Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/58

 Mr. Genung replied. "There is a saying in this valley that 'every seven years, a bright light, like a candle, rises at twelve o'clock at night over the mine, and disappears in the clouds; but no one that has ever seen it has been able in daylight to find from where it arose.' Come to think of it, it is exactly seven years since we closed out that Shushan deal. It was a dark night and on my way home I saw the light."

"But is it visible every seven years and at twelve o'clock?" Hernando asked.

"That is what they all say. I pledge my word on having seen it twice at that time," replied his uncle.

During this dialogue Hernando had not once removed his glance from the flame which rose clear and steady, from out its ebon surroundings. No sound but the distant roar from turbulent streams, and a soft tick! tick! of the great hall clock, broke the stillness. For a full half hour the watchers waited, and then, as suddenly as it came, the mysterious light disappeared.