The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-11-20
Copyright 1912. BY Cyrus townsend Brady


Well, then" said |. lat least let ME
go before"
stepped down into the great re,
ceptacle intending to clear the way
with my feet by kicking away the
layer of bones. and then. extending
my arm behind me with both her
hands caught in mine. she followed me
down into the incloSure. OF course we
mad TO walk upon the broken rem
nants OF humanity. but | thrust aside
as well as | could the larger pieces
and skulls, and she. afterward
learned, followed with her eyes tightly
closed, trusting entirely to my guild
ance. Indeed she clung to nv hand
with all the nervous strength and DOW
er she possessed
SO we finally reached the platform.
lifted her up on it and followed nv
self led my lady carefully around
the platform until we could stand at
the rear end by the side of the line of
statues and look across the island
Sure enough. there was the nick or de.
preston in the wall which Sir Pbilip
mad mentioned. although the 'bigge
pa tree was gone or else lost
amid hundreds of trees like it. Be
heath it careful scrutiny showed a
rough pyramid of stone leading up to
what seemed to be openings in the cliff
wall.
So far every detail in the old buc
cancers parchment was absolutely cor
rect. | was certain now that the treas
ure was there and that we could find
it And a certain exultation filled me
At least we had not come upon a fouIs
"rrand. though what good the treasure
would do us | did not stop to consider
I'VE have nothing more to do here"
answered as | led the way to the
edge Of the low altar
| lenped down and then turned to
help my little mistress. She was very
white, and ! thought she was 60
ing to faint don't blame her. the
scene was so terrible acted prompt
ly | reached up and took her in my
arms and carried her as If she had
been a baby and. indeed she was No
great burden for me Her head drop
ped to my shoulder ! didn't know
whether she had tainted or not Her
eyes were closed. / ran swiftly across
the inclosure, descended the steps and
without hesitation turned to the edge
of the cliff. stopped there, cursing
myself for not having brought any wa
ter, but as | stopped she opened her
eyes.
you are safe" said gently. The
horrors are all behind US. See. there
Is before you naught but the beautiful
greenery of the island, and
An expression of gratitude came
across her face.
Let US go down." she replied. I'VE
must never come near here again"
please God, no." repeated as we
retraced our steps down the cliff and
along the winding path. Mistress Lucy
gaining strength and color as we pass
ell out of sight of the hideous platform
1t was necessary to go back along
the path to the foot Of the stairs. There
were savannas here and there in the
way where we rested and a lovely
brook of cool. delicious water, where
yet noon. but the openings all stopped
before they reached the foot of the
wall which was almost hidden in vege
tation. remembered the paths which
had led off on either side from the
stairs too We followed one Of them
easily.
The wall to our left was dotted with
openings to caves. but none of them
seemed to ft the description we carried
in our memories The underground
deepened and grew denser as we pro
gressed, and finally had to open
way with my ak. The tangled masses
soon gave way before my sturdy en-
ergy, and we entered little clearing
which extended to the wall. There
above us were the three openings be
meath the depression In the crest sure
enough, the one In the middle being
greater than the others, the entrance
high enough to admit me. who am
much above the usual stature, without
bending my head 1t was elevated
half way up the surface Of the cliff,
and approach to 1t was by pile of
stones, not laid with the order and reg
ularity of the giant stairs. but ap-
parently piled together haphazard by
people unskilled to make any other
practical way of ascent.
1t was difficult enough for us to
climb as it was. The heap of stones
evidently had not been mounted for
years, and the stones had broken and
fallen away in many places. Indeed
had to rebuild the pile here and there
When after arduous labor ] peered
within the cave ! could see nothing
but the biackness. When we left the
ship we had taken lantern and few
candles. had brought the lantern
with me that day. We now lighted 1t