CHAPTER III.
_THE DARK CAVERN: AN ALLEGORY._
"You promised to tell us a story of the 'Wordless pages,' Agnes," saidMinnie on Sunday afternoon, when the children had left their parents toa few moments' quiet, and were gathered in the drawing-room to spend thehour in which Agnes generally read to them.
"I have not forgotten," answered Agnes, "but, as mother said, the firstpage is very hard to read, and the second page----"
"Well?" said John.
"You will see," answered Agnes. "Come on my lap, Minnie; you will not beafraid if I describe something very dreadful?"
"I don't _think_ so," said Minnie wondering; "but is it dreadful, Agnes?"
"Don't you think that first page looks dreadful? So black and hopeless!"
"Oh, yes, so it does."
"Then listen:
Black--Sin.
I seemed to be dreaming, and in my dream I beheld a rocky countrystretched out before me.
On all sides were rugged stones, underneath which grew ferns and mosses,while short brushwood, growing luxuriantly, gave the place a wild,unfrequented appearance.
By-and-by I heard the sound of voices approaching, and two boys came inview, who seemed to be travelling through this mountainous country.
They were jumping lightly from stone to stone, or pushing their waythrough the bushes in the more open parts, talking gaily as they cametowards me."
"I have heard that there are some wonderful caverns somewhere abouthere, and I have determined to try and find them out," said one.
"The Guide-book says they are most perilous," answered the other,opening his knapsack and looking in a book he carried there.
"Oh, those old Guide-books always call everything dangerous," answeredthe other contemptuously, "and I am not going to be turned from mypurpose by any such nonsense. Look here!"
As he spoke he too opened his knapsack, and proceeded to pull out twocandles triumphantly.
"With these we shall do perfectly well," he added, laughing, "and shallprove the Guide-book to have been written for people with less sense."
"I should like to see the caverns," said the younger boy hesitatingly,"but----"
"No 'buts' for me," sneered the other, jumping up; "I am off to explorethe mysteries. It is because you are afraid, I believe."
I thought that the younger boy seemed not to like being called afraid,for he got up reluctantly and followed his companion somewhat slowly;not at all as he had bounded over the rocks a few minutes before.
A call from the other announced that he had discovered the opening, andthe colour flushed into the younger boy's face as he hastened on.
In my dream I seemed permitted to follow them unseen, and saw before methe mouth of the caverns, large and wide.
The boys laughed gaily, but I was not sure if I were right in imaginingan uneasiness in their merriment.
They eagerly traversed the outer caves, which were quite light, andchose one of the many winding turnings.
"You will want your candle soon, Edred," said the younger.
"So I shall, and I mean to have it too, and see all the beauties ofwhich I have heard."
They stopped to light the tapers, and I could not help wondering whetherthey would last long enough to guide them safely out again; but as Iknew nothing of these dangerous caves, I could only follow silently,with an anxiety which increased as I perceived how headstrong Edredappeared to be.
They wandered on and on, the light from their tapers illuminating thewonderful caverns, and the boys were full of interest and enjoyment,while my eyes watched the quickly-lessening candles.
"You told me the Guide-book spoke of evil beasts," said Edred mockingly,"but I don't see a sign of them, and this place is like a fairy palace."
"I wish we were going out towards the light," said Alwin; "we have beengoing inwards so long, and I am sure we shall lose our way, there aresuch numbers of turnings."
"No fear," answered the other, "I can tell which way we are going; youhave not a grain of sense. Alwin!"
Alwin sighed, "I'm afraid I am stupid, but I did hear a noise just now,and I have seen several shadows that I can't account for."
Did Edred look round nervously, or was it my fancy? The lights burnedlower still, but the boys were too intent to notice.
"I am tired," said Alwin, "let us rest."
Edred glanced at him, and seemed to consider. "Well," he said, "I daresay we shall reach the end the sooner for a little rest; and I want tolook right down the abyss which they say is to be found there; so let ussit down here."
Alwin willingly consented, but he suddenly started from his seat again."They say," he exclaimed, "that there is a mysterious drowsiness whichcreeps over people in this cavern. Can we be falling into that, thinkyou?"
