The Cave by the Beech Fork: A Story of Kentucky-1815

ire had burned low, and the rain which had been fall

artin, the first to a

rubbed his eyes and stretched his limbs for s

handful of damp leaves into the sleeper's face as an additional induc

who was now fully awake, "and that th

ght you would never wake up. I was just going to pu

nd be roasted at the same time. But come, let us start. It's pretty d

rd the dog. "Our rifles are damp. If there is a wildcat in the

if to say there was no da

river for many miles, rising at times to the height of some three hundred feet. Carefully they clambered up toward the two gi

ld be seen or heard. They therefore concluded that it was

who was the first to pass between t

a tone of voice that showed he was no

ings look home-like," said Martin, at th

unce continued to growl, and, since he never gave a false alarm, they did not feel perfectly at ease. A strange and subdued sound seemed to issue f

ar something?"

, when I listened again, I heard n

n was interrupted by a

. "I can't sleep here without a f

e grasped the side of the cave to prevent his falling. The huge rock yielded, and opened

oy, losing his hold and letting the r

bling with fright. "They have not seen

boys would have left the place unobserve

demanded he, in

d had to sleep in the woods. It commenced to

a lie! Is there no one aro

ir! No

out this cave?" asked the man

when I was out hun

, too. It isn't a very good place to sleep, still we'll have to hold o

the big door had opened. "We are going to leave this

nded the man, all his former g

tin, excitedly. "There's a big door to

here until I let you go. Don't try to run away, or I'll kill both of you!" and he emphasized his threat with

y, and saw the rock do

ere and keep perfectly quiet, I won't hurt you. But if you don't do as I tell you, you'll get into

re so frightened that ne

nd incipient stalactites projecting from above. Skins of minks, foxes, raccoons and wildcats were stretched on forked staves the full length of the cave; and from their variety and number one would infer

irst to break th

asped he, "for telling

about it now," replied Owe

I thought-I should never r

stopped

ing up for it now. It isn'

brave just at present," said Owen, tr

Bounce in here with

Mart! did you notice that when the man left us, he opened another door t

re you

uestion was swung aside, and the man entered

king the matter over, and have come to the conclusion that I'll let you

mise that,

have to keep

that, too,"

afraid, I am not going to hurt you. Lie down and try to rest until I come back. The grou

e had previously been kept burning to dry the skins. After again admonishing the