Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-23
THE GHDED MAN
By CLIFFORD SMYTH

They gathered up what was left of their
provisions and set off again. s;ngie file. down
the new path, General Herran in the lead.
Andrew bringing up the rear. They had not
gone many yards before they noticed the
marked difference in the two paths. At first
the change in level was scarcely perceptible;
but now the descent became more and more
abrupt, and as there was less sand and
gravel for a foothold they found the smooth
surface of the rocks. tilted often at a sharp
angle, anything but easy going. Another
PECULIARLY that soon caught their attention
was the lesSening height of the caves roof.
lntIl now this roof had been so far above
them that they had to throw their heads way
back to see it, and even then it appeared
in only vague outlines, Now it took a down
ward curve that brought 1t nearer and nearer
to them. Following the same descending
sweep it was evident that floor and roof
would shortly come together and the con-
fines. at least of that portion of the cave,
would be reached.
Along with this new architectural feature
in the structure of the cave, there was a
noticeable change in the character of the
rock forming it.
Walls and floor had, until now, been sharp
and jagged in contour, dull, almost black. in
color. But the unevenness Of surface was
disappearing. The rocks were smoother. as
if worn and rounded by constant rubbing.
Vivid cOlors CLEANED from wall and column
with IA pristine freshness suggesting that this
part of the cave belonged to a far more
distant period than the great rock chamber
in which they had stopped to take their
luncheon. Finally, they were surrounded at
every hand by those spear-like formations,
thrust Upward from the floor or depending
from the roof, that give TO the interiors of
most caves their fantastic apprenticeship
StalaCtiteS and stalagmites about, whose ORR
gin in the workshop of Nature there can be
no doubt.
This change had an invigorating effect
upon the explorers. Passing from the unre.
lieved gloom of the first cavern into this
fairy-built grotto, with its bright hues and
pleasing shapes, they began to forget their
fears and felt instead something like the
real enjoyment that belongs to unexpected
adventure. Everything in the way of glo.
rious surprise seemed possible. For one thing
Miranda's confident prediction was apparent.
ly about to be realized, a probability that
the doctor celebrated by alternate chuckles
and grunts Of satisfaction,
IF we don't find water, there is at least
no doubt that water has once been here" de.
clared Leighton. These stalactites make
that certain"
You will see-you will see" persisted
Miranda. at is the Lake Guatavita."
'How can that be- argued Leighton. .No
opening of the lake into this cave has ever
been discovered"
You will see"
One might almost imagine that the in.
tricaCies of the cave We're as familiar to the
doctor as the formula for his celebrated mills
But his confident attitude was only one part
genuine to three parts bravado. He enioyed
opposing a scientist showing such supreme
self-possession as Leighton, and he delighted
In startling statements of fact that mrreI,
bewildered his hearers, But he was by me-
means sure in his own mind of the truth
or even the probability, of the theory he wa
advancing. General Herran. however who
had heard as far back as he could remeuba,
the strange tales of mystery regarding Lake
Guatavita. and had often speCulated viii
other BogotanoS on the DISAPPEARANCE he,
meath its waters of the fabulous wealth. n,
the ancient Chibchas, was keenly alive IN m,
possibilities lying before them, now that the,
were on the very spot haunted by so mani
| fascinating traditions of his race. Like mos,
natives of Bogota, the Spanish blood in hi.
veins was mixed with the blood of the Chin
chas-and 1t was an infusion he was nro,l
to own. Hence. he readily believed thar al
any moment they would stumble upon a nor
feet mountain Of treasure, all the lost polc
and emeralds that Spanish romances baC
dreamed about and travellers of the old heroi,
times had risked their lives for.
They had now reached the end Of III,
DrecipitOus incline down which the patb no,
led them, thankful to exchange the slipnin,
and sliding, to which the tilted rocks haS
treated them. for the firm footing offered h,
q comparatively level floor.
Here the roof hung only a few feet aboy,
their heads, whence il curved downward
glistening with the delicate fretwork that tn