Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-05-10

soon after the snow began to ftl' very
lightly at first, and thea mo'e heavily
rhe trail, which had not been very d's'
tinct before, began 10 be almost hldue"
from view. But the sagacious animals
seemed by some instinct 10 pick ou'
the true path, aud the journey was sun
slowly continued. One of the animals
however. wandered a little from Inc
path in the aftern oon, and stepping Oh
loose rock near the edge OF steep
ravine, slipped and rolled over ana over
down The bank, and was seen no more
A hearty curse from the lips oi SANDY
Joe greeted this mishap, but the jour
ney was continued. The pa;h began
to grow sleeper, aud as the snow BE-
gan to be piled Up before the travellers
it became almost impossible to so on
Joe. who was good-tempered enough
when everything went well, began no"
to show signs OF increasing llI~tempcr'
He cursed and swore at the storm and
snow. and then would subside into
moody silence. He beat with merc'-
less blows the heaviy-.aden Jack, !
that struggled along on its hard journey
II became evident at length that th7
men could not reach the camp to when
lbev we're bound By walking, and The
animal was unloaded, and it was Geci-
ded that the men should take turns In
riding TIL the destination was reached.
But five or six miles now lay between
the men aud the cluster Of cabin where
they hoped to find aid, but the dlrkneS'
was already coming on, and the way
was getting almost impossible.
Joe insisted upon taking the first turn
in riding and Dayton allowed him to.
mount. In this way about q nile was
passed over, when DAytou, almost
overcome with fatigue. called upon hi'
companion 10 dismount aud cXchansc
,laces. The way at that point wa
narrow and led along -idc ofa steep ~
cline ON the mountain siie. JO;' wao
was riding ahead. stopped when ne
heard his companion call, and a'lo"eu
DAYTON TO come up to him. as il 10
allow him TO take the animal. linen
suddenly bending over, Joe drew lrom
his belt a long knife and plunged 1t INTO
bis parlnor'S breast.
There said he, as we can't bo,h
get through TO the camp, won't be the
one that's left behind aud tlen giving
poor Bob a push oyer the edge Of ;he
bank, the assassin rode on.
The wounded man rolled down the
stony side of the mountlin, the kindly
snow shielding his body for some Of
The sharp bowlders, I'll tie gradual
declivity down which he was prccipiia'
ted changed to a steep prrcip'ce' over
the edge of which he plunged onto
level surface several feet below. Stun
ned as he was by his wound and fall
he was still able, GU looking around
him. to see in The side OF the prccipice
a large opening like the entrance OF
! cave. aud with tie ins'ilc. Of SELF
preservation, lie dragged himself ihitheF
and succeeded IN reaching tins shelter
from the Storm before he tainted away
overcome by the loss Of blood.
Meanwhile, Slnday Joe struggled on
his way. and by using the animal as tar
as it would go, and then leaving 1t III a
snow-drift while he continued on foot.
anally reached The little camp To which
be was bound. He told his tai Of the
great dangers he had endured, but with
out mentioning his comp lnion. aid re-
ceived sympathy ana attention from The
miners.
The morning sun was just dariing his
straight beams from the eastern sky
across the valley and into the interior
Of the mountain cave when Bob DAYTON
awoke from his sleep Of eXhauslion.--
The storm had cleared from the noun
tain. and as the shining rays were cast
upen the interior wall the cave. Bob.
living with his eyes Just opened aud loo
weak to feel a disposition to rise, no.
ticed CLEANS of light where some bright
substance reflected the sunlight. Witt
diAiculty he made his way on his hands
and knees toward one ofthese points q
loht. and taking the CliItering owect
in hjs hands, found, with trembling de-
Iioht. that it was a bit of native wire
silver. such as is found so metimes ever
on the surface over rich Colorado mines
| On further exaninatiou be found rlch
Indications of the same nature IN various
narls of the cave; aud he was sooT
aware that he had made one Of those
discoveries which incile 50 many to seeF
their fortunes in the mining grounds G
The West. and that are reilly 80 m're-
onent and exceptional. The ambition
Of his life was accomplished, and hf
MIGHT now. be felt, make a hume a
rich and pleasant as hc had imagined lC
which to take the one he loved. Bu
while in the nrst JOY of his discovery
he thus pleased himself with grateIu
images of the future, there came Il
him new thought of his present situa
ton. which had for the moment passed
from his mod.
Alas. said be, che viliul fortun'
that kent from me tie riches that de-
sired brings them to me now when lie
itself seems doubtful, and when L see
no way to safety. weak as am and iAI
from my rescue. Must l die IN th'
midst of this neS found wealth. jus
a. he was occupied with these III 'us L
r he heard noise in dark recess oi 'h'
.,o uh,ch he had not vet explored