The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-02
WE'RE LOST DN THE GATAC0MBS
1"o TRAVELLERS HAVE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN UNDER.
GROUND PASSAGES WHEN GUIDE DESERTS

idoubt, been missed. no n would have
the slightest idea in what direction to
search for us. and there flashed
through II minds terrible thoughts
of the extent of h catacombs. For
many scores of miles the labyrinths
extended beneath the city sometimes at
a depth Of 40 or 80 feet. VIVA.
chance. therefore. had we of making
our escape unguided?
The passage We were sitting in was
very narrow-barely two feet across,
in fact. and very damp-so We dccid-
cd TO move on till we came to one Of
the larger chapels. from which the
minor alleys branch off.
Presently VIC came upon quite. a
large cubiculum. from which five
small passages radiated. There was a
tiny niche here in which we placed our
candle, and Maurice and l sat down
on a broken piece Of marble that had,
no doubt. been an altar in the carly
days of Christianity.
Hardly had We placed our treasured
candle in safety and settled ourselves
than. to my horror, a loud whispering
and rustling commenced, and before
We could determine whence it came a
shadowy something swooped down
and eHtinguished the light!
With the darkness came utter ST.
lencc. and it was some seconds be-
tore we could recover our courage suf-
hciently to consult each other as to
this new terror.
AT last Maurice whispered to me
that he had matches and would re-
light the candle. Hardly had the tiny
hame ilickered into life than once
more that indefinite something rushed
forward out of the inky blackness,
and again we were cnveloped in dark.
ness.
This time the eXtinguishing was &C.
companied by a curious swishine
sound In my terror l grasped Maui
rice's arm with what I am sure, must
have been a painful grip. and 1 could
near him breathing hard in the vel
vety. impalpable blackness: Each
moment we expected bony fingers to
clasp us by the Threats, or some other
horror to emerge and confront us.
How long this tension continued 1
do not know. 1t seemed like hours,
but was probably only of a few min
utes' duration. Then, far UP above
our heads. the rustling recommended,
accompanied by shrill. bird-like
%chirping. Oh, the relief to u
strained senses. simultaneously we
gasped. Bats" and could have laugh
ed at our terrors of the moment be.
fore.
After this. as it was useless to at
tempt to light the candle. We sat very
quietly for a long time in the dark
ness. Maurice had his ease full OF
I cigarettes. and. by shielding the
match very carefully in his car, we
were Dc to light one each, and l felt
grateful indeed that my education
comprised the unlady-like accom-
plishment of smoking.
L think. after a while. we must have
| YAlIfn HEIo0n fnr - GAAWnA1 v~-~.
long time before Maurice spoke again.
He said he felt SO thirsty that he must
go back to the passage We had first
becn in and try to scoop up some OF
the water lying there. He said he
knew quite we'll which turning 1t was,
and he would only be. away q few min
utes. He left me two matches and
stumbling away over the broken
ground. 1t seemed to me that several
minutes elapsed. and still I heard no
sounds OF his return, 80 I called him
softly at first. then louder, as my panic
grew moro intense.
At A certain pitch Of my shouting It
struck upon some sound wave in the
caverns. and Immediately all the vast
extent Of the labyrinth took up the
cry. Every tunnel and passage echoed
Maurice! Maurice!!" and the name
was repeated In every possible gamut
Of whisper and growl. The bats shut.
f1ed and stirred overhead, ghostly
forms seemed to rise out Of the dark.
ness. and at last my nerves gave way
and / broke down. sobbing myself In.
to a state Of Observation-Disclosures.
When ] awolie again Maurice had
not returned, but ] felt that 1t was
Impossible to remain longer in the
state OF inaction. so. taking the taper
with me, l felt my way very carefully
: round the wall until I came to the