Left to Ourselves; or, John Headley's Promise.

afternoon, when the children had left their parents to a few moments' quiet, and wer

"but, as mother said, the first page is

" said

n my lap, Minnie; you will not be afrai

d Minnie wondering; "bu

rst page looks dreadful?

s, so i

n li

ck-

n my dream I beheld a rocky co

ferns and mosses, while short brushwood, growing luxu

ing, and two boys came in view, who seemed to

pushing their way through the bushes in the more o

caverns somewhere about here, and I have det

s," answered the other, opening his knapsa

," answered the other contemptuously, "and I am not going t

knapsack, and proceeded to pul

ed, laughing, "and shall prove the Guide-book t

caverns," said the younger

ping up; "I am off to explore the mysterie

d, for he got up reluctantly and followed his companion somewhat slo

iscovered the opening, and the colour flushed

low them unseen, and saw before me th

ot sure if I were right in imaginin

ves, which were quite light, and ch

candle soon, Edred

ve it too, and see all the be

gh to guide them safely out again; but as I knew nothing of these dangerous caves, I could only fo

ng the wonderful caverns, and the boys were full of interest an

," said Edred mockingly, "but I don't see a sign

; "we have been going inwards so long, and I am sure we

an tell which way we are going; you

I did hear a noise just now, and I have see

t my fancy? The lights burned lower stil

said Alwin,

e shall reach the end the sooner for a little rest; and I want to look right

"They say," he exclaimed, "that there is a mysterious drowsiness which c

rdinary fatigue, five minutes' sleep will r

ey leaned back against the rocky sides of the cavern a strai

move. I could only look; and as I looked, the weird, dreamy music continued to lull them into deeper slumber, whi

le moan seemed to disturb the sleepers, for I heard an exclamation of dismay, and Alwin's voice said, in a tone of horror, "Edred! Edred! where ar

id Edred, now th

ll never find our way out.

said Edred; "but we had be

way?" sai

aid Edred, beginning

ings, Edred," said Alwin reproa

e anger, "we shall come all right; bu

s seemed to increase, and the boys clung to each other in terror. Louder and louder grew the roar, and I

hose words I sha

understood them; for, as they confronted those mysterious letters, they fell back appalled. Well indeed they might, for such a dreadful creature as bore them I never before beheld. He approached nearer and nearer, while the boys shrank back against the rocks. The fiend looked as if he would devour them; but yet, as he came near, I perceived his intentio

y?" whispered A

t us go," answered Edre

," again whispered Alwi

," said Edred hoarsely. "W

do? Do let us

isome mire after the passage of this creature, and th

and once, when a slight sound roused the attention of the fierce

say?" again w

cape," groaned Edred. "He says there i

oke from

mained silent, till Minnie broke

a way out! Oh, why were t

nes; "and when I woke these words were ring

g eyes, "there is a bit more t

e first page of the 'Wordl

first page, need we?" said Mi

nish that twenty-third verse of the s

s death; but the gift of God is eterna