The Washington times., 1936-08-29

haQ QOuDCleSS llVeQ IN LnlS cave
for many years, and the wild shell
ter which he had made his hume
had not even been his tomb.
Briant, Doniphan, Wilcox and
Service kept a profound silence.
Who was that man? Who had
come to die here? Was he cast
away? To what nation did he be-
long? Had he come to this cor
ner of the earth when young? Had
he died an old man? How had he
oeen able to live? If a wreck had
thrown him here, had others per-
iShed in the tragedy? Then, had
he been left alone after the death
of his companions in misfortune?
Had he manufactured the various
objects with his own hands?
So many questions which per
haps would remain forever un-
answered!
And, above all, one of the most
serious! Since this man had found
refuge on a continent, why had he
not tried to reach some town in the
interior, or some port on the coast?
Did the return to civilization pre-
sent so many obstacles which he
had not been able to overcome?
Was the distance to cover so great
that they must consider it impos-
Sible? If the means had been lack
ing for this unfortunate man to
find salvation towards the north
or the east of this territory, would
it not be equally lacking for these
young caStaWayS of the Slough?
1t now was necessary to investi-
gate the cave carefully. They
might find a document throwing
some light on this man, his origin,
and his life in this place. More
over, it was wise to see if they
could install themselves in this
cave for the winter.
"Come!" said Briant.
And, followed by Phann, they
craWled back again with the light
of a second resinouS branch.
On little shelf fixed against
the right wall was parcel of
coarse candles manufactured with
grease and ravelled oakum. Ser
vice lighted one and placed it in
the wooden candlestick.
There was no doubt that the
cave was habitable. It evidently
dated from the time of geologic
formations. There were no traces
of humidity, although the air only
came through the single opening
on the bank. Its walls were as
perfectly dry as if they had been
granite. Moreover, its orientation
made it shelter against the sea-
winds.
Daylight hardly penetrated it,
but by cutting one or two open
ings in the wall, it would be easy
to remedy this inconvenience and
air the interior for the needs of
the boys.
Although 20 feet wide by 80 feet
long. this cave was certainly insult
ficient to be used for sleeping,
eating, as a general Storeroom
and for a kitchen. Anyhow, it was
only case of spending the winter
months there. Later they might
go northeast to some town in Bo-
livia or in the Argentine Republic.
If it became necessary to live there
indefinitely, they would have to
make more room by digging in the
massive rock, which was soft and
chalky. But they would have to be
content with this excavation as it
was now until the return Of
summer.
Briant made careful inven-
tory of the objects in the cave.
There was very little: A few
Spars, mostly broken, fragments
of boarding, with which the un-
fortunate man had manufactured
his bed, the table, the chest, the
bench, and the stools; a spade,
hatchet, two or three utensils
for cooking, a little cask which
must have contained brandy, a
hammer, two chiselS, a saw, were
all they found at first.
CHAPTER XIV
The researches continued.
Other objects were discovered.
Another knife with several broken
blades, a drawing compass, an
iron kettle, a fid, king of sailors
tools. But there were no marine
instruments, no telescope, no
compass, not even a gun to hunt
game, or to defend himself
against wild animals or natives.
This man certainly had been
trapped, how awfully trapped
was clear when Wilcox cried:
whats this?"
Looks like a couple of balls"
suggested Service. :.
ITO play game WITH" asked
Briant, with surprise.
(TO Be COntinued)
Translation from the original 'Dsux
1A iOIN -