The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-12


 tive fellow, who took it absurdly amiss that I should point out to him the cor rosive effect which modern science must have upon his beliefs, he none the less gave me some positive informa- tion. Maple White passed Rosario four years ago, or two years before saw his dead body. He was not alone at the time, but there was a friend, an American named James Colver,i who remained in the boat and did not meet this ecclesiastic. I think, therefore, that there can be no doubt that we are now looking upon the remains of this James Co1ver.''
 Nor said Lord John, 'Eis there much doubt as to how he met his death. He has fallen or been chucked from the top and so been impaled. How else could he come by his broken bones and how could he have been stuck through by these canes with their points so high above our heads ?"
 We moved off in silence and contin- ued to coast round the line of cliffs, which were as even and unbroken as some of those monstrous Antarctic ice fields which I have seen depicted as stretching from horizon to horizon and towering high above the mastheads of the exploring vessel.
 In five miles we saw no rift or break. And then suddenly we perceived some thing which filled US with new hope. In a hollow of the rock, protected from rain, there was drawn a rough arrow in chalk, pointing still to the vest | ward.
 "Maple White again. said Professor Challenger. .'He had some present. l ment that worthy footsteps would fol 1 low close behind hin.''
 t'He had chalk, then?' "A box of eolored challzs was among 1 the effects I found in his knapsack. 1 remember that the white one was worn to stump
 'sThat is certainly good evidence, ' 1 said SummerIee. .'We can only ac- cept his guidance and follow on to the l westward"
 We had proceeded some five more miles when again we saw white ar row upon the rocks. It was at point where the face of the cliff was for the first time split into a narrow cleft. In- side the cleft was second guidance mark, which pointed right up 1t with the tip somewhat elevated, as if the spot indicated were above the level of the ground.
 
 were so gigantic and the slit of blue sky so narrow and so obscured by a double fringe of verdure that only a dim and shadowy light penetrated to the bottom We had had no food for many hours and were very weary with the stony and irregular journey, but our nerves were too strung to allow us to halt. We ordered the camp to be pitched, however, and, leaving the Indians to arrange it, we four, with the two half breeds, proceeded rp the marrow gorge.
 It was not over forty feet across at the mouth, but it rapidly closed un- til it. ended in an acute angle, too straight and smooth for an ascent Certainly it was not this which our pioneer had attempted to indicate. We made our way back-the whole gorge was not more than quarter of a mile deep-and then. suddenly the quick eyes of Lord John fell upon what we were seeking. High up above eur heads amid the dark shadows there was one circle of deeper gloom. Sure g. it could only be the opening of a cave.
 The base of the cliff was heaped with loose stones at the spot, and it \ was not difficult to chamber up. When we reached it all doubt was removed. Not only was it an opening into the l rock, but on the side of it there was marked once again the sign of the ar row.
 Here was the point and this was the means by which Maple White and his I III fated comrade had made their as- cent.
 We were too excited to return to l the camp, but must make our first ex- ploration at once. Lord John had an electric torch in his knapsack, and this had to serve us as light. He advanced, 1 throwing his little clear ctrcIet of vel low radiance before him, while in sin l gle file we followed at his heels. 1 The cave had evidently been water worn, the sides being smooth and the floor covered with rounded stones. Ii was of such a size that a single man l could just fit through by stepping. For l fifty yards it ran almost straight into the rock, and then it ascended at ar angle of forty-dve. Presen5@y this in cline became even sleeper, and we found ourselves climbing upon hands and knees among loose rubble whicl slid from beneath us. Suddenly an ex clamation broke from Lord Roxton.
 eIt's blocked!" said he.
 Clustering behind him. we saw in tht yellow field of light wall of broker basaIt which extended to the ceiling.
 '"The roof has fallen in!"
 In vain we dragged out some of th'
 pieces. The only effect was that tht
 larger ones became detached anf
 threatened to roll down the gradien
 and crush us. It was evident that th'
 obstacle was far beyond any efforti
 which we could make to remove It
 The road by which Maple White nat
 ascended was no longer available.
 Too much cast down to speaA' VI
 stumbled down the dark tunnel ani
 made our way back to the camp One incident occurred, however, be