"Nonsense," answered Edred, "this is only ordinary fatigue, fiveminutes' sleep will revive us, and we shall be as fresh as ever."
Already they had set down their candles near them; and as they leanedback against the rocky sides of the cavern a strain of music, soft anddreamy, filled the air, and they slept.
* * * * *
Long I watched, and would willingly have waked them, but that I foundmyself spell-bound. I was unable to speak or move. I could only look;and as I looked, the weird, dreamy music continued to lull them intodeeper slumber, while their little lights burned lower and lower, andthen slowly flickered out, and they were left in dense darkness.
Then the music seemed to change into a new key, and my fancy made methink it sounded like the distant cries of some in dire distress. Themiserable moan seemed to disturb the sleepers, for I heard anexclamation of dismay, and Alwin's voice said, in a tone of horror,"Edred! Edred! where are we? our lights are gone out!" Edred seemed tobe only half awake, and he grumbled an impatient answer; but Alwin shookhim with a despairing cry.
"What is it?" said Edred, now thoroughly roused.
"We are in darkness; we shall never find our way out. Oh, what shall wedo, Edred?"
"I do not know, I am sure," said Edred; "but we had better turn the waywe came."
"But which way?" said the other.
"This, to be sure," said Edred, beginning to grope his way along.
"But there were numbers of turnings, Edred," said Alwin reproachfully;"and the Guide-book----"
"Stop that!" called Edred, with fierce anger, "we shall come all right;but let's have a truce to your whining."
Alwin was silent after this rebuke; but the caverns were by no meanssilent, for now the unearthly sounds seemed to increase, and the boysclung to each other in terror. Louder and louder grew the roar, and Iheard one of them exclaim. "There is something coming towards us. Oh,see! what is it? what can it be?"
The anguish of those words I shall never forget.
Before them along one of the many passages, a faint light seemed toshine; it came apparently from the eyes of a fierce beast who wasapproaching. The light was not sufficient to discern his shape, but fromthe lurid glare cast upwards from his eyes I could see three letterstraced on his brow--S-I-N. They were incomprehensible to me, but Ithink the boys understood them; for, as they confronted those mysteriousletters, they fell back appalled. Well indeed they might, for such adreadful creature as bore them I never before beheld. He approachednearer and nearer, while the boys shrank back against the rocks. Thefiend looked as if he would devour them; but yet, as he came near, Iperceived his intention was to torture them for a while first. He cameclose up to them, and seemed almost to enfold them in his embrace. Hewhispered to them, and as his eyes cast a light on their faces, I couldsee the misery and despair depicted there. The fiend then gave a growlof awful meaning, and set himself down at a little distance from them,as if to take some sleep.
"What did he say?" whispered Alwin mournfully.
"That he would _never_ let us go," answered Edred in a despairing tone.
"Let us try to get away," again whispered Alwin; "will no one save us?"
"No one is so stro
ng as he," said Edred hoarsely. "What fools we were,Alwin!"
"What shall we do? Do let us try to escape."
They crept forward a few steps, but the ground was noisome mire afterthe passage of this creature, and the boys were covered with filth atevery step they took.
It was all in vain, however, for they knew not which way to go; andonce, when a slight sound roused the attention of the fierce fiend, heturned as if to spring on them, uttering a deep growl.
"What did he say?" again whispered Alwin.
"That it is of no use our trying to escape," groaned Edred. "He saysthere is no return from this pit of darkness."
* * * * *
Then I awoke from my dream.
Agnes paused, and the children remained silent, till Minnie broke forthwith passionate earnestness--
"But oh, Agnes, there _is_ a way out! Oh, why were they left there toperish?"
"That was all I saw in that dream," said Agnes; "and when I woke thesewords were ringing in my ears, 'The wages of sin is death.'"
"But," said John, with kindling eyes, "there is a bit more to the end ofthat verse, Agnes."
"Not if we keep only to the first page of the 'Wordless Book,'" answeredAgnes.
"But we need not keep to the first page, need we?" said Minnie, lookingrather sorrowful.
"Oh, no, thank God! For Hugh shall finish that twenty-third verse of thesixth of Romans which begins so sadly."
So Hugh repeated: "'The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God iseternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'"