Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1892 — SPIRITED AWAY. [ARTICLE]

SPIRITED AWAY.

BY J. A. BOLLES.

The inhabitants or Albuquerque, New Mexico, had .become greatly excited on account of a series of daring robberies that had been perpetrated in their midst. The principal dry goods store had been broken into and live hundred dollars’ worth of silks taken from the shelves and two hundred dollars iu specie and in bills stolen from the safe; the post office ' had been robbed; and even the vault of a bank, had been blown open, and not less than twenty thousand dollars in money and forty thousand dollars in coupon bonds had been secured by the miscreants. In not one instance were any of the fellows captured, and no clew as to their hiding place or rendezvous for the planning of their robberies could be obtained. Alarming as was the continuation of the robberies, it was surpassed by an occurrence that proved to be the culmination of the work of the desperadoes. One night the beautiful daughter of Colonel Bleeker, the riohest citizen of the city, was kidnapped. That the deed had been done by the robbers for the purpose of keeping the maiden captive until they could obtain a liberal ransom from the distracted father there could scarcely be a 'doubt. The circumstantial evidence showed that Helen Bleeker had been chloroformed while sleeping in her bed, after which a blanket had been wrapped about her, she'bad been borne from the house and spirited away. Helen had a lover named Malcom MacDonald, shrewd young lawyer, who was confident that the headquarters of the kidnappers were iu the crater of lava beds about twenty miles southwest of Albuquerque. This belief was not shared by many people, however, for the cave had often been visited by hunters, contained no hidden recesses, and was not adapted to purposes of concealment or defence. But suffice it to say that MacDonald knew -what he was about when he resolved to attempt the rescue of the dear girl to whom he was bethrothed, by organizing a party to search for her captors among the lava beds. Five of his friends, all of them stouted-hearted and adventurous young fellows, agreed to aid him. Armed to the teeth, and mounted on good horses, the party quietly left Albuquerque three hours after the abduction of Helen became known. When they arrived within sight of the lava beds they placed their horses in the care of a trustworthy ranchman, and with watchful eyes walked toward their destination. The lava beds were several acres in extent, and were In the shape of a low and broken cone, the top of which was hollowed out so as to resemble a huge bo’wl. The latter was all that remained of the crater of an extinct volcano, and so long had destroying influences been at work that the sides had considerably fallen away and crumbled until the once deep bowl was now so shallow that it was easy to walk into and out of it.

'The young men, holding their rifles in readiness in ease of an attack, descended into the great bowl and advanced until they came to the mouth of the cave. The opening was large enough, and from it a food-sized passage woqnd downward a of sci feet to tue caVe, ivjjich was about a rod long and shaped luce a right-angled triangle. The adventurers satisfied themselves by a cautious exploration that the robbers were not in the cavity. A little later, while, torch in hand, they were examining the bottom of the hollow, they discovered a square section of the lava floor which was slightly separated from the surrounding lava. The excited men pounded on the slab of lava until they broke it sufficiently to enable them to grasp the pieces and remove them. A deep hole was revealed, except where narrow shelves extending on four sides had served to support the edges of the block. It was probable that the party was at the entrance of the hiding place of the robbers, at the mouth of a second cave lying beneath the one they were in, The supposition was that one of the robbers had accidentally broken through the floor of the first cave at a point where it was thin, and bad thus discovered the entrance to the second cavern. It was further surmised that in order to keep their valuable discovery a secret the outlaws had immediately cut a block of lava from the extensive beds outside of the cave and had fitted it above the hole in the manner already described. MacDonald determined to make th descent of the shelving sides of the hole He argued that the robbers were undoubtedly asleep at that hour, and that the chance of coming upon them before reaching the main cave was small. Seeing that they could not dissuade him, and admiring his boldness, the young men discontinued their objections; and after they did assured him that they would defend him should he come forth pursued, and would revenge his death should he be killed, they bade him godspeed as he entered the cavity. He wras armed with a long hunting knife and a brace of pistols, and carried in his hand a dark lantern. Closing the slide of the lantern so as to conceal the light, he crept in darkness down the passage. At last he stood upright and moved on a level. He was in the cave. The sound of washing waters came to his startled ears, and he inferred that he stood upon the edge of a subterranean lake. After considerable hesitation he ventured to turn on the light. A weird spectacle was presented to his view. Above was the roof of the cave, composed of shaggy lava, from which small rocks protruded so much of themselves that it seemed as if they might fall at any moment. The sides of the cavern were equally rough, and with the exception of the shelf of lava on which MacDonald stood the bottom of the cave was covered with a gloomy waste of waters. Soon MacDonald’s attention was arrested by a singular sight. A huge mass appeared from the gloom beyond the reach of the lantern’s rays and slowly ad-

