The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-06-01

parallel with the summit Of the noun
tain, keeping along the " frozen edge"
The track was now easy, compared with
that they had just passed over, and
some six miles slipped by before they
had been noted. The party were now
in high spirits, and they passed swiftly
on, making the huge crags answer them
in return, as they gaily chanted some
hunting chorus, when an apparently
unsurmountable difficulty presented it.
self, falling coldly upon their new
formed hopes. They had reached the
side of one of those numerous gorges,
with which the North American noun
tains are so thickly strewed, through
which many feet beneath them, noun
tain stream, swollen by the melting
snow, to thrice its usual size, surged
wildly. This they saw no visible way
of crossing, and surely 1t was not ford
able, fol huge trees, logs, and even rocks
whirled by, hurled hither and thither
by the impetuous stream, as though
they were but straws.
AS they gazed into its angry depths,
and listened to the grand music 1t dis
coursed, as it went roaring by, all lost
their courage, save the stranger and Phil
his guide, and avowed their determina-
ton of instantly retracing their steps,
and of proceeding without delay to their
homes. Webber was now placed in a
disagreeable positions, left almost alone,
and with deep and rapid river flowing
between him and the object of his
search. Yet, seeing that Phil still re-
mained true to him, and as he was-to
use common phrase" as obstinate
as mule' he resolved to proceed, if 1t
was in his power. SO having taken
leave of their recreant associates, the
two started up the bank of the river,
for the purpose of finding place more
suitable for making the attempt of
crossing. After reaching place some
distance above the starting, and seeing
that night would speedily surround
them, they made up their minds to en-
camp until the following day. They
slept but little during the night, owing
to the extreme cold and scarcity of wood
at that high point. And the gray of
dawn found them stirring. Raising to
their feet, they partook of slight re-
past, formed of several handfuls of
parched corn, and hugh draughts of
clear water, and, proceeding further up
the stream, soon came to the place,
which Phil pronounced passable. The
gully, or ravine at this point, was of
the width of thirty feet, and after sever
al vain attempts, Phil succeeded in fast
ening his lariat to a crag on the opposite
edge, and instantly seizing the cords in
his hands, went across hand-over-hand,
Ed. in the mean time having securely
fastened his end, in similar manner,
as soon as Phil landed. Webber follow
ed, and the two friends stood again to-
gether with nothing interposing between
them and the cave. Leaving the rope
still tied, so that they could return, they
proceeded on their way, and q brisk
walk quickly brought them to the en-
trance of the cave. They now adjusted
In6lI ohOCSs bbC pplCO VI WhiSh NNAN
filled with long spikes, in order to pre-
vent slipping and preparing some
torches from the branches of the noun
tain pine, they boldly entered. Surely
it was not singular that such fearful
stories were told about this place, for, as
the hollow echoes of their own footsteps
fell upon their ears, they sounded
throughout the gloom like unto demoni-
ac laughter. But it did not terrify Web
ber, he kept steadily on, followed by
Phil, who-to use his own expression
I" was goin' to get out o. the place quick
er N lightnin', eff any o. the devils did
show thar faces" AS they passed along
holding their torches high above their
heads, in order to throw their light in
advance of them, Phil was every mo-
ment startled by the new and grotesque
figures which were presented to his
view. The walls of this cavern were
formed of solid rock, and in some places
were coated with grayish substance
seemingly caused by the water which
trickled from the splendid stalactites
which formed the roof, while here anC
there rose from the bottom of the cave
beautiful stalagmites, glittering with the
light of the torches as of diamonds, and
assuming all manner of fantastic shapes
The friends had proceeded thus fo
about ten minutes, when the passag'
branched off in two directions, one tax
ing course almost parallel with tn
one they were in, and the other leading
to the right.
6 penss we'll keen straight ahead