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BRAVE AND BOLD. 15
But no noise, beyond a Fizzing sound, could be heard
when the puffs came.
Through the center of the rift, or ravine. as it might
properly be called, a stream of water flowed, and this
glittered and flashed in all the colors of the rainbow as the
lurid streaks of flame belched over it.
On either side the walls sloped down in the form of a
very steep hill, passing directly over the portholes from
which the puffs of flame came.
“So that's what you call the Devil's Kingdom, is it ?”
remarked the professor, addressing Jones.
"Yes; that is the name Senor de Amilo gave it,” was
the reply.
"lYell, I’ll be ding-wizzened, if it ain't a good name
for it!" exclaimed Haypole, slirtiggirig his shoulders.
“Now, if ther old boy was ter come out of one of them
streams of fire, an‘ walk up an‘ down ther middle of that
stream, with a pitchfork over his shoulder, ther scene
would be complete.”
“Great Scott!" cried Dick and Leo in a breath; “there
he is, now !"
lijaculations of surprise went up from all hands, as
with distended eyes they saw a log go shooting down the
stream with a figure clinging to it.
“That's Philander (Jweiis, or I'm a sinner!" exclaimed
the Yankee.
“That's so,” said Leo, taking a step forward to get a
better view of the startling scene.
. As he did so he stepped upon :1 small stone, which, roll-
mg under his foot, caused him to slip and lose his bal-
ance.
The next instant he went shooting down the smooth
decline with the velocity of the wind!
CHAPTER X.
IN THE BOWELS or T111: iEARTI1.
VVhen Leo Malvern felt himself sliding down the slip-
pery wall of rock he closed his eyes and uttered a silent
prayer, thinking that all was up with him.
In vain he strove to seize upon something to stay his
progress; there was nauglit but the smooth surface, and
his speed kept on increasing.
Luckily he was sliding feet foremost, and had it not
been for the fact that death stared him in the face, he
would almosthavc imagined that he was coasting down
an icy hill without a sled.
He had a recollection of hearing a cry of horror escape
the lips of his friends, and then nothing save the roaring
sound of the belching flames below him reached his ears.
Leo was but a few seconds in making the descent, and
yet it seemed to be as many hours to him.
just as he slid over the edge of the decline there came a
puff of smoke and flame which completely enveloped his
form and screened him from the view of his companions
above. Blinded and scorching from the heat. he fell.
with a splash, into the cooling waters of the rushing
stream.
When he found that he was not dead, nor yet materially
injured. he made a mighty effort and sti‘iiggle(l to the
surface. .
lit found he could keep his liea<l above the water with
little or no difficulty. and with :1 fet-liiigf Ill relief he en-
(lc:i'voi‘t':l to look ahead and see whither he was being
carritd by the riisliiiig strcain. .
Puff! puff’! The terrible cross are of flame and smoke
kept shooting over him a few feet above his head, niaking
it one of the most fearful experiences he had ever un
dergone.
“My God!" thought the boy, “will I ever get out of
this alive ?"
But on swept the rushing current, and on went Leo,
while the fire and flame roared over his head, ever and
anon scorching his defenseless face.
But suddenly the flashes of fire ceased as if by magic,
and all was in darkness.
The stream flowed through a tunnel, and it was this
that the boy had reached. ’
Wliizz! whirr! Away he sped, expecting every mos
ment to strike upon a sharp rock and be dashed to pieces.
But no such thing occurred. Scarcely more than a
minute had elapsed before he again suddenly whirled into
the light.
Leo was now nearly exhausted from his frantic ef
forts to reach the shore, and it was fast telling upon him
now.
The continual splashing of the water upon his face
made it difficult for him to breathe, and he felt soon that
he must give up.
But he made one more mighty effort and half arose
in the water to see what sort of a place he had eiitered.
He noticed that the stream had widened considerably,
and that there were no more signs of any fire.
A few seconds later he heard a dull, roaring sound,
‘which caused him to turn a shade paler.
A rapids was close at hand!
Of this Leo felt certain. He had often before heard
the noise made by the falling‘ of a large body of water.
Although the stream was quite wide at this point it
was running like :1 mill race
Nearer and nearer the sound of the roaring waters came
to the helpless boy, and his last hopes stink.
VVhat chance of life had he in being washed over a
falls, at the bottom of which, in all probability, was an
endless amount of sharp, jagged rocks, as is invariably
the case?
Folding his arms. Leo threw himself upon his back. and
allowed himself to float along at the mercy of the power-
ful current.
‘The roaring sound now became deafening, and he felt
that the end was near.
But stay! The sharp bark of a dog is heard, and there
is a splash close at hand.
Half a minute later a pair of jaws close upon the
collar of Leo's coat, and he comes to a standstill with 21
sudden jerk.
VYliat had happened now? was the thought that en-
tercd his brain as he opened his eyes.
A dog had him gripped firmly by the collar, and both
were being towed slowly toward the left bank of the
stream. '
ks soon as Leo became aware of this he threw him-
self over. and caught hold of the rope. which was secured
about the intelligent animal's neck. thus lessening the
strain upon him.
A cry of satisfaction went up from some one on the
shore as this action was perceived. and both boy and (log
were towed faster tliroiigli the rushing water.
Two iniinites more. and Leo felt his feet strike the
bottom.
lt was then but the work of a moment for his pre-
server to pull him ashore.
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