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8 BRAVE AND BOLD. I
ters, and the swamp explorers were forced to the ground
and made prisoners. -
This caused their hopes to rise a trifle.
They were not to be killed at present, and that was
one consoling thought.
Their captors seemed to be very gleeful over the fact
of having made them prisoners, and at once proceeded to
bind their arms behind them, after having first divested
them of their weapons.
Then the five swamp explorers were lifted to their
feet in their deplorable condition.
“I wonder what in thunderation the scamps are a-goin’
ter do with us,” observed the Yankee.
“The Lord only knows,” groaned Prof. Easy, who now
was thoroughly frightened.
“VVe will have to trust to luck,” said Leo.
“We is done gwine ter be killed-’deed we is!”
claimed Lucky, in a despondent tone.
“Wait until you are sure of that before you say it
again,” replied Dick.
Then turning to the crowd surrounding them, he con-
tinued:
“Come! what are you standing there for? VVhy don’t
you take us to the place you intend to, and have done
with it P"
It seemed that he was understood, for without any fur-
ther ado two men seized each of the captives, and the
whole crowd started off down the passage.
It was rather dark in the tunnel-like place, and when
they had traversed about three hundred yards, our friends
were unable to see any of their surroundings.
But in a very few minutes they saw light ahead of
them, and objects again became distinguishable.
A cry of wonder broke from the lips of the five as
they were marched out into the light. If they had been
surprised when they hrst entered the underground place,
they were even more than surprised now.
They found themselves in a natural cave of many acres
in extent, in which was a small village of stone huts.
The queerest thing about the place was that the top of
the cave-if cave it could really be called-was entirely
open in a circle of six or seven hundred yards in diameter.
This admitted both light and rain, and hence it was that
an unlimited supply of vegetation could be seen about.
The opening above was many feet from the ground
upon which the stone huts were built, and there was no
possible means of getting to the level ground above with-
out the aid of an immense ladder.
“Well, this jist beats the Jews!” ejaculated Haypole.
“This place looks like a big watermelon hollered out and
one of ther ends cut off. I think if I knowed that song
called ‘Down in a Coal Mine,‘ I'd sing it."
The prisoners were led along until they came to the
largest building visible to them, and there a halt was
called.
There were no doors to any of the huts, which showed
that the inhabitants were not afraid of being robbed by
their neighbors. The crowd who had charge of our
friends faced the main doorway of the building they had
halted in front of, and then clapped their hands.
Almost immediately a rustle was heard, and the figure
of a female came out.
As soon as she appeared every person in sight, save the
five captives, dropped to their knees and turned their faces
to the ground.
With a look of wonderment upon their faces the swamp‘
EX‘
explorers eyed the girl-for she did not look to be over
eighteen at the most-and marveled at her rare beauty.
She was attired in a trailing, white gown of some
gauzy material, and her face was partly concealed by a
fold of the same, which was thrown around her shoulders
and across her mouth.
The look from her dazzling bright eyes showed that
she was surprised at seeing the strangers.
But only for an instant did her gaze rest upon them.
Turning quickly to those who had brought them there,
she clapped her Iiands three times.
All arose to their feet and saluted her.
Then, to the surprise of Prof. Easy, one of the men
stepped forward and began addressing the girl in Spanish.
“Oh, queen,” said he, “here are five more people who
have dared find their way into the land of Hez. VVhat
shall be their doom? Shall they be confined in the magic
chamber with the other prisoner to witness the dance of
death, or shall they be slaughtered at once ?”
.“Conduct them to the magic chamber,” saidlthe queen,
with an imperious wave of her hand.
She turned to enter the building, when the professor,
Wl;l‘0 could speak Spanish liuently, exclaimed;
Most gracious queen, listen a moment, please!”
At this the girl turned as if she had been stung, and
the fold of her garment, becoming loosened, fell from her
face, revealing the most beautiful countenance our friends
had ever looked upon, or even dreamed of,
“Heavens!” thought Dick Vincey, “what a beautiful
creature.”
The queen had fixed her eyes upon the face Of the
professor.
“W51'e YOU addressing me, sir?” she demanded.
' I was, ob, queen, he returned. “I would like to say,
in behalf of my companions and myself, that if we did
W"0“g ‘Y1 C0YIlmg to this place, we were not aware of it.
Surely you will not condemn us to death for making such
a mistake.”
Ef,10Ughv-l Away with them to the magic chamber, and
let them witness the dance of death.”
With thesewords she swept gracefully into the house,
and the Hezzians, as we shall now call the natives, seized
the Tprlsoners and led them from the spot.
A one of the party, save Prof. Easy, could understand
any other language than their own, and they were all
V6‘r,V gturious as to what was going to be done with them.
‘What did she say when you spoke to her professor P”
asked Leo. ’ '
and wifness the da’ W ielfedt ale is now a qaptlve already’
not preparer! to sime OT] cat]. Wllat will follow I am
creature the qucieiii of t]lEiits]::ii:iiiif:1 butt iiardwhearied
she says seems to be law.” g Coun ry’ and wmt
Dick whilx ', ' 5”“. ‘F’ “W” Sheep‘-eyes at
H V t “f3 was ‘a-standin there. Tlier only thing
iat ll save us is for him ter make love to her ”
“l'd do that williiir v > ' ' -
Save our 1iWSy., Sm.d-Q11)-‘iC]:.“01‘fs’h, if I thought it would
. Leo and the Yankee lau
tion.
lt struck them that Dick won
attentioiis to the beautiful queen e
fit flu-iii. ’
I'uiil-um -. .
’ mm was no time for fL1l‘tl1P.I‘ conversation now.
ghed in spite of their situa-
ld be glad to pay his
ven if it would not beiie-