The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-03-29
NIA0ARA.-THE CAVE OF THE
WINDS.

But while the ladies are laughing at
you, your guide is disappearing into lit
tie hut-like structure, and follow him as
quickly as you will, he is already out of
sight down a circular staircase so narrow,
and turning 80 abruptly, that you never
see the guide from the moment you
start till you reach the foot of the wooden
tower that encloses the staircase Here
you are at the base of the rock that forms
the island where II separates the American
from the Canadian Fall narrow ledge
runs along the face of the rock, willie the
sheer precipitous wall OF the island above,
with its loosening stones, that seem ready
to fall and they will fall some day and
tho rapid boiling stream below; this ledge
is followed down the face Of the rock ill
point is reached where the Central
American Fall pour- over it. and tho path
suddenly ends hu, the guide opens a
rate that is built across the lo1re and dis
closes frail, we', and slippery staircase.
On TO which s reams ol water are constantly
swashing down and which leads 10 low
er ledge. You have hardly stepped on the
staircase before You are saturated with
the swashes Of water pouring over You,
and the cold shock produced causes an
involuntary retreat for moment but the
guide beckons you on, and down you 90
clinging to the light rail and the wall
with what hold you can. On reaching
the lower ledge, and clearing the eyes of
the falling water and spray, YOU find that
you are inside the Fall with the sheet Of
water on one side the rock on the other,
and the foaming, boiling torrent at your
feet Standing on the wet, slippery rocks,
the guide points out rainbow of most
gorgeous hues portrayed on the sheet of
mist covering the face Of the rocky wall ;
giving his hand to help you over the
Shiny, dangerous rocks, a little farther on
he stops, and putting his arm about you
to hold you on the dizzy path, he points
upward there is no use in his speak.
ing, for the noise of the cataract would
drown the loudest shout but, your eyes
following the direction pointed in away
MP the rocky wall, YOU see another
beautiful rainbow in the form Of a circle
and Of most lovely hues Standing there
in the midst of ;he binding spray. between
tic cold, gray rocks of the island, and the
sheet of water, rs il comes rushing down
with such terrific force from the edca #
the precipice above your head, aud dashes
into the ioaring, scething torrent at your
a., u. D
pressive sights shat can be imagined But
you cannot wait here long 70 admire r..
for the torrent of water the driving spray.
and tn strong currents OF wind set I'm
motion by the force OF tn cataract.
but deprive you of breath the guide hur-
. RES on up and down over rocks. across
planis that you cross on aiLiours. over
cha ms and by the time the farther edre
OF the Fal > re ched, you feel that YOU
have seen ENOUGH, and ere anxious 20 es-
cape from the wild scene OF turmoil that
surrounds you. The passage from under
the Fall is over a plank that crosses the
chRsm 90 pile of rocks over which Won
scramble down 10 little foot bridge of a
plank and light rail that runs directly
along the front of the sheet Of water at
no more than twenty feet from it. Green.
ing along this slippery foo.ho.d, cingiuc
tightly to the rail, and looking up 20 the
FL, a most beautiful sight is witnes ed.
Two hun red feet above where Won stand
the great body of water is seen Just rs IL
rea hes tie edge Of the prccipice. where
it seemin ly hesitstes and trembes a mo-
ment, and then, with q sudden spr.nr over
the edge Of tho cliff, seemingly for the
very SPOT where you stand, it descends
close to your feet in a grand snow.wnite
arch, and foaming and tossing madly for
awhile over rocks and through chasms, it
joins the greater stream from the Cana
dian Fall and subsidies into deep com.
paratively placid, dark green river, all It's
force and fury spent by it's grand and
terrific leap.