The Green Forest tribune., 1909-02-12

cooking Then despite the tossing of our craft I succeeded in making pot of steaming hot coffee. We were too near the unknown to be in the mood for conversation.
 About II o'clock Bloc, who was peer ing into the darkness ahead, whis pered, "A la droit. Lille des Serpents. '
 l looked and rising out of the dark ness was a black mass against the softer shades of the shore line.
 With directions given in whispers we made fast to the landing.
 You will stay here with the launch, whispered Clarke to Bloc and have it ready to get away at once in case we need it."
 Then it iss zat monsieur doubts me?" answered Bloc in grieved tnoe "He has only to try me-"
 Do you think I doubt you when thus place our lives in your hands ?' replied Clarke, seizing him by the hand. But you can aid us here. Are your arms in readiness, Sexton? Then keep them concealed, for we doubtless are outnumbered and diplomacy may win more than force."
 We stepped lightly out on the land ing and found ourselves facing a door of iron in the otherwise blank wall; heavy door incrusted with knobs and beset with strange heraldic devices ir bas relief These latter drew Clarke's attention and he studied them earnest ly in the dim light. Then turning tc me with a smile of triumph he whis pered: "Ah, I thought so I have the master key. Come, we will go in"
 No sound broke the stiffness. There was nothing to denote that a human habitation of any sort lay beyond the blank wall.
 Clarke lifted a heavy knocker 1T the center of the door and began z tattoo of alternating long and short raps These were answered from within and my companion in his turr answered these signals.
 Then the door swung slowly oper and gigantic form appeared framed in the dark background of the opening
 What is your age?" challenged 6 deep voice.
 was thunderstruck at Clarke's an swer in an even, fearless tone.
 Five years" he said
 Whence do you come?" again in quired the voice.
 my companion.
 "Whither do you go?" rang out the question.
 "To the flame eternal" was the re ply
 Whom do you bring?"
 "A hitherto deluded soul who would gain admission among us and thus learn the true story of the fall of the great Baal-Zeboub."
 And then it dawned upon me that no matter with what diabolical fra ternity we were dealing Clarke, with his wonderful knowledge of the vaga ries that have possessed the human mind since the dawn of the ages, had it's ritual at his tongues end.
 But you waste our time, which is precious. If the examination is satis- factory lead us to the Vice Regent of Lucifer and if he so desire he may question us further" commanded Clarke in tone of authority.
 "'Tis well. To the Temple of Ba homet," answered the sentry.
 He turned and motioned us to fol. low. We entered and heard the door close behind us with a click leaving us in utter, absolute darkness.
 And then, seeming to come from the roof over our heads, spoke a voice so terrible in it's menace, so steely cruel in it's tones that I felt my knees be gin to batter against each other
 Let them that would look upon the face of the Vice-Regent of the Evil One enter through the eternal flame, it said. ''If they come on the business of the great Lucifer they pass un- scathed Otherwise they wither up and die"
 Our guide had disappeared as if by magic. Motioning me to follow, Clarke pressed forward. We neared the flame and still there came no heat. Then Clarke stepped into it and was lost to sight while I stood alone in that awful corridor. Summoning all my courage I too stepped into the flame. Beyond tingling of the nerves and a stinging of the skin felt no sensation.
 found myself with Clarke in an i'm mense hall, the counterpart in devil ish decoration of the passageway we had left. The walls, roof and floor were of stone and the whole scene was so broken with recesses, grottoes and innumerable stone images of sa- tanic beings that 1t was difficult to judge it's size. Behind us the flame alternately flashed and f1ickered. If there was another entrance it was so cunningly concealed as to escape our notice. Before us was a massive al tar. apparently hewn in the solid rock, though upon closer examination l found it, as well as all of the interior decoration, to be of moulded con- crete.
 We were alone At least we saw no