Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-08


down into the Enclosure OF course we
had 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 chung to my hand
with all the nervous strength and DOW
er she possessed.
So we finally reached the platform.
! lifted her up on it and followed my
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 Philip
had mentioned, although the "bIgge
palmme tree" was gone or else lost
amid hundreds OF trees Ike It. Be
meath It careful scrutiny showed q
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
I It And a certain exultation filed me-
At least we had not come upon a FOOLS
errand. though what good the treasure
would do Us did not stop to- consider
I'VE have nothing more TO do here"
I answered as ! led the way to the
! edge OF the low altar.
/ leaped down and then turned to
help my little mistress. She was very
white, and I thought she was go
scene was so terrible. acted prompt
| ly. I 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. I didn't know
whether she had tainted or not Her
eyes were closed. ran swiftly across
the Enclosure, descended the steps and
without hesitation turned to the edge
OF the clin. l stopped there. cursing
myself for not having brought any wa
ter. but as stopped she opened her
eyes.
"You are safe" said gently. 1.-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. 1--WE
must never come near here again"
"Plehse God, no." I repeated as we
retraced our steps down the cliff and
along the winding path, Mistress Lucy
gaining strength and color as we pass
ed out of sight Of the hideous platform.
1t was necessary to so back along
the path to the foot of the stairs. There
were savannas here and there in the
way where we rested and q lovely
brook OF cool, delicious water. where
We broke our fast, though 1t was not
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 of on either side from the
stairs too. We followed one Of them
easily.
The wall to our left was dotted with
openings 10 caves. but none of then
seemed to fit the description we carried
in our memories. The underground
deepened and grew denser as we pro
crossed, and finally / had to open 0
way with my Ak. The tangled masse!
soon gave way before my sturdy en-
ergy, and we entered a little clearing
which extended TO the wall. Their,
above US were the three openings be
meath the depression in the crest sur,
enough, the one in the middle bein!
greater than the Others. the entrance
high enough to admit me, who an
much above the usual stature, withou
bending my head. 1t was elevate'
half way up the surface Of the clifi
and approach TO 1t was by pile o
stones, not laid with the order and reg
ularity of the giant stairs, but az
} parenty piled together haphazard b.
people unskilled to make any othe
, practical way OF ascent.
/ 1t was difficult enough for US I
! climb as it was. The heap OF stone
evidently had not been mounted 70
, years, and the stones had broken an
> fallen away in many places. Indeed
, had TO rebuild the pile here and there
r When after ardu0us labor 1 peere
7 within the cave / could see nothin
! but the blackness. When We left IN
ship we had taken q lantern and fey
? candles. had brought the lanter
J with me that day. We now lighted
! with the flint and steel and finder an
= stepped silently in. Ny lady followe
D me close. being, as she had said, III
9 willing to be left alone and ever read
TO face any peril in my company.
D Above the low entrance the cav
wall rose to a height OF perhaps tweI
! ty feet, making a vast vaulted chambe
I with gothic suggestions about it, 10
I the coral before it hardened had bee
e built into curious shapes and fantasti
figures. We didn't notice this so niue
$ at FIRST, for with a wild shrek, m
gentle companion suddenly caught n
Z arm and pointed downward.
Y The door, like that OF the centrl
altar, was covered with human bone
!. a grewsome sight for any one and ceI
tainly for a woman, and made NOR
grewsome because OF the dull lightin
OF the cave, The bones were bleache
white also and had evidently bee
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