vancing toward him. was not a craft belonging to the robbe.s, as MacDonald had at first feared, but was an island of lava. That so great a mass of lava could float seemed incredible, until MacDonald bethought him that the mass was undoubtedly composed of pumice, a feldspaihic scoria produced by volcanoes, that is lighter than water. It immediately occurred to our hero that the robbers were probably on the lava vessel, and he closed the lantern without delay. Once more he was in intense darkness. As the island came nearer he could discern a dim light. He at once came to the conclusion that the mass was of considerable size, and that the light arose near its center from a camp tire around which the outlaws were probably gathered. He breathed more freely, feeling confident that he had not been discovered. When the island had almost reached the shore it caused a slight swashing of the water, and guided by the sound, MacDonald could almost tell where the floating lava was. Cautiously putting out his hands, he felt them come in contact wilh a hard and moving service; and as the island touched the shore he gave a leap of sufficient power to carry him well upon the singular craft. He sat still for a few moments, and to his alarm noticed that the island had not lingered at the shore, as he had hoped that it would do. It was already moving steadily away, and he surmised that the currents of the singular lake, or river, so ran as to carry the mass round and round the cave. So regular appeared to be the movement that he believed the robbers had been able to ascertain just at what times during the twenty-four hours of the day (for he could not believe that the lake was of so vast a size as to require days to make its circuit) the island could be depended upon to touch the shore that he had left. After slowly climbing upward for six or seven feet MacDonald came to the top of the island, and then learned that his theory as to the dim illumination was correct. The island was circular, about one-half acre in extent, and near its centre was the lire, now burning low. The island shelved from its elevated sides toward the centre, and on account of the bowl-like surface it was possible to see the entire area, although the edges could not be distinctly seen on account of the inability of the lire, except in its immediate vicinity, to overcome the power of the darkness. Rolled in blankets and stretched around the lire were eight robbers, asleep. About ten feet from the fire was a wigwam covered with strips of straw matting that had been laid upon the slanting poles of the frame. That his dear Helen was in this wigwam MacDonald felt almost certain.

How to act unde? the circumstances was most perplexing. To attempt to rescue Helen, or even to communicate with her, would be an undertaking fraught with the greatest hazard. While our hero hesitated his eyes were attracted to some plunder that the robbers had left in a pile a short distance from where he stood. Among the articles were heavy horse blankets. A bright idea came to MacDonald. He removed his shoes, went in his stocking feet to the pile, selected two blankets, tolded them into as small a compass as possible, placed them on one arm, and, lantern in hand, approached the fire and the eight men, who slept soundly after the arduous work of the previous night. When he was a few feet from the fire MacDonald paused and laid the blankets on the lava. It was a singular and most exciting situation. Far from the aid of friends, in a cavern, on a mysterious lova island, that floated in a subterranean lake of unknown depth and exteat, our hero stood in the presence of foes who, should one of their number happen to awake and give the alarm, would shoot him in an instant. . MacDonald did not, however, spend any time in thinking of the singularity and peril of his situation. In the most careful manner he proceeded to cover the burning sticks with the blankets and to smother the fire. Owing to his precautions, should the robbers awake, before they could light their lanterns he could escape in the darkness. Once more the cave was wrapped in inky darkness. MacDonald moved the slide of his lantern sufficiently to give him the little light that he needed; He approached the wigwam with a heating heart. At this mo._-.ent one of the villains stirred and groaned. It was a moment of terrible suspense. The man muttered something, and it seemed as if he must certainly awake. MacDonald closed the slide and waited, while the perspiration started from every pore in his body. But the danger passed. The man spnk into deep slumber. MacDonald gave himself a little light a second time, and peered into the wigwam. Yes, Helen was there!

Slie recognized him, and did not scream. ‘‘What a dear, brave fellow you are,” she murmured, “ to risk your life for me !” At this moment one of the villains awoke. “What is the matter with the, fire ?” he cried. MacDonald had taken the precaution to close his lantern while Helen and he wore whispering, so that there was no danger of immediate discovery. The man got up and began to fumble around. His companions awoke, and swore because they had been disturbed. Not a moment was to be lost. The situation was desperate, well-nigh hopeless. MacDonald feared he had played a brave and most perilous part only to be defeated. While he was in terrible suspense not knowing what was best to do, the dear girl whispered to him: ‘ ‘Let us fly. There is a boat. I came in it.” “Can you find it ? ” “Yes; there is a stake with a red flag on it that will guide me to it.” Meanwhile the robbers had discovered the blankets, and were removing them from the fire. Two of the fellows approached the wigwam. As they reached it MacDonald and Helen left it, after he had hastily cut the cords that bound the maiden's hands behind her back. One of the men happened to touch our hero, the latter, with quick presence of mind, felled his enemy to the lava. Then he fled, with Helen clinging to his hand. The robbers, now thoroughly aroused, hurled forth imprecations that echoed in a deafening manner throughout the cavern. But they could not readily find a lantern, and could not tell where the fugitives, running noiselessly in their stocking feet, were. The pursuers discharged their pistols at random, and one bullet whistled by the heads of our hero and heroine. They continued to run, keeping as nearly as they could a straight course. MacDonald opened the slide of the lantern as soon as he dared to do it. They had reached the top of the height just above the shore; but no flag was in sight.

The robbers saw the fugitives, yelled viciously and fired their pistols. Bullets whistled Alarmingly near the intended victims. MacDonald closed the lantern, and, holding Helen’s hand, walked along the island's edge. Again he allowed a gleam of light to escape. He saw the flag ten feet from him, abd closed the lantern before the villains could fire. The steps of the pursuers sounded fearfully near. The fugitives ran forward, expecting each moment to be precipitated into the water. But fortune favored them. They fell against the flag-pole, and recovering themselves in a second, - slid down the island’s steep side. MacDonald opened the lantern. Thank God! the boat was at their feet. They sprang into it. MacDonald handed Helen the lantern, cut the rope, grasped the oars, and they were afloat. At this moment three of the robbers, waving pistols, gained the summit of the bunk. ‘•Shut the lantern!” Macdonald cried. Before Helen could obey the cavern rang with a great discharge of firearms. The three men threw up their hands aud fell forward into the water. MacDonald knew that his friends had come to the rescue just in time. He looked behind him aud saw on the lava shell his five brave companions waving their hands with delight. The boat touched the shore. Willing hands assisted our hero aud heroine to alight. Awed by the fate of their comrades the five robbers on the island surrendered, and, with most of the property which they had stolen, w-ere taken back to Albuquerque in triumph. Young MacDonald, the fair Helen and their five gallant friends were received with raptures by Colonel Bleeker and his wife, and were lionized by all the people of the city.