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vault, formed by the rough hand of nature, and the obnoxious vapours that assailed her, impressed her with dismal fears. She dreaded to proceed, yet the still more gloomy horrors that played around the cave's mouth, impelled her to seek a refuge. She accordingly bent her steps to the interior of the cave, where the chilly dew, hanging on the projecting crag, dropt upon her like ice, and froze her heart. She now came to the mouth of another descent, which led still deeper into the gloomy abode; and, to her infinite surprise, beheld a taper burning beneath! She uttered a faint scream, and fell down the roeky descent into the cave, where the glimmering light helped to lessen its gloom.
Rosa lay for some time senseless; her forehead was very much bruised, and her lovely tresses hung shrivelled on her face. At length she recovered to the misery of her situation: she beheld with tortured eye, the frightful cave, which was hung around with the skeletons of turtles, aligators, and other reptiles, enough to chill the female heart; but Rosa was endowed with more courage than many of her sex.
Three-Fingered Jack into whose cave she had thus been precipitated, was out and prowling for fresh prey. At this critical juncture he returned, and descended into the cave by means of a ladder, while Rosa was viowing with terror the three-fingered hand depicted on the wall. Jack no sooner beheld a European in his cave, than he seized one of his muskets by the muzzle, and prepared to dash her brains out. Rosa fell upon her knees, and exclaimed, "Mercy! mercy! I am a woman!"—Jack dropt tho weapon, and was perplexed; for although he was resolved to shew mercy to women, yet he had also determined to put to death that being who should gain a knowledge of his cave.—The idea
