Lost in a Cave.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 130, 28 November 1885, Page 5

Lost in a Cave.

Iv the southern pait of central Kentucky there is a cave which, like miny in that region, local tradition has made one of the many hiding places of the celebrated Dank) Bo^ne during hid year* of fierce fighting with the Indians. 'I he watera cf Moorea Valley find an outlet through this cave In the season ot heavy rains, the lurching waters fill the entrance to the cave from side to side, and there have been timed when, owin£ to the inadequacy of the outlet, the valley hatbeen flooded Io the dry Feason there i<ample npaci on either b*nk tor people to' enter, and at such times Boone's Cave ia a popular resort for picnic parties. Once past the cramped, irregular entrance, the cave opens into vast halls, draptd with (flittering stalautic curtains, branching ou> of whio'i are great chambers that in grandeur and beauty of ornamentation dwarf the proudest efforts of the human architect. In th 9 early spring of 1864 a wounded noldier — it matters not the side on which he fought rode over the Cumberland Range with his left arm in a sling and a bandage about his head. He entered Mooroa ValU^, fir-»t surveying it from <*u * leva* ion, and dismounted in a grove be fore the comfortable home of Widow Mason Throwing the bridle over the horse-rack. Mai k Brant walked uptotho house. Be fore he had g>ne half the distance the door opened, and a beautiful, brown eyed girl flew out to meet him. ; Their greeting was that of lovers, and j as Nellie Mason led him to the house, fche i said : " I heard you were wounded, and I am gad you came, for now I can nureo you back to strength " '•[am afraid I shall prove a double trouble to you," he paid, with a sad tmile. '• Why so, Mirk?" she asked, eagerly. " My old enemy and rival, Henry Troop, has been chasing me with his m n tor three j days My only chance for escape lay in thitdirection,' replied Ma»k Brant. The beautiful gii I'd cheeks became piler and her lip- 1 tinner on hearing this, but she >p >ke no more till they reached the hou c. Mrs Manon, a kindly-faced, matronly lady, met them at the door, and gave the young t-oldter us hearty a welcome as if he had been her non. There were but few men in Moore's Valley at this time. All those able to bear aims had taken f-id«-8 and gone in «bour, equa numbers to both armiep. The Widow Moon's two sons fighting on oppjsitt side*. ' ) "" Mark Brant's wounds were dre : ?ed, and he was pitting by the Hre that night talking to vj r« M.isou and Nellie, when ab ack man who hid been keeping watch, ran into the room in a state of great alarm "S<'jerBl Ue sujtrr.- !" he erasped. »• In the vaUey ?'" asked Mark, leaping to hi-* feet. 41 Yes, suh ! Troop an' his men Il'I 1 ' replied the black mm. Mark and Nellie ran to the door, and they heard the ring of iron hoofs coming up the road. The horsemen were galloping rnwaid* the houne, and there could be no doubt of their tt.ia.-ion. Nellie turned to the alarmed negro and said : *• Torn, put the oara i »to the boat. Quick — for your life !" Tom starred off, and Nellie sped in*o the kitchen. She returned in a minute with h cloak about her shoulders, and, kissing her mo her. j»he waid : 11 I will get him away on theiiver." "Bub the river is up, and the cave! the cave!" criei Mrs Ma*on, fiantically The clatter of hoof.*, the jingling of arras the pan»i-ig of horses, and the hoarse shouts of the riders could be- heard near by With hi* pistol in hi-* uowounded hand. vVlaik Brant followed Nellie Ma-on through the back door, and down to the foot of the gmden, where the swollen stream ran. B> the dim Ptur'i^ht, he could «»ee 'he boat into which one servant wan throwing blankets »n<l b*i»kets, while Tom bat amidsbip balancing the oaru. "Get ii, Ma>k I Hark! Troop and hie men are in the house !" Nel'ie forced him into the stern of the boat and pprang in after him As they floated off, the shouts of the pursuers could be heard on the bink, and they fa* the flash of rifles discharged wil 'ly into the darkness. The current was very swift, and the entrance to the cave was only two miles below thepointfrom whifh they had ttarted About half-way down, the banks were covered with a dense forest growth, and the margin* ofthaßiream were' nwsea of cane reed*. Here Nellie hoped I^S^would find a shelter until the pursuit was over. They sue ceeded in keeping the boat in the repds till daylight. Maik wanted to leave then assuring her that he could, save himself by flight across the mountains; but the brave girl would not hear of it. "It would kill me," she said, "if I had to remain home thinking of poor wounded you flying before Henry Troop and hi? ! blood hiunds." Whon it waBsutfici9ntly light Mark Brant went ashore and ascended a hill near by. j A glance up the stream showed him Troop's men not a hundred yards away. That Troop's men caw him the rattle of a dozen Carbine* proved conclusively. He ran ba;k and sprang into the boat. " Lie on the bottom, Mark !" cried Nellie. He obeyed her ; and taking the cloak from her shoulders, she threw ib over, hi », so tha* he could not be seen from the siiore. Then seizing one of the oars, she called out to the servant : " Pull, Tom ! Pull for your life !" Obeying her startling order, and follow ing her example, Tom bent to hi» oar. and, I aided by the swift current, the boat fairly flew down the river. -, ' 101 " „ • ' , At a bend four hundred yards above the' entrance', to the o we, , l>ellie>aw, a.group of mounted men ; but, unheeding^ 'their frantic? gestures for her to, land; /kbey atill.'urged, the Boat o».^. -; „, ',>/,; v " ','„,) ; " Ciiire, back ! t f Cprpe .bao]^ C', shouted a mVri, «liom ber rapid glance recognised paptain'Trqbp^; "Come biick, or you'll be kW©ptiat6thfe' J 6»vd,r'^ ;?1 *? , '

