Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-02-10
CHAPTER VIII.

A6Ats 0Oo DC ufdlSeus
CHAPTER Viii.
In Which ] Understand the-Feelines u
Ghost.
So, I surmised, / had been under.
ground whole day and two nights,
and this was the morning Of the sec
ond day after Calypso's disappearance.
What had been happening to her all
this time! My flesh crept at the
thought. and. with that daylight steal
ing in like a living presence, and the
sound and breath of the sea, my an
guish returned .hundredfold.
AS stood on the little rocky plat
form outside the door through which /
had burned my way, and looked down
into the glimmering chasm beneath.
and heard the fresh voice Of the sea
huskily rumbling and reverberating
about hidden grottoes and channels,
all that Calypso was to me came back
with the keenness of q sword through
my heart. All! there was my treasure
AS had known when my eyes first
beheld her-compared with which that
gold and silver in there. whose CLEAN
had made me momentarily distraught,
was but so much, dust and ashes.
Ardently as I had sought it, what was
1t compared to one glance of her eyes?
What if in the same hour, / had lost
my true treasure, and found the false?
At the thought, that glittering heap
became abhorrent to me, and, without
looking back, I sought for some way
by which could descend.
AS my eyes grew accustomed to the
dim light, 1 saw that there were some
shallow steps cut diagonally In the
rock, and down these had soon made
my way, to find myself in roomy cor
ridor, so much like that in which had
seen Calypso standing In the moonlight,
that, for moment, dreamed it was
the same, and started to run down 1t.
thinking. indeed, that my troubles
were over-that In another moment l
would emerge through that enchanted
door and face the sea.
But alas instead Of broad shining
doorway, and open arms of freedom
widespread for me to leap into, came
at last to mere long narrow slit
through which / could gaze as a man
gazes through prison window at the
sky.
hnd MT 10
and free, but a mass of rock had fallen
from above and blocked 1t up, leaving
only a long crack through which the
tides passed to and fro.
was still in my trap; 1t seemed
more terrible than ever, now that l
could see freedom so close, her very
voice calling to me, singing the morn
ing song of the sea. But In the caverns
behind Inc, l heard another hooking
song, and I felt cold breath on my
cheek, for death stood by my side
a-grin.
"The treasurer he whispered, II
need you to guard that. The treasure
you have risked all to win-the treas
ure for which you have lost-your
treasure! You cannot escape. Go back
and count your gold. 1T is all good
money! Ha! hal 1t Is all good
money!"
The illusion seemed so real to me
that I cried aloud 81 will not die!
will not die !"-cried 1t so loud, that
anyone In a passing boat might have
heard me, and shuddered. wondering
what poor ghost it was wailing among
the rocks.
But the fright had done me good.
and nerved myself for another effort.
If only could wriggle past that con-
traction in the middle, l should be
safe. And if stuck fast midway! But
the more l measured the width with
my eye, the less the narrowing seemed
to be. TO be so slightly perceptible, 1t
could hardly be enough to make much
difference. Caution whispered that it
might be enough to make the differ
ence between life and death. But al
ready my choice of those two august
alternatives was SO limited as hardly
to be called choice. On the one
hand. could worm my way back
through the caves and tunnels through
which / had passed. and try my luck
again at the other end.
"With half dozen matches 7"
sneered voice that sounded like To-
blas'-"Precisely" and the hor-
ror of it was more than dared face
again anyway. So there was nothing
for 1t but this aperture, hardly wider
than one of those deep stone Sits that
stood for windows in Norman castle.
1t was my last chance, and l meant
to take it like a man.
! stood for a moment nerving myself
and taking deep breaths, as though
expected to take but few more. Then,
my left arm extended, entered side
wise, and began TO edge myself along.
1t was easy enough for yard or two,
after which it was plain that it was
beginning to narrow. Very slightly in
deed, but still little. However, could
still go on, and-I could still go back. /
went on-more slowly 1t is true. yet
still l progressed. But the rock was
perceptibly closer to me. had to
struggle harder. 1t was beginning to
hug me-very gently-but it was be-
ginning.
paused to take breath. could not
turn my head to look back. but /
Judged that / had come over a third
of the way. was coming up to the
waist that l had feared, but ! could
still 60 on-very slowly, scarce more
than an inch at every effort; yet every
inch counted, and had lots Of time.
Ny feet and head were free-which
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