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

vas
half way up the surface of the cliff.
and approach To ii was by Il pile o!
stones. not laid with the order and reg
ularity OF the giant stairs. but ap
parently piled together haphaZard b!
people un>killed to make any othe:
practical way of ascent.
1t was difficult enough for US It
climb as ii was. The heap OF stones
evidently had not been mounted fol
years and the stones had broken anGI
fallen away i'll many places. indeed II
had to rebuild the pile here and there
When after arduouS labor | peeredI
within the cave | could see nothing
bnt the Darkness When we left the
ship We had taken Il lantern and Il few
candles, | had brought the lantern
with me that day. We now lighted it
with the flint and steel and finder and
stepped silently i'll. Ny lady followed
me close being. AZ she had said un-
willing To he left alone and ever read!
TO face any peril in my company.
Above the low entrance the cave
wall rose to n height of perhaps TWEEN
" feet. making Il vast vaulted chamber
with gothic suggestions about II. for
the coral before ii hardened had been
built into curious shapes and fantastic
figures We didn't notice this SO much
at first, for with Il wild shrek. my
gentle companion suddenly caught my
arm and pointed downward.
The floor like that of the centra
altar. was covered with human bones.
+ Il crewSome sight for any one ana Ger
tainly for a woman. and made more
grewSome because of the dull lighting
of the cave. The bones were bleached
white also and had evidently been
there a long time We could scarcely
take a step without treading upon
them | had all | could do to keep
ny mistress from running back toward
the mouth and thence to the ground.
and it was not until | had reaSSured
her that she would consent to 20 on.
AS we had been compelled to pass
on by our desire to get our bearings
before. so if we We're to get the treas
ure we would have to suffer this now.
! She summoned her courage and we
went on.
As our eyes became accustomed to
the light. for indeed. the candle Ian
! tern cast bat Il dim radiance over the
! vast apartment the entrance was so
/ small that little daylight came through.
we saw the same kind of altar. built
/ IF tie same stones as on the hill.
! though much smaller Bones of hui
! man beings. men. women and children.
+ iuJ.,nI fpnp, IA iii ffarapco in SivaS
lay upon it. and there were heaps of
, bones on the floor around it. 1t came
! across me that ii was another altar of
! sacrifice and that the worShiperS had
been also eaters of tlesh-cannihalS.
Turning away from the altar to the
right we found the way clear. and,
| with Il sigh of relief | drew Mistress
| Lucy reluctantly on. She chung to me
and was so frightened that | finally
/ slipped my arm about her waist,
| whereat she made no objection. She
has confessed since that she was in
deed greatly pleased and that it was
comfort to her to feel the strength
ana power of my grasp.
Holding the lantern before me. we
cautiously proceeded farther into the
| ave toward the inner wall. The cave
wall opened out into rooms apparently
| didn't dare go any distance from the
main entrance for fear that | should
lose my way. so | stopped. undecided
! what to do. which opening to enter
that is.
''Oh. let's go back" begged my mis-
tress. There is no treasure here.
am sure
Nay" answered. with your per
mission. Mistress Lucy. intend to ex
plore further into the matter. Let
soc held the lantern high above
my head as | spoke. There above a
certain entrance | saw Il rude Latin
cross. "I.ook.' | continued. Some
one has been here ''riS the sign Of the
cross
Yes" she said. her hopes revivin-
and her spirits returning IA little at the
sight Of that sacred symbol of our
faitE bon: YOU rel: .enIber OH the
uap marking the position of the cave
there WAS u little Gloss:
so there was. | exclaimed. al
though the reading did not mention it. :
| No. Out IL Is tueIc ltN III lHcltS>.
l stopped down. the entrance was
scarcely shreG reet high. but quite
broad-and made to 90 through.
Wait" She seized ME in great
alarm. You can't go there and leave
me here she cried.
Il promise you that will not stir
three feet from the entrance if you will
suffer me that far" | answered.
Il must come. too. them she urged.
Il will see what is there first. and II
it is safe you shall come with me-"
answered.
AS l spoke l crawled through and
found myself in another smaller cham
Der. There being no danger. | stretch
ed out my hand to her and brought her
through after me. From some distan,
, crevice the air came to US. We could
: feel it blow upon US. and II was sweet