Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-02-05

in the darkness, and knew Of their passing
only by the sound of their horses feet.
lcould no longer keep the road in safety.
the south for two miles, and then headed
to the east. II they were seeking to over
naul or Waylay me they would, doubtless.
Keep to the road through the night. I found
better travelling now, and the animals went
ahead at a canter for the next three hours
good fifty miles from Salt Lake, and now Z
close to the foot hills, and had halted on an
emlnence to scan my trail, when two rider
less horses came into view three miles
away, and made straight for me. AS they
came up saw fresh blood on both saddles,
and the animals were blown as if they had
had a long run. Rifles, ammunition,
blankets, and a small quantity of provisions
were strapped to each saddle, and one pistol
holster had a revolver in it.
passed me in the night? We're those men
Danites! Had they fallen into an ambush
prepared for them by wandering Indians?
l had not heard any sounds of conflict, and
this was proof that the affair had occurred
miles away.
1 waited for half an hour to let the horses
blow, and then secured them in single file
behind the pack mule. While the find was
of no particular value just then. the horses
would have followed me whether or no.
In about forty hours from the time l left
Salt lake l had reached a point on the
range directly north of the forks Of Green
and White Rivers, and about fifty miles
distant from those streams. l knew that
the rivers united at the western end of
Little Bear Mountain, and that landmark
appeared due south Of me, family showing
its head through the BLUSH haze always
hanging overthe mighty hills. The stranger
had not said this was the spot, but 1 had
somehow got the idea firmly. fixed in my
mind that this locality would develop some
thing. had seen nothing more of the Dan
ties, nor encountered other dangers, and
went into camp with strong hopes of being
task Of unearthing a rich find for those who
had fitted me out.
l searched for and found a narrow valley
breaking into the mountain. l followed it
in for about sixty rods, and just where it
made a sharp turn to the left, and within
the animals The young grass was shoot
ing up luxuriantly, and no one, unless
entering the valley, could suspect my pres
ence in the neighborhood.
On the second day of my arrival, having
overhauled my kit and rested from my long
the end Of the valley. 1t stopped dead
short against the mountain, running to a
cliff up which my eye travelled five hun
dred feet before resting at the top. 1t was
hardly a m before I discovered the
mouth Of a cavern before me, and around
The place had the appearance Of being a
bears den, and l approached it revolver in
hand.
To the left of the opening, a. l slowly
crept forward, l saw where some prospector
had been at work with his hammer. He
had broken from the ledge more than a
hundred pounds of specimens, and after an
inspection Of five minutes l knew that l
had found the dead mans claim. I had
some of his specimens in my pocket. A
comparison of the rock settled all doubts.
The man lying dead in an u%nhonored grave
very spot to gather his specimens. Acct
dent, good luck, my guardian angel, or
whatever you please, had guided me across
valley and hill and plain as straight as the
finger Of the magnetic needle.
He was a prospector only. I was a geolo.
gist and metallurgist as we'll. He worked
on what was in view alone. could go far
beyond that. In less than w hours had
satisfied myself that there wasn't a thou
sand dollars worth of gold or silver ore in
that valley. The mar had Numbered on a
strange outcropping of precious metals.
further west, and a third in Wild Jim Can
yon, and specimens from them may be seen
in the mineral cabinets Of the Smithsonian
Institute.
In my anxiety about the outcrop, I for
got all about the ave and the fear of wild
animals. had been hammering, testing,
breaking and climbing around for three
hours, and was standing on a shelf above
the mouth of the cave, when four pumas or
mountain lions left the retreat and skurried
down the valley like SO many cats. UTTERED
several yells, and hurled a stone at the hind
most to- to keep s9 then assaa f goipbg grs at fu He s pssa
was a lions den, and the lions had been
driven out. 1t was a matter of little &C
count, but when, an hour before shutdown.
l got down and took a look into the cave. !
was surprised at the amount OF loose dirt
further end. What fora I would see next
TO prevent the lions coming back during
the night I built a fire below the horses,
and likewise tossed blankets and saddles
about to create objects of suspicion. There
was no alarm of any sort during the long
hours, and soon after breakfast | was ready
to enter the cave. As l stood at the mouth
l fired a shot, thinking to scare out any
beast which might have crept in; put as
nothing moved I boldly entered. could
walk upright to the far end, and when l
had reached it my heart suddenly gave a
great leap. Icould hear a human voice.
1t sounded q long, long way OF, but IL cor
tainly was the voice Of some person. l
heard it several times, as If some n was
over me-. Where could it come from!
Who could be here: By and by when l
had listened q long time without Geaft Ing
bank Of earth ahead Of me, and soon dis.
covered that it had been end dls beayy n ieem
of rock among the soft earth.
The lions had dug a sort Of tunnel hye
feet beyond me ne, IN 5%e1 t. back a9r dP6y yga paa TO-
dc There was a huge rock in the path,
ana had to turn m, to the, the loft Ms,ir 5hf9T tr 9ns
about q at ton e OF nrGKe eac i.v and then find my
self diggingNfor whata asked myself th ne
questio1 Is ! wiped s]a. away the IN a Ds Strange GO
manner The dirt in front OF me suddenly
settled, and daylight streamsd into 'ne
tunnel. -L,,ded to
move ove and | could not believe thet my eyes
saw a a III, they syt seemed e;1os5aT to b sssi an Ss' acre In IN
~as an aar . with lead leaves AID
catches Of grass. On every side the 'lln'