Volcano weekly ledger., 1855-12-22

q taunting laugh.
back out" shouted Jim "I never re-
treat; and were there fifty grizzly bears
standing in my path now, / would venture"
am afraid one would be enough to turn
you" muttered Smith.
" suppose | may as well clean my rife"
said Counter. " / don't think | shall need
it, but still one ought to be prepared"
While eating breakfast, grey streaks Of
light made Their appearance in the heavens,
and by the time each man had swallowed his
pint of coffee, objects were distinctly visible
at quite a distance. After finishing our fru-
gal meal we divided out provisions for three
days, placing them securely in packs, examin-
ed our ammunition, loaded the rifles, and were
ready to start upon our arduous journey
Our companions turned out to bid us good
bye, and wish us success on our tour and
then with a hearty shake Of the hand we
were off.
For the first two hours our course lay along
the banks of the river, with no very difficult
bills to climb but suddenly we came to a
wild, dreary region, where not blade OF
green grass was to be seen, and even the very
trees looked as though stunted for the want
of proper nourishment at their roots A
huge mountain, that i had examined with
great interest for the last hour mentally de-
batting whether should be called upon to
scramble up its sides with rifle in one hand
and large pack upon my back, was over
looking where we stood, and partly shut out
the light Of day by its lofty grandeur and
backness. A few pines were visible upon its
sides, and an occasional bush, bearing a pro-
fusion of deep red berries, we're the only signs
of vegetation. There were rocks, however,
and white patches of sand or clay that look
ed as though placed their for landmarks by
the omnipotent Maker of the mountain.
Here" said Smith, throwing down his
pack, sis our last resting place on nlevel ground
for four hours. If you wish drink of cool
water from the river, you had better get it, for
there is no other place until we reach the next
valley"
And do you mean to tell me-" cried
Counter, casting up his eyes towards the lofty
summit, that I've got to climb that alfred
hill p
You can go back, if you wish" replied
Smith, coolly lighting bis pipe.
Jim meditated for a few moments in silence,
but he did not remove his eyes from the mo2p
tain
Is there no way, Smith, of going
/ this confounded hill "
"Yes."
Then, by George, let us do sol" cried
Counter, springing to his feet with joy.
You see the line of mountains that ex-
tend as far as the eye can reach don't you ~
asked Smith.
Certainly | do replied Counter looking
in that direction.
"It is near about forty miles to a place
where the river can be reached, and then we
would find ourselves after travelling about
eighty miles, only three miles further up the
stream than at present. | have walked the
whole distance and know that this is the cas-
lest mountain to climb in the whole range.
Jim got down on his pack in meditative
mood.
"Then you have scaled this mountain
SMITH" | asked.
Part of it, my lad"
why did you not cross while about i'll"
"For a variety of reasons But come.
drink your fill, and let us be of. BY twelve
o'clock we must be on the summit" cried
Smith, hurredly, as though fearful l should
ask more questions
had peculiar fancy to know what those
reasons were, but | said nothing more, and
following the Others to the rivers side, /
quenced my thirst, shouldered my pack, slung
my rife over my neck, so that | could use my
hands, and declared myself ready
With slow, uncertain steps we commenced
the steep ascent, Smith leading the way, and
showing the best path for us to follow, while
| kept as close to his heels as possible, and
after me came Counter-blowing and groan-
ing like an old-fashoned steamboat.
IF this is a sample of prospecting don't
care if / never make another tour, Where
in the devil are you fellows going to? Can't
you wait for chap?" said Jim, impatiently
half angry at the manner in which we left
him
at appears to me-" cried Smith, "holding
on to bush and looking back, with grin
upon his sunburnt face, "that if you saved
your breath and used your feet to more ad-
vantage, you would get along much faster
We are not fifty miles from the valley-so
don't get tired Already"
"Tredw muttered Jim, al don't know
who wouldn't be tired, crawling along on
/ their hand and knees with twenty pound
pack upon their back, beside rife"
"Fll tell you what it is, Smith, Counter
suddenly exclaimed, "if you wish to kill
Yourself, God forbid that should make any
obections-only do it in decent manner; !;
but if YOU think I'm to be murdered by
climbing this accurscd mountain-all that
can say is that you are-mistaken. 90 no
farther until | am rested.
/ He dashed himself down beside tree and