The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-10-17


for those outside the opening drew /
back the bodies by their legs and thus
cleared the entrance. | judged that !
the outer cave. which was large and |
spacious. was now filled with men.
They were shouting and gesticulatinG
in great excitement. But none made
any effort to enter. Finally l heard a
human voice speaking English 1t was
Pimball
Master Hampdon.' be cried.
Speak not to me. you numbering vii
laini" | answered
Now. this is Madness he went on.
You are trapped like rats. We have
only to wall up the entrance or build
a fire in front of it and you will die
1T is better to die even So" | re-
piled. than to live with men like you"
.You are. fool" he exclaimed.
He dropped down on his knees as he
spoke. and | could see his face in the
opening but too far away for me to
swing my ak. If it were my last eff
fort ! was determined that | would get
him. and so | waited
Don't lose the swordr' ] cried to
my lady across the chamber. where
dimneSS
Il shall not" she answered undaunt-
eddy
Then lifted the ak and waited for
Master Pimball and his men to come
on But he had a bette" plan. Bullets
and powder they had in plenty. and he
knew from the fact that | had thrown
my pistols at them that | had none
left With a deafening roar a storm
of bullets from dozen weapons swept
into the cave | ieaped back. | had
to or should have been shot where
stood OF the way thus opened they
took advantage. and under cover of
second volley they entered Well. it
was all Nd All conld do was to leap
upon them as they rose. and
But ut that moment the solid rock
beneath my feet began to sway. IL
was as if had been instantly trans
lated to the deck of tossing ship
stood rooted to the spot trying to main
tain a balance Pimball had lifted
himself upon one knee and was almost
clear of the entrance. but he. too. stop
ped appalled, 4 sickeninG feeling of
apprehension that all the savages on
NV mistress screamed family. The na
tives outside broke into terror stricken
shouts and cries; on oath burst from
the lips of the leader Of the mutineerS
The next moment. with crash like
thousand thunder peaks. the earth
was rent in twain
The earthquake shook that rocky
island like baby's cradle. grea'
mass o. rock over the entrance fell
With another roar like the first the Cliff
was riven in every direction. The
noise outside eased. The men will
Pimball were ground to death. UpOI
his legs lay fifty feet of broken rock
Darkness total and absolute. sue
ceeded the dim light | remember real
izing that the attack had failed ant
then something struck me- Down upoi
the wet. still quiverins sand fell an'
knew 10 more.
Water. icy cold. trckling upon III
from some spring. opened in the wa
by the earthquake presently t"ouSh
me to myself. | lay for Il moment lis
tening | could hear nothing ut FIRST
but in little while Il deep groan an
then faint whispered prayer came t
me-
l strove desperately to collect N
senses. and finally realized where
was-the cave. the battle. the eartf
quake. Pimball and the woman.
Mistress Lucy cried
oh thank Cod her voice cam
through the darkness Historically.
thought you We're killed"
No" | answered, slowly rising
my knee and stretching my member
to see if had control Of them. whic1
fortunately. ! soon discovered | ha'
II WAS stunned but otherwise b
1ieve | am not much hurt. How is
with you:"
II am we'll and unharmed.'
Thank Cod.
For heavens sake. water" int
rupted trembling hoa"se. anSuishe
voice.
Who speaks" asked.
II Pimbal. | am pinned TO Il
ground. my legs are crushed. my ba'
is broken. ! am dying
There should be n lantern here.
said ~ placed it-let me think
where did | place il:
1T was just 10 the left of the Ope
ing answered my little mistress
was turned around AMI giddy. b
| managed to fix the direction of I!
entrance by Pimball's groanS and
good fortune presently found the la
tern. 1t would burn but u few hour