Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-10
CHAPTER NNII-lContinued)

Moved by this fairy-like spectacle Una
again implored Narva TO tell her something
Of where they were going what was this
cave of wonders that no man had ever heard
OF before, and into which they had stumbled
by chance? what bygone secret Of the
earth was il connected with" What people
were these who lived in it as in world apart
from all other worlds? who was she buried
out OF sight of all mon. and vet talking to
Una in her native tongue, and seemingly SO
familiar with all that concerned her? why
had she been waiting for them? Where was
she taking them But to all Una's questions
Narva vouchsafcd no word of reply Smiling
TO herself, she pointed in the direction of the
lght-crowned summit before them and hast
ened on, descending now into valley where
they soon lost sight of the vision that had
offered so delightful goal to their wander
ings. Narva's gesture, however. and the ten
dency of the path they were taking assured
Una that the distant palace--its situation
and noble architecture suggested nothing less
.than a palace, the regal abode of the ruler or
all this realm of marVes---was their real des-
tnation, and IL was left TO her to imagine
why Narva was guiding her thither. But
the physical difficulties of the path they fol-
lowed gave her scant opportunity for specu-
lation. Chasms they had to cross whose
depths Una would have Stunned had it not
been for the promise of some great achieve
ment that would free them all from the dan
gers by which they were surrounded. In
other places the path narrowed to a mere
fissure between great walls of rock, and
again it slSirted the edge of precipice that,
in normal times, would have filed Una with
horror. Moreover, there were moments when
she fancied she heard, from the darkness be-
meath them. the shouts of hurrying throng
of people--an impression that might well be
true since she had abundant. evidence already
that the cave was inhabited by a race whose
number she had no means of knowing.
But this reminder Of the presence of others
in the cave beside her own party was more
disturbing to Una than the physiCal obstacles
and dangers Immediately facing her. These
could at least be met and overcome--but
about an invisible multitude, their attitude
toward them, their purpose in apparently fol-
lowing them. there was an indefinteness that
altogether dsheartening. AS a matter
of fact. she had no doubt these hidden cave
men were hostile; her previous experiences
had filled her with a vague dread In that re-
spect. This dread, also, was sharpened by
the reflection that, In all probability, Raoul
was among them. Of his active enmity, link
ed in some mysterious manner with Davids
disappearance, she now felt certain.
Una tried to gain some light the sub
ject from Narva ; bnt the latter either failed
to hear the ominous sounds to which her at
tenton was called. she was too intent on
her present mission to admit the considera-
tion Of other matters. This indifference,
whether real or feigned, had a reassuring eff.
feet on Una. She perceived that If these in
visible people. friendly or unfriendly, were con-
nected with them, they would attract Narva's
attention, while, if there was no connection
a conclusion suggested by the sibyls unruf
fled bearing-there was nothing to fear from
them
Having reached the end of the abrupt
downward slope of the path they were follow
ing, Una rejoiced to find herself the level
floor of valley that in the upper world,
would be admired for its charm and restful-
ness. There were neither nower-decked
meadows, It is true, nor brook-fed woodland
to diversity the scene. Subterranean botany,
however has its compensatons for losses due
to the perpetual absence of sun and rain.
Evidently the light from the luminous noun
tain had in 1t some llfe-gvng, sustaining
quality. for on every hand in this valley there
were luxuriant growths of delicately tinted
howers-or so they appeared-whose scent,
one imagined, filled the motionless atmos-
phere Tall graceful forms, resembling will
lows. clustered along the banks of little
stream flowing with the gentlest of murmurs
through their midst. The fnty ground was
carpeted with pale lancet-leaved herbage
that might have been taken for grass were it
rot for the profusion of sparkling crystals
with which II was sprirkled. These crystals |
glowed in varying and sometimes iridescent |
colors, showing a depth and soldity of sub |
stance decidedly out Of keeping with a purely |
vegetable origin
It this gem-like appearance of what |
might have been taken elsewhere for richly |
towering grasses that led Una to suspect the |
reality-judged by the standards of the world |
with which she was familiar-of this sub |
terranean garden. A white flower, heavily |
streaked with crimson, from the heart of |
which long golden stamens were thrust in |
dropping cluster. hung on its stalk con- |
yeniently near. Except for its coloring and |
a square rather than spherical modelling of
the cayx it might easily pass for one of the
lily family. To make sure Una plucked 1t.
From the broken stem tiny stream of water
bubbled out, and the flower In Una's hands
seemed to lose at once the soft simmer of
light that had played upon its petals only
before. Most extraordinary of all
was the weight of the flower. Suspended
from its stalk, it seemed the frailest. daintiest