Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-18
received sympathy and attention from

uH9 miners.
The morning sun was just darting 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 exhaustion.
The storm had cleared from the noun
tain, and as the shining rays we're cast
upon the interior wall Of the cave, Bob,
lying with his eyes just opened and too
weak to feel disposition to rise, no.
ticed CLEANS of light where some bright
substance reflected the sunlight. With
difficulty he made his way on his hands
and knees toward one Of these points of
light, and taking the glittering object
in his hands, found, with trembling de-
light, that it was bit of native wire sill.
yer, such as is found sometimes even on
the surface over rich Colorado mines.
On further examination he found rich
indications of the same nature in va
rious parts of the cave; and he was soon
aware that he had made one of those
discoveries which incite 80 many to seek
their fortunes in the mining grounds Of
the West, and that are really so infre-
quent and exceptional. The ambition
of his life was accomplished, and he
might now, he felt, make home as rich
and pleasant as he had imagined to
which to take the one he loved. But
while in the first Joy of his discovery he
thus pleased himself with grateful
images of the future, there came to him
a new thought of his present situation,
which had for the moment passed from
his mind.
"Alas," said he, 'the willful fortune
that kept from me the riches that I de-
sired brings them to me now when life
itself seems doubtful, and when I see no
way to safety, weak as I am and far from
my rescue. Must I die in the midst of
this new-found wealth Just as he
was occupied with these thoughts he
heard noise in dark recess of the
cave, which he had not yet explored,
and with snort, some animal that had
apparently been lying there, rose to its
feet and came towards the light. For q
moment Bob thought it might be one of
the few wild beasts which are OCCASION
ally found in the mountains; but as it
advanced he saw,to his joy, that it was a
roan-colored horse, such an one as he had
heard had been lost from Cedar Gulch
on these very mountains, and the very
one to which Col. Brown had alluded
when he talked to the loungers on the
departure of the miners. Poor Bob's
heart fairly leaped to his mouth at the
hepe of rescue presented by the appear
ance Of the horse. who had apparently
wandered into the cave to seek shelter
from the storm, and most opportunely
presented itself.
Bob took up and put in his pocket
few specimens of the silver-bearing min
eral about him, and leading the animal to
the entrance of the cave, succeeded after
several efforts, in getting on it's back.
The feeling of rider on it's back
brought the horse to its habit Of SUBJ
lection, and almost without direction it
found it's way back to the path, and
down the side of Mount Shavano toward
Cedar Gulch.
The horrors Of that journey to the
rider it would be hard to tell. His
wound, from which the blood had ceased
to flow, began to bleed again somewhat,
and was with difficulty staunched. The
weak man could scarcely retain his
position on the horses back, but with
brave determination and strong will he
kept his seat while the sagacious animal
decended the trail.
The evening had just set in when Bob
tumbled fainting from the horse in front
of the Grand hotel. The rough but kind
hearted miners took him up and cared
for him till by skill and patience he was
again restored to strength. Sandy Joe,
in the distant camp, heard of his vic.
TINS escape, and quickly departed from
that part of the country, and was after
ward killed in fight with fellow-out.
law. Bob recovered from his wound,
and before the winter snow had melted
from the mountains he had staked out
for himself claim called "The Lizzie
Claim" and including the cave where
that memorable night in his history was
passed. He is counted rich man in
the possession of this mine, now famous
for its mineral wealth, but he considers
himself far richer in the love of the
woman now his bride. and the two
bright-eyed children growing up in the
circle of home.
While going down Cambridge sire ct
university car became derailed, and
went iOlting over the pavement in such