The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-04-09


safety and comfort the first stage
of our homeward journey"
1t was on the very evening Of our
perilous adventure with Challenger's
HON e-made balloon that the change
cams in our fortunes. I have said
that the one person from whom we
had had some sign of sympathy in
our attempts to get away was the
young chief whom we had rescued.
He alone had no desire to hold us
against our will in a strange land
He had told. as much by his ex.
pressive language of signs. That
evening after dusk he came down to
our little camp. handed me a small
roll off the bark Of a tree. and then
pointing solemnly up at the row of
caves above him, he had put his
finger to his lips as a sign of Sc
crecy and had stolen back again to
his people.
took the slip Of bark to the
freight and we examined it to-
gether 1t was about foot square
and on the inner side there was
singular arrangement of lines.
They were neatly done in charcoal
upon the white surface and looked
to me at first sight like some sort
of a rough musical score.
Whatever il is, 1 can swear that
1t Is Of Importance to u.s." said l.
II could read that on his face as
he gave it.
1T is clearly some sort of script"
said Challenger.
Looks like a guinea puzzle com.
petition" remarked Lord John,
craning his neck to have a look at It,
Then suddenly he stretched out his
hand and seized the puzzle.
by George he cried. II believe
I've got it. The boy guessed right
the very first time. See here! How
manv marks are on that paper?
Eighteen. We'll. If you come to
think of IL there are eighteen cave
openings on The hillside above us"
lie pointed UP to the caves when
he gave it to me- said I.
well, that settles 1t. This is a
chart Of the caves. What! Eighteen
Of them, all In row, some short.
some deep, some branching, same
as we saw them. It's a map, and
here's cross on it. What's the
cross for? 1t is placed to mark one
that is much deeper than the
others"
"One that goes through" I cried.
II believe our young friend has
read the riddle" said Challenger.
IF the cave does not go through l
do not understand why this person,
who has every reason to mean us
well, should have drawn our atten-
ton to 1t. But If it does go through
ard comes out at the corresponding
point on the other side. we should
not have more than a hundred feet
to descend"
"a hundred feet" grumbled Sum.
merlee.
well, our rope it still more than
a hundred feet long" I cried. Sure
ly we could get down."
How about the Indians in the
cave?" Summerlee objected.
There are no Indians in any of
the caves above our heads" said I.
They are all used as barns and
storehouses. Why should we not go
up now at once and spy out the
land?"
There is a dry btuminous wood
upon The plateau-a species of
araucaria, according TO our botan-
ist-which is always used by the
Indians for torches. Each of us
picked up a faggot Of this. and we
made our way up weed-covered
steps to the particular cave which
was marked in the drawing. 1t
was, as-I had said, empty, save for
a great number of enormous bats
which tapped round our heads as
we advanced into it. AS we had
no desire to draw the attention of
the Indians to our proceedings. we
stumbled along in the dark until
we had gone round several curves
and penetrated a considerable dis
lance into the cavern. Then. at
last, we lit our torches. 1t was
beautiful dry tunnel with smooth
gray walls covered with native
symbols, a curved roof which
arched over our heads, and white
glstening sand beneath our feet
We hurried eagerly along 1t until,
with a deep groan OF bitter disap.
pointment, we were brought to
halt. A sheer wall Of rock had ap.
peared before us. with no chink
through which a mouse could have
slipped. There was no escape for
us there.
We stood with bitter hearts star
ing at this unexpected obstacle. II
was not the result Of any CONFUSION,
as in the case of the ascending tun-
nell. The end wall was exactly like
the side ones. IT was, and had al
ways been, cul-de-sac.
Never mind, my friends" saio
the indomitable Challenger. "You
have still my firm promise of bal.
loon"
Summerlee groaned.
Can we be in the wrong cave?"
suggested.
No use, young fellah," said Lord
John. with his finger on the chart.
Seventeen from the right and sec
ond from the left. This Is the cave
sure enough"
looked at the mark to which
his finger pointed, and / gave a
sudden cry of joy.
II believe 1 have It! Follow me!
Follow mer'
| / hurried hack along tha wav we