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


must go. can never be left alone"
| tried gently to diSSuade her. but.
as usual. she would have her way. 50
that at last | gave in.
We'll. then" said |. lat least let me
20 BEFORE
| stepped down into the great re.
ceptAcle Intending TO clear the WAY
with my feet by kicking away the
layer of bone, and then, extending
my arm behind ne with both her
hands caught in mine she followed me
down into the incioSIre. OF course we
mad to walk upon the broken rem
nantS Of humanity. bat | thrust aside
as Well as | could the larger pieces
and skulls. and she afterward
learned. followed with her eyes tightly
closed. trusting entirely to nv guild
ance Indeed she chung TO my hand
with all the nervous strength and DOW
er she possessed
80 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
statues and look across the island.
Sure enough. there was the nick or de
preston in the wall which Sir PhiliD
had mentioned. although the "birre
palmme tree" was gone or else lost
amid hundreds of trees like it. Be
meath 1t careful scrutiny showed a
rough pyramid of stone leading I'D 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 certain eXutatiOn filled me-
At least we had not come upon FOOLS
errand. though what good the treasure
would do US | did not stop to consider
I'VE have nothing more to do here"
/ answered as l 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 | thought she was go
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 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 We're closed. | ran swiftly across
he inclosure. descended the steps and
..thOut hesitation turned to the edge
of the cliff. | stopped there. curSin"
myself for net having brought any wa
ter. but as | stopped she opened her
eyes.
You are So fe." said | gently. The
horrors are all behind US. See. there
IS before you naught but the beautiful
kTeenery of tie island, and
An expression of gratitude came
| across ner 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 Us we pass
| Ell out o. 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 Il lovely
| brook OF cool. delicious water. where
We broke our fast. though it was not
| vet loon. but the opcli,,ic> all stopped
! before they reached the foot of the
wall which VAS almost hidden III vege-
| tation | remembered the paths which
| had led off on either side from the
| stairs too We followed one of them
lastly.
| The wall to our left was dotted with
! openings TO caves. but none of them
! seemed to lit the description we carried
! II our memories. The underground
| .leepened and grew denSer as we pro
| crossed and finally | had To open a
| WAY with my AK. The tangled MASSES
soon gave way before my sturdy Ell
! er-y. ana we entered a little clearing
! which extended To the wall. Their,
| above us We're the three openings be
| Meath the depression in the crest sure
| enough the one in the middle heinc
| greater than the others. the entrance