Presbyterian College - Pac Sac Yearbook (Clinton, SC)

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I4 THE COLLEGJAN. him to stand erect, and was some three feet in width. The air was very close and musty. He could distinguish nothing very plainly, but holding his candle above his head he proceeded down this passage. He stumbled over something and when he examined it he found it to be a skull. This sent a chill to his heart, but he went on. For the first ten feet he found no more obstacles, but then he came to a halt. The subway passage divided, one way lefl to a little door not three feet in front of him, while the other seemed quite long and the end of it could not be seen. After a moments thought he decided to try the door, but there seemed no way of opening it. No knob or spring was in sight. He tried for some moments. but all in vain, and was turning away, when he happened to step on a loose board, and quick as a flash the door fell back from its place. The sight that met jacks eyes will be with him the rest of his life. There was a large square apartment the walls of which were painted in panels, all of the same uniform order, the secret door forming one of these panels. In the centre of the room was a table laden with books, flowers, and music. Rich carpets were on the floor. Handsome pictures hung over the panelled wall. Comfortable chairs were about the room, and in one corner was a piano: while lying near was a guitar and a mandolin. The richest of lace drapery was everywhere. Tlut the most impressive thing was a girl lying on a couch in another corner of the room. She was asleep. Jack stood for a moment dazed. He had never seen such a beautiful picture before. He hadn't likezl girls much. They were thought to be only a bunch of laces and ribbons and nonsense. But he did not feel that way toward this creature whom he had so mysteriously stumbled upon. She wore a simple gown of white and no jewels whatever. Her only decoration was a lily in one hand while her head. was pillowed on the other arm. Her dark hair was caught at the back of her head with a large bow of ribbon and then fell in a long curl over the crimson pillow. A few locks had strayed over her forehead. Her del- icate ankle was barely visible below the hem of her dress. As

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THE COLLEGIAN. I3 out again, not to die as all before him had done. His whole being tingled with life and activity. He was at last awake, fully awake to the present situation. He had traveled all over the world to get waked up, and when back home, at his very door, he found the greatest call to his daring spirit he could ever wish. Inside the First gate all was alive with excitement, men were hurrying here and there with loads of stuff, the booty of some poor ships, and putting it away. They were storing the bags of wheat and all such spoils in great barns that were now filled while all valuables, such as bags of gold, silver and jewels, were taken to a vault in the castle. The underground floor of the castle was all used for dun- geons and it was here, with a number of other unfortunate prisoners, that the crew of the Ranlion was placed. ,lacks cell was a very dark, damp place with no window at all and no noticeable break in the stone wall, when viewed with a careless eye and by the light of a tiny candle. Here Jack stayed for three weeks without seing any one, except the boy who brought his meals. Things seemed rather gloomy and he was getting rather low spirited when one day he made a discovery. He had examined the wall several times, but not very closely, and today he de- cided to test them with his penknife again and see if by chance there should be some loose stone that would in some way aid him in his pull for the outer world. In the very back corner he found a loose pebble. He pulled it out and to his surprise there was a hollow space behind it. He quickly pulled away another and saw the cavity growing considerably larger. Hope sprang up in his breast and gave him strength to go on with greater zest, for here was a way to change the monotony of these four square walls, and perhaps-dared he hope so-a way to get out. He tugged away for an hour and then he had cleared an opening some three feet high and two feet wide in the back of his cell. He took his candle and trembling very much stepped, or rather crawled through the opening and then found himself in a long, dark passage. lt was high enough for

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THE COLLEGIAN. I5 she lay there she was a sight to inspire an artist. But she had such a sad face. The sadness did not mar the beauty of it, however, but made the scene a pathetic one. 'lack stood for an instantonly, then it suddenly came to him that this was his sleeping beauty. He rushed Z1C1'OSS'lllC room and falling on his knees before the couch impressed a kiss on the cheek of the sweet. tired face. She woke with a start, and seeing this handsome fellow by her she blushed, but demanded if he were one of that horrid leaderfs ambassadors come to try to per- suade her to marry him and thus gain her release from this prison. She commanded him to go back: she would die rather than do that. She was going to take her imprisonment a thousand times in pielerence to a life with that brute. .lack at first stared in wonder at this outburst, but soon took in the situation. This beautiful thing, this lily from nature's garden, was being held in this dark place in the hope of being forced into an alliance with the brute leader of the terrible pirate band. At once his heart went out to her, and here he saw his princess in reality, whom he should rescue from an ogre in- deed. He quickly explained his position to her, and as he talked he noted the hunted look leave her eyes and instead one of hope and trust take its place. She was almost desperate in her pleadings for him to save her from this awful fate, and Jack promised to save her with his life, if necessary. How could he do otherwise when those great dark eyes were looking so pleadingly into his very soul? He knew in that instant that she was queen of his heart: he was hopelessly and forever lost to her. But now they had no time to waste, they must get out of this horrid place. They decided to explore the other passage and maybe they could ind some way to the outside world. It was in a very different state of mind that Jack stepped through the secret door, back into the dark chilly passage that led to he knew not where. The girl was by his side, trusting him for freedom. He must get out of there, if not by this passage by some other way, he knew not how. He was listen- ing to every noise for fear of the discovery of his vacant cell