The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-05-14

On, unu III sOiHc pluCtS nlicu bhO
bed of the stream, over which the water rush
ed with noise almost deaiening.
Long before this time, had lost sight of
the smoke that arose from our camp fire, ow-
ing to the course of the stream that conform
ed itself TO the valley; and all this time l
had seen nothing thatEould doign to waste
powder and bullet on, and began to think
that should be obliged to return to camp
as empty-handed as I went out.
Il toiled on, perhaps fifty yards farther,
clambering over the jagged rocks that block
ed up the way; and at last, discouraged at my
want of success, / was on the point of turn
ing back, when l espied, but short distance
before me, close to where few bushes grew
out from cliff, a small creature, though
from the glimpse L got of it, could not dis
tinguish what it was. Glad of the chance
for shot, l scrambled along over tie rocks
to position that l coveted; but, before it
was reached, the creature, whatever it was,
had disappeared, sand no trace of it could |
find, after searching several minutes where /
was sure had seen it.
disappointed, and cursing my ill-luck, ]
| was on the point of turning back, when
loud clap of thunder resounded through the
sky, and the next moment large drops of rain
| began to fall Startled at the sudden APP
proach of the storm, that had been unmind-
full Of glanced upward. and saw that
heavy shower was rising above the cliffs, that
approach. <
Il knew full we'll that one of these sudden
storms was no slight thing to encounter and
that, unless l could find some place ofshelter
among the rocks, / must experience a
thorough drenching, Us it would be impossi-
BILE for me to reach the camp before it would
break in all its fury.
$ 1T suddenly occurred to me, that short
distance back, had seen what appeared to
be the entrance of;a cavern. =. | had noticed
it particularly, from the fact that large
rock hung over the entrance, which looked
to me as though the slightest jar would dis
place it, and send it crashing down over the
aperture.
4 hastily returned to this SPOT; but upon
reaching it, hesitated about entering. The
great boulder, lying upon a mass OF crum-
bling rock looked even more threatening
than when had passed it. Then thought
I was childish in my Fears as the rock had
doubtles remained for ages in the same po-
sition it now occupied. Another clap OF
thunder and a deluge Of rain descended,
which decided my action, and I entered the
cave on all fours, but not until had tried the
boulder with all my strength though then L
couldn't help thinking how foolish was in
thinking that my feeble strength could move
lit. Appearantly | might rs we'll have at
tempted to shake the entire cliff, as far as af-
fecting any result was concerned.
Il found the cave to be about ten feet in
length, half AS many in width, and perhaps
four feet IN height. 1t was lighted to its
farthest extent. and there was narrow pas
sage extended from thence fal ther into the
mountain, though so obstructed by sand and
large rocks that the aperture left, would
hardly admit of the passage of a fox.
All this I noticed as l sat with my back
against the wall, listened to the ring of the
tempest without, the fury of which l do moi
remember to have seen equalled
Half an hour passed; and the storm insteat
of abating seemed to increase in fury. and
began to think should have to pass The
night where | Was. | knew, by the thunder
ing of the water in the canon, that it wa
fast rising. From where | was sitting, in
deed, could see the torrents, in miniature
cataracts dashng down the face of the cliff
on the opposite side of the stream. 1t seem
ed, l fancied almost as the food must havt
appeared at its commencement.
Il had begun to feel secure in my place o
refuge, and the fact of the huge boulder be
ing akove my head no longer troubled me
whnn suddenly, to my establishment and hor
: ror saw huge rock washed from its sand
base, and go plqnging into the canon. Hol
2 rors what if the one before me should ial
] and block me inl | seized my rife, and spran
. toward the outlet The storm was prefers
E BILE to my place of shelter. God have mercy
= cried, as felt the movement of the eli
D above me; and then, to my great horror an
g despair, the great boulder, loosened by th
f torrents of rain, slipped from its resting plac
! and ere could escape, hemmed me in darl
0 ness. | was entombed alive. The horror
n nv situation came upon me with such fore
that did what never did before nor since
t | tainted away.
. How long l remained nsensible, I kno
S not; but when l recovered my senses,
d thought it was terrible dream. But the
e lusion soon wore off, and the stern realii
e was before me, and began camly to thin
IS what chance had of escaping.
IS Very little indeed was there for hope
!. the prospect before me. No prison bars we
d as strong as those which held me back fro
q the outer world, that had never priced
It highly as now began to do. There SCENE
it to be no possible hope; for man, with his u
d aided strength, could never move the hu!
'e rocks that sealed the entrance of to my SEPT
chere,
is "A faint ray of light came in on on side
le my prison door, and through the crew
1t came the sound of rolling waters, swollen
I'd double its usual volume down in the bed
ot the canon. That erevice would give me a
le and tell me when night came, and went,
70 long as life remained to me. My co
ty panions would doubtless search long for II
and could not make myself heard shot
i'd they pass near by? This gave me ray
as hope, that hugged to my heart as droV
lg ing man will they say catch at straw.
~ This for moment gave me ray of hol
as but my heart sank within me as the roar
IN the cateract filled my ears No human vo
n could be heard above that terrible roar
e- Il threw myself on the bottom of the ca
D. and all was darkness. Night had come VI
N. me in my tomb, as dark and terrible
to tn ough was surrounded by scores of me
,e- dering dead. AS time must seem to
| 4. laa hot 10 MI