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CHAPTER II.—Caught in a Trap.
The next morning, after an early breakfast, all except myself went mustering sheep. About two hours later I saw one of the party galloping home at a furious pace. It was one of the new-comers, Dowling. Springing from his saddle, and almost breathless with excitement, he said .Maitland had fallen down an opening in a big cave; he could hear his cry for help, but could not reach him. Hastily getting my horse, and taking with us some rope, candles, and matches, we hurried to the caves. I knew them well, for I had often taken shelter in one of them during a storm. We reached the spot; the opening was like a well-hole in the ground, which I afterwards ascertained led in o the "big cave." Listening, I could distinctly hear a piercing cry for help. Picking up the trunk of a small tree close by we let it down with a rope. Hastily we descended. The bottom was only about fifteen feet from the surface, but it led off into a cave. As thick darkness was before us we lit our candles. hollowing the sound of Maitland's voice we passed through a small aperture, which led into a great vaulted cave. It was of immense size, and lying on the floor were great broken columns of stalagmite, which at one time appeared to have supported the roof. In some places there were gaping openings in the floor, which led to unknown depths. Passing on as rapidly as we dared we came to a number of pillars of stalagmite. Squeezing between two, we were in another large chamber, or cave. In the distance there appeared to l)e great cages, behind whose bars the imagination easily pictured huge animals of all kinds, all formed of beautiful stalactite hanging from the roof, of the same peculiar formation in pillars and columns supporting it. As it was my first time of being so far within these caves, I shuddered, as a thought flashed through my mind, "What if a block of rock or stalactite should fall across the opening and shut us in?" I was very anxious to rescue Maitland and then as quickly as possible get out of such an unearthly place.
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We were now nearing him, and knew by his call he was not many yards from us. But how strange the tone of his voice! And supposing he fell where we entered, how came he so far from it? These were thoughts of mine, but in my eagerness to save him they were not heeded. Lifting our candles, and peering into the shadows before us, we saw him lying down, apparently injured. I was stooping to help him, when, quick as thought, both he (who was not Maitland, but Price) and my companion (Dowling) raised their pistols to my head, and said, "We've got you out of the way!" and demanded my money, or they would leave me there. I was for the moment speechless, so sudden was the act. Caught in a trap, and at the mercy of these two villains, what could I do? Having nothing to defend myself with. I handed them my body-belt, containing my own and Elliston's money, thinking that when I got out my companions would soon catch them and make them suffer. But little I
