The Slave Sculptor — page 49: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE CAVE. 51 mouth of the cavity. The course was smooth, nearly level ; and, after having advanced, perhaps fifty feet, opened into a cave of im- space was enshrouded in total darkness, and the fall of a foot- step, or the sound of a voice, echoed along the high vault with deep, unnatural hollowness. There was, apparently, no passage leading from this cave. Even had the dark, damp cavern been lit up with the light of noonday, eo eee have been discovered ; nor would the have indic&ted that it was ever visited by human fli 7 E F; : 5 8 | s1F fh Ep a z : ah Li is formidable barrier, and traversed a circuitous some or forty feet farther, we reach another cave of nearly the same size as the former, though furnished in a manner more like some gilded apartment of the emperor’s palace, than a subterranean abode, probably of outlaws. There was no article of comfort or ornament enjoyed by any of the Azte+ nobility, that was not to be found in this cavern. It was illumined with a soft pleasant light, and the atmosphere was ladened delicious e. : : From this cave were several passages, leading off in different di- rections, and communicating with other apartments; while one, which we will follow, led over an intricate course of rough, loose through impenetrable gloom, for at least two hundred é i g morning, a to the interruption of the in- between Maxtla and Mazina, voices were heard near the entrance. Soon Cruzilli and Toluca appeared in sight, and with them were Maxtla and Mazina. The arms of the couple were PH p we oe while they marched in front, assailed by the coarse jests of their captors. As they into the cavity, a small form glided over acliff near by, bounded forward, and soon stood by the opening. It was Meztli. Her dark eyes flashed scorn and defiance as she gazed around with the evident intention of marking the le : ij , comicbooks.conn |