The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-10-18

Sure enough. it led away
through narrow rift in
what direction we could not tell. al
though its tendency was downward.
and | knew it would come out upon
the beach somew here. 1t had not
seemed to me as | examined it before
the earthquake THAI the rift was more
than enough TO carry tie water. but lt
had probably oDpred wider now by the
shock, and so we followed 1t. Al
though sometimes the walls closed
over the water course. ma king tunnels.
we managed to force our way through
Them went in the advance. for |
knew that what my bulk could pass
would present little difficulty for her
We wandered in and out among the
coral until il seemed to me that we
had gone miles. although in reality II
could have been but a few hundred
yards
At last we came to Place too low
and too narrow for me to pass, al!
though | might. perchance. have thrust
her through.
You see" she said. this is the end
NO" said I.
| still had the AK with me and the
sword which | had thrust into my
belt The rock seemed soft. Lying
down UPON ny back and covering my
eyes with one hand, | struck AT Il
with the TX. thus enar@ing the pas
sage. The water beneath me WAS
GeathIy cold the candle in the lantern
WAS burning lower and lower. cut /
| N
my life as then At last | looSened a
huge rock. which fell suddenly upon
me- Had | not seen 1t coming anu
dropped the aX and stayed its progress
with both appraised hands it might HAY.
crushed me. A. ii WAS it fell fairly
uDon nv breast. ! could not throw 4
aside: the way WAS too narrow. hei'
it I'D in my ha mis- and forced my wa!
through although what should NEE
or where should bring up on th'
other side | knew not. | thrust marc
and harder with my feet and PRESENT..
nv way was clear and | Showed my
self through the opening With on
great final effort rolled the rock aSld
and then lay Oh my back on the sand
breathleSS exhausted.
She dragged ncEStli over NY boi
and through the passage | had thu
made and then knelt by my side. kiSSe
me. murmuring words did not dare
listen to lest | should go mad wit
iOy. And. indeed. | was so eXhauSte
that | could scarcely credit that ha
heard anything real. Presently. how
ever, | staggered to my feet again. 81
had forgotten the lantern, but | wei
back after it.
We were in n more spacious cav
The stream. fed by other brooks. n;
become larger. The descent was mu'
more rapid The cliff wall was. ! n
lieve. narrower at the treasure "a
than anywhere else in the island
was. perhaps. not more than half
mile wide. We stumbled rapidly dow
the long vaulted passage to the oth
wall As we approached it half TIE;
ed that the rock might he solid. a
that the brook might plunge benea
il but fortune did not do its worst I
us There was rift in the W.
around which the brook ran. 10
distance away appeared to me 81
of dimneSS. ReckleSSly we clasp
hands and ran TO the opening.
Alas. when we reached the light
found that the entrance was closed
huge stone 1t did not exactly nj
opening. and the light filtered arou
It. stood painting. staring at it,
Are we to be ended now. l crl
latter having come thus far: Sta
clear" | shouted. not giving her Il
to answer.
Then with all my strength l sw'
the ak and struck the rock fair
square and by good fortune upon sc
assure. for it shivered and CT
started Once again. this time
tremendous force. l swung and STIR
The ak sank into the stone. the NJ
shivered in my hand. 1t was RI
good blow. if do say 1t myself.
the rock was by this time fairly
in two. the pieces falling to the r
and left. Still il was we'll in the
trance. We had not yet clear
sage.
was mad now. as mad as l
been in the inner cave lighting for
The blood rushed to my face. mis-
my eyes l stopped down and
nv hands l seized one piece or
rock and. with such strength as
cules might have used. thrust 1t a!
NJ mistress stood staring at nj