The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-10-23
CHAPTER XVII.


In Which We Win Light, Life, Liberty
and Love.
rATE went down the cave. 10
WV find the water was easy.
" Sure enough, it led away
through, narrow rift in
what direction we could not tell, al
though its tendency was downward,
and l knew it would come out upon
the beach somewhere. 1t had not
seemed to me as | examined it before
the earthquake that the rift was more
than enough to carry the water, but it
had probably opened wider now by the
shock, and so we followed it. AL
though sometimes the walls closed
over the water course, making tunnels,
we managed to force our way through
them. l 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 it seemed to me that we
had gone miles, although in reality 1t
could have been but few b. ndred
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 l.
I still haG the AK with me and the
sword which had thrust into my
belt. The rock seemed soft. Lying
down upon my back and covering my
eyes with one hand, 1 struck at it
with the AK, thus charging the pas
Bage. The water beneath me was
deathly cold, the candle in the lantern
was burning lower and lower, but I
hung on. Never did l work so in all
my life as then. At last I loosened
huge rock, which fell suddenly upon
me. Had l not seen it coming and
dropped the ak and stayed its progress
with both appraised hands it might have
crushed me. AS it was, it fell fairly
upon my breast. I could not throw 1t
aside; the way was too narrow. 1 held
1t up in my hands and forced my way
through, although what should meet
or where I should bring up on the
other side l knew not. l thrust hard
and harder with my feet and presently
my way was clear, and showed my
self through the opening. With one
great final effort rolled the rock aside
and then lay on my back on the sand.
breathless, exhausted.
She dragged herself over my body
and through the passage I had thus
made and then knelt by my side, kissed
me, murmuring words did not dare to
listen to lest I should 60 mad with
Joy And, indeed, ! was so exhausted
that / could scarcely credit that had
heard anything real. Presently, how
ever, staggered to my feet again. She
had forgotten the lantern but went
back after it. -. ..Ea -.
We were in more spacious cave
The stream, fed by other brooks, had
become larger. The descent was much
more rapid. The cliff wall was, be-
lieve, narrower at the treasure cave
than anywhere else in the island. 1t
was, perhaps, not more than half a
mile wide. We stumbled rapidly down
the long vaulted passage to the other
wall. AS we approached it half fear
ed that the rock might be solid, and
that the brook might plunge beneath
1t, but fortune did not do its worst for
us. There was a rift in the wall,
around which the brook ran. A long
distance away appeared to me spot
of dimness. Recklessly we clasped
hands and ran to the opening.
Alas, when we reached the light we
found that the entrance was closed by
a huge stone. It did not exactly fit the
opening, and the light filtered around
It. / stood painting, staring at it.
'sAre we to be ended now cried,
"after having come thus far? Stand
clear" shouted, not giving her time
to answer.
Then with all my strength I swung
the ak and struck the rock fair and
square and BY good fortune upon some
assure, for It shivered and crack
started. Once again, this time with
tremendous force, swung and struck
The az sank into the stone, the helve
shivered ii my hand. II was right
rood blow, & I 40 nv II myself. Tor
the rock 49, ~ this dine sfairiy split
ii Two. ne pieces failing y the right !
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