The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1877-12-26
Another Monte Christie.

Grant It appears that Grant served with
distinction in the Confederate army, ris-
ing to the rank of a Brigadier General
At the close of the war he hastened to
his Kentucky home to find it in ruins
and all trace ofhis family obliterated. In
despair and heart broken he left the
country for the far West. The rest Of the
story shall be told by the Enterprises:
After three months of weary travel,
without encountering any adventure
which might possibly, for the time be-
ing, divert the enawing reflections of
the unfortunate man, he arrived IN this
State. He Immediately set about maxi
ing inquiries respecting the climate, geo
logical formations, vegetation and album
dance of game to be met with, IN the
southern and south eastern sections of the
State The information received by him
must have proven satisfactory, as he at
once purchased complete camp outfit
and emigrated to the most extreme
southern end of the Walker River Noun
tains, where he has been existing ever
since, only at rare intervals seeing the de-
tested face of white man---a very
strange freak and inclination Tor a man
ofculture.
To the intercourse with the Indians
who lived in the neighborhood he did
not object, and in many ways befriended
these simple sons of the mountains. A
number OF the Walker River tribe looked
up to him with great reverence, suppos-
ing him to be endowed with supernatural
powers. About two months ago one Of
these Indians, who had been reel pient
of special favors at the hands of Grant,
DESTROYS Of exhibiting his gratitude, re-
quested our hero to accompany him on
two days ramble through the mountains,
and he would show him cave wonder
fully rich with gold and silver. Grant,
not placing much faith in the Indians
yarn, at first hesitated about going, but
the Indian was so importunate that he
at length consented to follow him. One
morning soon after the, twain saddled a
paif of horses and loaded one animal with
provisions and blankets, and started out
IN quest Of the cave of treasures. What
direction of the compass the party fol
lowed Grant is reluctant about revealing.
At all events, after travelling about two
days and d half our hero and his COM
panion arrived at dusk one evening iii a
narrow cannon Or mountain gorge in
closed on either side by rugged and
steep mountains, presenting weird
ana wildaspect. In this vicinity, the In
dian said, the cave was located.
A camp-ti was lighted, and while
Grant was cooking supper@his companion
went in search OF the exact location OF
the cave so that no time would be lost in
finding it in the morning, when q THOR
ough examination Of the contents Swas to
be made An hour after the Indians de
parture he returned to the camp, and,
with JOY i'm printed on his copper-colored
features, impaired to Grant the satisfac-
tory tidings that he had found the cave
without difficulty, and that notwithstand-
ing the darkness which then prevailed the
interior Of the wonderful vault was as
light as monday. He was DESTROYS that
Grant should accompany him then and
there, but as the trip had fatigued him
somewhat and he needed repose, he de-
ferred commencing investigation until
the following day At an early hour
next morning the pair Of fortune hunters
repaired to view the great wealth
which was in store for them. After trav-
cling in this canon, which is many miles
in length, for an hour, Or maybe little
less, the Indian pointed to a pile Of gran
tie of immense weight, stacked up'against
the dragged side of a monster mountain,
and told Grant that by removing the bowl
ders an entrance to the cave could be ef-
fectod. The two men Immediately set 10
work at their herculean task, which oc-.
Cupied them nearly two hours.
When the obstruction was removed all
that could be seen was an opening lead
ing into the mountain Of dimensions only
large enough TO admit the bodies of two
largely developed men, but the interior
was as dark as Erebus. Grant ventured
into this opening to the distance of about
ten feet, but the Intensity of the darkness
precluded him from seeing bis hands be-
fore bis face. He cried out to his COM
panion for some burning sage brush,
which was Immediately thrust into the
cave, but, strange to relate, this artificial
light would not illuminate the darkness.
Here was nice pass. Grant emerged
from his subterranean visit, and consulted
his semi-sayage companion as to the most
expedient means to be employed IN the
emergency; it was useless to seek for gold
or anything else in SO dark place, where
artificial light proved Of no avail. The
Indian then repeated his story Of the illu-
Tnination which he saw in the cave the
preceding night. Although this yarn
sounded rather improbable in the ears of
an intelligent white man, yet the Indian
was SO earnest and sincere to ali outward
appearances, that our hero decided to re-
main until the stars came out, and decide
whether there was any truth IN his com.
panion's fabulous narrative. The men re-
turned to the camping ground Of the pre-
yious night and brought their traps to the
mouth Of the mysterious cave, with the
determination Of testing the Indians We.
racity.
1t seemed as if that day would never
draw to close, SO great was Grants i'm
patience; but as twilight was approaching
a slight glimmer was discernible at the
mouth Of the vault, yet the blacklist dark
ness mortal ever beheld was still holding
sway therein. But gradually rs night
was falling, an unnatural light was MAX
ing itself apparent, and at nine o'clock
that evening ray of brilliant MONDAY
light shot out from the opening of that