The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-11-20
HERALD HmLsBoRo THURSDAY

with the flint and steel and tinder ana
stepped silently In. My lady followed
me close, being, as she had said, IN
willing to be left alone and ever ready
to face any peril in my company
Above the low entrance the cave
wall rose to a height of perhaps TWEEN
ty feet, making vast vaulted chamber
with gothic suggestions about 1t, for
the coral before 1t hardened had been
built into curious shapes and fantastic
agures. We didn't notice this so much
at frst for with q wild shrek, my
gentle companion suddenly caught my
arm and pointed downward.
The door, like that of the central
altar, was covered with human bones,
a grewsome sight for any one and GER
tainly for a woman, and made more
grewsome because of the dull lighting
of the cave. The bones were bleached
white also and had evidently been
| there long time. We could scarcely
take step without treading upon
| them. had all | could do to keep
my mistress from running back toward
the mouth and thence to the ground.
her that she would consent to go on.
AS we had been compelled to pass
on by our desire to get our bearings
before. so if we were to get the treas
ure we would have to suffer this now.
She summoned her courage and we
! went on
As our eyes became accustomed to
tho Hnht indon6 tho candle lar
tern cast but a dim radiance over the
vast apartment, the entrance was so
small that little daylight came through,
we saw the same kind Of altar. built
| of the same stones vs. on the bill.
though much smaller Bones of hui
man beings, men, women and children,
! judged from the difference In sizes,
lay upon it, and there were heaps of
bones on the floor around it. 1t came
across me that it was another altar of
sacrifice and that the worshipers had
been also eaters OF flesh-cannibals!
Turning away from the altar to the
right we found the way clear. and,
with sigh of relief. drew Mistress
Lucy reluctantly on She clung to me
and was so frightened that ! finally
slipped my arm about her waist,
whereat she made no objection She
has confessed since that she was in
deed greatly pleased and that 1t was
a comfort to her to feel the strength
and power of my grasp.
Holding the lantern before me. we
cautiously proceeded farther into the
cave toward the inner wall. The cave
wall opened out into rooms apparently.
l didn't dare go any distance from the
main entrance for fear that | should
lose my way, so | stopped. undecided
what to do, which opening to enter,
| that is.
"Oh. let's go back!' begged my mis-
| tress. There is no treasure here, ]
am sure"
May" | answered with your per
mission. Mistress Lucy. intend to ex
plore further into the matter. Let's
see." I held the lantern high above
my head as | spoke. There above
certain entrance | saw a rude Latin
cross. Look ! continued. Some
une has been here 'Tis the sign of the
rrossr
Yes" she said, her hopes reviving
ind her spirits returning a little at the
tight of that sacred symbol of our
faith. Don't you remember on the
map marking the position of the cave
there was little crossT
80 there vast" exclaimed. al
though the reading did not mention it."
"No, but 1t is there nevertheless"
/ stopped down-the entrance was
scarcely three feet high. but quite |
broad-and made to go through.
"Wait!' She seized me in great |
alarm. You can't go there and leave |
me here!' she cried.
II promise you that will not stir |
three feet from the entrance If you will |
suffer me that far" | answered.
II must come, too, then," she urged.
II will see what is there first, and If |
1t Is safe you shall come with me-" ! |
answered.
AS | spoke | crawled through and |
found myself in another smaller cham
ber. There being no danger, | stretch
ed out my hand to her and brought her
through after me- From some distant
crevice the air came to us. We could
feel 1t blow upon us, and it was sweet;
also ! could hear water babbling over
rocks In the distance. 1t was a little
damp In the cave. perhaps because of
that There was little light, however,
save that cast by the lantern. I could |
not see the farther wall