Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-28
CHAPTER XIV (Continued)

TIME rest agreeing, they set out along inc
l. path nanked by the grove of stalacities'
travelling at a quicker pace, but with greater
caution than before. Miranda ana fierrah
marched ahead with revolvers drawn, Andrew
IN the rear still holding his pocket knife READY
for action. They had been delayed on Mrs.
Ouayle's account, for that lady IN splte ot
her anxiety to get away, had refused 10 oulse
without her jewelry. But it was not easy 10
s.,isfv her demand. For, when the jeweliy
was taken from its hiding place beneath a
rock, it still showed the same strong tendency
TO fly to the Black Magnet. rms oistresseu
Mrs. Quayle, who refused to touch the
treasures that she was at the same time
loath to part with. But a compromise was
finally effected by tying all the 1ewelry Sc
curely around Andrews waist. rms arrange
ment appeased the .owner-but 1t gave an I'M
comfortable backward pull to every step tne
schoolmaster took, who thus sembl IN
walking a ship sailing against the wind.
This Inconvenience, however, steadily oe-
creased as they came out of the disturbing
region of the Black Magnet, until hnally
these ancient heirlooms of Mrs, Quayles re-
gained their normal composure.
But there were other Things nesides the
BLACK Magnet to interrupt their progress
No sooner had they gotten vel under way
and were congratulating themselves on their
escape from .mishap so far than they were
startled by a wild and piercing strain or
n,Isic. seeming to come from the grove or
staIactites before which they were hurryihs'
Amazed by so singular an interruption they
stopped short and looked fearfully ABOUT
them. A sound Of scornful laughter blended
with the music.
"Raoul!' muttered leighton.
But there was nothing to be seen of the
strange American whose hooking laughter
they were sure, nevertheless, they had heard:
Then the music grew louder and louder, as II
the musicians were steadily approaching In
their direction. The music itself was subtly
different In tone and pitch from anything
played in the outside world. The high notes
evidently came from wind instruments. but
of unique quality and caliber. Mingling with
these notes and sustaining the bass were the
heavy beatings Of drums OF the kind still
used. although deeper and mellower, by the
native Indians in their festivals.
The melody produced-if it could be called
a melody-was Of an extraordinary charac-
tar. It's effect, its charm, FOR II had unmis-
taxable charm-was quite impossible to de-
hne. In some respects 1t the mo-
notonous chantings peculiar to most primitive
races. occasionally as was customary with
the latter, rising and falling. whole octaves
AT a time, in a wailing key. In the main. 1t
carried a sort of theme, emotional and In
spiring. that was far too complex to be at
tributed TO the uncultivated musical taste
common to savagery. There was an exultant
swing TO the measure, a lifting cadence hat
hetrayed a fine esthetie sense. a rich magma
ton coupled with the simplicity and freedom
that has not felt the pressure. except very
ramotely, Of our western civilization. Such
music was good to listen to. and under ordi-
nary circumstances the explorers would have
been content to listen and nothing more.
But curiosity and some remnant of fear the
lulling influence of the music had not dissi-
pated kept then on the alert, Their fate de-
uended, they felt, on these musicians. They
must hnd out who they were before 1t was
too late to retreat.
And Observation-Disclosures the cluster
ing sreen ana white stems of the stslactites,
they caught sight of them.
They were more than twenty in number
moving, as nearly as the unevenness of the
ground would permit, In time to the choral
march they were playing. At sight Of them
Mrs. ouayls didn't know whether to be
pleased or terrified. For the music was such
an enchanting, soothing sort Of thing, and
the players 90 mild. benignant Of aspect.
anything like fear seemed out Of place. But.
on the other hand. the strange instruments