Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-16
CHAPTER II--(Continued)


for the man in whom, for aught he
knew. life still remained, he bolted
for the passageway and safety.
But his renewed hopes were soon
dashed. Just beyond the doorway he
found the passage completely clogged
and choked by impenetrable masses
of shattered rock.
Once more he turned and re-enter-
ed the treasure vault. Taking the
candle from its place he commenced
q systematic search of the apart.
ment. nor had he gone far before he
discovered another door in the oppo-
site end of the room, door which
gave upon creaking hinges to the
weight of his body. Beyond the door
lay another narrow passageway.
Along this Werper made his way.
ascending flight of stone steps to an.
other corridor twenty feet above the
die lighted the way before him, and
o moment later We was thankful for
the possession of this crude and an.
tfquated luminant, which. a few hours
before, he might have looked upon
with contempt, for it showed him, not
. moment too soon, a yawning pit ap-
parently terminating the tunnel he
was traversing.
Before him was a circular shaft. He
held the candle above 1t and peered
downward. Below him, at a great dis.
lance, he saw the light reflected back
4 from the surface of pool Of water. He
had come upon a we'll. He raised the
candle above his head and peercd
across the black void, and there upon
the opposite side he saw the continua-
tion Of the tunnel; but how was he to
span the gulf?
AS he stood there measuring the dis.
tance to, the opposite side and wonder
Ing IL he dared venture SO great a
leap, there broke suddenly upon his
startled ears piercing scream which
diminished gradually until it ended in
q series of dismal means. The voice
that 1t might have emanated from the
tortured throat of lost soul, writhing
in the fires Of hell.
The Belgian shuddered and looked
fearfully' upward, for the scream had
seemed to come from above him. AS
he looked he saw an opening far over.
head, and a patch of sky pricked with
brilliant stars.
9 His half.formed intention to call for
help was checked by the terrifying
cry-where such voice lived, no hui
man creature could dwell. He dared
not reveal himself to whatever inhab.
itants dwelt in the place above him.
He cursed himself for a fool that he
had ever embarked upon such a mis-.
sion. He wished himself safely back
in the camp OF Achmet Eek, and would
almost have embraced an opportunity
to give himself up to the military au-
thorities Of the Congo if by doing so
he might be rescued from the fright
ful predicament in which he now was.
He listened fearfully. but the cry
was not repeated; and at last, spurred
to desperate means, he gathered him.
self for the leap across the chasm.
Going back twenty PAGES he took a
running start, and at the edge of the
well leaped upward and outward in
an attempt to gain the opposite side.
In his hand he clutched the sputter.
ing. candle, and as he took the leap
the rush Of air extlnguished 1t. In
utter darkness he few through space.
ciutching outward for a hold should
his feet miss the invisible ledge.
He struck the edge of the floor Of
the opposite terminus of the rocky
tunnel with his knees, slipped backward,
clutched desperately for a moment.
and at last hung half within and half
without the opering: but he was safe.
For several minutes he dared not
move; but clung. weak and sweat.
ing, where he lay. At last, cautiously.
he drew himself well within the tun.
mel. and again lay at full length upon
the floor. fighting to regain control Of
his shattered nerves.
When his knees struck the edge Of
the tunnel he had dropped the candle.
Presently. hoping against hope that it
had fallen upon the floor of the pas.
sageway rather than back into the
depths Of the well. he rose upon all
fours and commenced a diligent search
for the little tallow cylinder, which
now seemed infinitely more precious
TO him than all the fabulous wealth Of
the boarded ingots Of opar.
And, when at last he found 1t, he
clasped 1t to him and sank back Sob
bing and exhausted. For many min
utes he lay trembling and broken; but
finally he drew himself TO a sitting
posture and taking a match from his
pocket lighted the stump Of the candle
which remained to him.
with the light he found it easter
4 10 regain control of his nerves. and
presently he was again making his
way along the tunnel In search Of an
avenue OF escape. The horrid cry thai
had come down to him from above
through the ancient we'll shaft still
haunted him, SO that he trembled In
terror at even the sound Of his owr
cautious advance.