The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-13
BY JOHN REED SCOTT
Continued from our last issue)
Copyright, 1910, by
John Reed Scott

The walls lowered SO far
above us, 1t was as II some Titan
had cleft the passage with his
club. The light was dim; almost
there was none, indeed, save far
upward where the blue of the
sky shone-bluer by reason OF
the gloom from which we looked.
We crept along-the way was
not over ~ feet wide, some
places less, and it constantly
curved and twisted, until We had
lost all notion of direction.
Then we rounded a sharp turn;
and both of us leaped to our feet
with a warning cry. Right before
us, scarcely 80 feet away, the
stream passed into a tunnel and
the open passage ended. Instantly
the engineer reversed; the boat
came to a stand, and Hatch let
go the anchor.
Stop your engine a moment,
Snyder" Brinsmade ordered -
Now, all keep perfectly still"
The silence was of the tomb.
Brinsmade tossed a match
overheard. II floated slowly to-
ward the tunnel. He NODDED to
Snyder, and the engine resumed
its measured beat.
There was no sound of fall
ing water" said he; land the
current is moderate. I'm going
to try it. Hatch, how much rope
is there aboard?'
"Ill see, sir" said Hatch.
What are you thinking of do
ing?" asked.
"Of swimming down the tun-
mel" Brinsmade answered. THE
rope is to insure my return"
Don't be fool" said / i'm
patiently.
Pm trying not to be-" said he.
You forget that Pm a very fair
swimmer-and that you can yank
me back with the rope whenever
| signal, or you have a mind to
yank. Well?"-as the boatswain
finished his measuring and look
ed up.
There are about 800 feet here
SIR" replied Hatch.
Brinsmade kicked off his white
shoes, and got out of his clothes.
Knot the rope around under
my arms he ordered the boat
swain. Now sten!-Pay out
the rope so it doesn't drag on me
any more than absolutely neces-
sary. If | signal by sharp jerks,
haul in. IL | don't signal for
some time, you signal me by
jerks. If I'm all right, I'll an
swer by three jerks-if | don't
answer, haul in. Remember.
three jerks by me at any time
means cease hauling. You under
stand, Dick?"
And dropping over the side,
Brinsmade swan quietly into the
tunnel and out of sight.
Il took out my watch. =
One minute passed-two-five-
ten.
Something's the matter" said
| l. signal.
Hatch signaled. I bent over the
rope watching. There was no re-
Spouse!
Haul in" I ordered.
AS his hand sprang to obey,
Brinsmade emerged from the tun-
mel, swimming easily. The next
moment he was alongside and on
board.
Il had bully SWIM" said he,
as Hatch freed him from the rope.
And what's of more import
I've been through the passage,
and into as pretty a little harbor
as you ever saw. A reverse curve
in the tunnel explains why we
couldn't see light"
Then We can go through with
the launch?" | asked.
"Sure--as soon as | get back
into my clothes"
1t was not so dark in the tun-
mel as 1t appeared from the out
side. We made the first turn
readily enough. the second turn
was not over so feet from the
exit. In moment it was passed
and we came into a tiny harbor
as pretty and as placid as any one
can imagine.
1t was semi-circular in form
with a gently shelving beach OF
hard sand running back so yards
or SO to the line of giant Celba
and the towering Coyal palm.
We went slowly along the har-
Dor front, sounding for a place to
land-and finding none. At last
We anchored as close in as posi-
BILE, and prepared to go ashore.
How deep is it here, Hatch?"
mot too deep for Conner and
me to carry you and Mr.. Cardigan
on our shoulders" Hatch an
swered.
Can you do it,"
Easily, SIR"
Good! Come on then, Con-
nor" said Brinsmade.
And he, sitting on Connor's
shoulders, and I on Hatch's. were
quickly landed on the beach; Sny-
der, we left with the launch. Then
with a rifle apiece and our auto
mates we set out on the inspec-
ton.
HUM" said Brinsmade, cycling
the forest fringe ahead. This is
not tropical jungle-where's the
underground"
1t was true. The rank vegeta-
ton was missing; there were only
the treas thick SET md huno