied that once down there would be
no hope, for while the seals were more
anxious TO escape than TO fight we
knew that their jaws were powerful.
There was no time to pick and choose.
We hit out with all the strength and
quickness we possessed. Ii was like
bad dream. like struggling with an
elusive hydra headed monster. knee
high, invulnerable. We hit. but with
out apparent effect. New heads rose,
the press behind increased. We gave
ground. We staggered. struggling des-
perately TO keep our feet.
How long this lasted | cannot tell.
II seemed Hours. know my arms be-
came leaden from swinging my club.
My eyes were full OF sweat. My breath
gasped. a sharp pain in my knee
nearly doubled me to the ground, and
yet remember clamping TO the
thought that | must keep my feet.
keep my feet at any cost. Then all at
once | recalled the fact that | was
armed. | jerked out the short bar
relied revolver and turned 1t loose in
their faces.
Whether the fash and defamation
frightened them, whether Perdosa.
still clinging to his rock. managed TO
turn their attention by his flanklng eff
forts or whether, quite simply, the
wall OF dead finally turned them back
do not know. but with one accord
they gave over the attempt.
l looked at once for Handy Solomon
and was surprised to see him still
alive, standing upright on a ledge the
other side of the herd. His clothing
was literally torn TO shreds. and he
was covered with blood. But in this
plight he was not alone. for when !
turned toward my companions they.
too. were tattered. torn and CORY, We
were dreadful crew, standing there
In the half light. our chests heaving,
our rags dripping red
For perhaps ten seconds no one
moved Then with yell of demonlac
rage my companions clambered over
the rampant OF dead seals and attacked
the herd.
The seals were now cowed and de-