Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-26
CHAPTER XIV-(Continued)

6kV EEP on Keep on cTleu btlsh''h :"
N couragingly. Now WI will see.
Thoroughly aroused, the others redoubled
their exertions. The magnet remained sta
tionary for a few seconds. the Llama support
ing 1t tightening with every revolution ot.the
drumhead at which the men were laoorine.
Then It slowly disappeared downward, the
Llama uncoiling itself. thus reversing the
movement that before had carried 1t upward.
There was a gradual increase in the mo
mentum of it's descent, following ny the
spla shing sound caused by the impact of a
heavy body upon the surface of a pool or wa
ter after which the Llama was paid out un-
til its full length-wnen it suddenly slack
ened and came to a full! stop.
There. Mrs. Quayle, Is your water an
nounced Leighton.
water sneeringly echoed a voice from
the darkness behind them. SAY. rather
there Is the secret of Guatavita"
"Raoul Arthur exclaimed the others.
Letting go the handle Of the windlass. they
rushed TO the spot where the Black Magnet
had vanished.
There at one side Of the rocky projection
stood Raoul, pale and haggard. the light or
his lamp extinguished.
Il suspected this he said. as If his sud
den temperance among them were the
most natural thing In the world. "I knew
from the direction OF the path that 1t led
back to the lake. 7 have been trying TO
reach this place for years. oh. yes! had
heard something about 1t BEFORE dont
uenN Inat. but, o. CouISt' L tNp'NNN' sN''
by you. SO. when you started to leave the
cave | came back. expecting to rejoin you.
As I was examining the machine I was at
tackled by two men. thrown to the ground
and left unconscious. I came TO myself a
few minutes ago-in time to congratulate
you, It seems, upon solving the mystery OF
the cave"
This is strange" said Leighton coldly,
you left us, without a word. at a time when
you were needed. The attack that you say
was made upon you we should nave hearo'
But-we have heard nothing .
Believe me or not, as you like 1t Is true
was the sullen reply.
why do you say we have the secret Of
Guatavita?'
Raoul pointed to the projection in the wall
behind which the Black Magnet had disap-
peared. 1t was not a shelf. as they had at
first supposed. but the opening of a SHAFT,
or well, that slanted downward at an angle
that |. the course OF fifty feet or less would
reach considerably beyond the vertical line
Of the caves wall. In shape this shaft was
oblong. slightly larger in length and In
breadth than the Black Magnet. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY of artificial origin, its four walls be-
ing perfectly smooth and without irregulari-
ties of line. Even by one who had not seen
the magnet descend into this shaft. Its In
tended use as a sort of runway for raising
and lowering heavy bodies would be quickly
recognized. But where It led to was another
matter. One thing was easily discovered:
where 1t reached a point some twenty feet
below the level of the caves floor the shaft
was filled with water. Beyond this, OF
course. nothing could be made out 1t was
to the bottom of the pool thus indicated that
the magnet had plunged.
at is a well hewn out of the rock by In
dians-or perhaps by Spaniards digging for
gold" said Leighton.
II believe that We are the first white peo-
pie who have ever stood in this place" said
Raoul: then added. unless David Meudon
was here three years ago"
But what is 1t about" demanded Mi
randa impatiently. What for is the mag
net, and this well. and this machine? ?"
pull up the magnet and see for YOURSELF"
was the laconic reply.
'Caramba That will be impossible" pro-
tested the doctor, not relishing the prospect
of another turn at the machine.
ut is the logical thing to do" agreed
leighton.
The rest shared Miranda's aversion to an
other bout at the winch but Leighton, back
ed by Raoul Arthur, finally persuaded them
that their only hope of escape from the cave
depended on keeping at this puzzle until
they had solved it, and that the first step in
this direction was to hoist the Black Magnet
from its watery resting place at the bottom
of the shaft. Reluctantly obeying the COM