They KacTea'ten ' and sleptf and "cjamtfericl tipaud down the inky rooka^ talkitig inflow <btw& ?> and these were itbe?orily ; breaks in the lonir, monotonous boura. : i cr.H , J Wti-ut; night ?,< Waaatd'ay-t What day WaB it? Would a search be made, ormo«t they perish, on this black,' lifeless t-Boie^ These questions were eN/er running through their minds, though each tried to cbeer'rbe otber< ■.' . « ' "'•' ',■ -*'{ u ,[ When Nellie told' Mark 1 Brant that they had only one candle and' no food; he feaid : "We muxfrtry tn get back at once " ] The boat was bailed our, and again they embarked on their adventurous voyage {to an unknown landing. Tbfy rowtd dlong the vvatt sbu ting iv the lake, and were surprised to find a half dozen opening* through which the current ; fl»wed r into the yreat receivoir, They selected the widest opening and rowed on again, and Mark leaning over the bow of the boat, s*w the candle growing shorter and shorter as i he current against which they pulied became swifter ♦♦The candle is nearly out; we must make for the rocks," c ied out Mark. The boat was headed for the ruck*, and after some trouble a landing was tffected. but not a moment too soon, for the litrht flared up and died out, leaving them in impenetrable gloom. rhro*iotr himself on the rocks, in piteous tonte Tom bewailed his <-ad fate. Mark and Nellie sat bide by side, hid strong arm** encircling her, but for hours neither utteted a word. Ir seemed like an uge tsince they had made this eecond landing, and Tom had sobbed him?e f to sleep, when Nellie, exclaimed : »• l>id you hear that, Mark ?" "What?" " A chout: Hark !— there it is again." Ie wassureiy a whout.butit wa- impu«t<ible to tell the direction from whk'b it came Vlark leaped o his feet and answered back Then he drew his revolver and began firing at intervals. r^earer and nearer came the shouting. At length it could be heard. appaientJ) over thtir heads. They looked up, and «far off ih^y *ayr dim liyhts and recognised figures, like indi-tinct silhouettes. The search party came down and proved to be Mark Brant's men, now, by the fickle fortunes of war, in possession of the valley. With gladsome shouts Mark and Nell'e were conducted back to the sunlight and fiiends. To this day Mark Brant and his wifeaccompanied by their children -often visit the cave with picnic parties, and never » time that they do not have to relate theii thrilling adventure therein.