Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-06-17

a very disobedient boy. only a some
what willful one at times, with strange
ideas of his own. the expression of
which, after fashion peculiar to him
self has gained for him among his
mates the title of ..the queer fellow"
There is nothing in the bare sides OF
the cut through which they are now
passing. nor in the monotonous
stretches OF the pine barrens left be-
hind TO give even hirt of the grand
eur of the scene that now bursts upon
their vision.
Down through a gorge 800 feet in
depth, and over 900 feet in width at
its narrowest point, dashes the Tai
lulah River, over ruggedly massed
boulders, in foamtossed cascades that
throw their spray in air nearly hun
dred feet
On either side rise sheer walls of
solid granite, worn smooth as polished
silver in many places by the floods of
centuries, and like silver glittering in
the suns rays.
THAT is Turner's Point, says the
conductor, pointing Just to the right
of them to a stupendous mass of
rugged gramee shelves, soil covered in
many places that jut of more promi-
nently than the Others into the dizzy
gorge. with but one exception"
continued the conductor, sit is the
highest point on the chasnl, and isfull
nine hundred feet above the bed OF the
river
"a tremendous fall thatl" excaims
nervous little gentleman behind him,
provided any one wanted TO try it !"
Shouldn't think they'd particular
ly want TO try 1t, returns the con
ductor dryly, yet some of them do. "
Good gracious!" cries the nervous
little gentleman again, you don't
mean to say that some one has fallen
down there?"
..0h, no, not that; only that some
of the more adventurous have tried to
climb down by means of the clunps
OF stuEted verdure you see.
And did they suceeed?n
"0nly so far as a partial descent;
about one-third of the way, / be-
lieve"
Arrived at Young's Hotel about the
first person whose acquaintance is
sought by our restless bit of humani-
ty, otherwise, Aunt Tinas nephew,
Swan Common, is Monk, the veteran
guide.
81 say, Mr.. Monk" Swain breaks
forth Immediately that lie has that
worthy securely penned in an out-of
the-way corner OF the varanda, 81
want you to take me down Turner's
Point"
"Phewln whistles Monk, thinking
this the queerest one he has ever had
to deal with yet. Then apparently
determining to treat it all as a huge
joke
Eyes. certainly, and isn't there
something else on the same order that
you would like. pleasure ride for
instance, over the Hurricane"
Eyes, if you please"
"But, good gracious don't pleasem
cries the excited little guide, losing
control of himself at once THE
thing either way is not to be thought
of for a moment unless you are ex-
tremely anxious to quit this world
for another"
s.But the conductor said some Of
'em went dowu Turner's Point"
Some one or two foolhardy ones
have, to a certain distance, but they
were glad enough to get back, | can
tell You. As to going down that way
to the bottom of the gorge-well, if
you are extremely anxious to get rid
cf yourself, the quickest way would be
to try the Hurricane.
1.-The very terror spot of the whole
river" says Mr.. Monk the next morn
ing when exhibiting the awe-inspiring
spectacle, known as Hurricane Falls,
to Aunt Tina and her attendant
Swain.
They have been afraid to leave the
hotel at first because of the threaten
ing appearance of the sky, but as Aunt
Tina's time is limited, she has finally
decided to venture. After that luck
seems to favor her, for, with the ex-
ception of the few drops while at the
J Indian Arrow Rapids, there has been
no further fall of rain. Indeed, the
clouds are now fast clearing away,
while already the bright rays of the
sun are struggling forth.
30, whata beautiful little rainbow"
cries Swain, as from the rock on
which they were standing he catches
sight OF the exquisite arch, whose pris-
matte hues sparkle brilliantly between
him and the dashing foam of the cas-
cade.
"Yes, but yonder is much more
beautiful one," says Mr.. Monk. point
ing down the gorge to where a magnif-
icent bow, intensely vivid in its col
oring, spans the rugged walls of the
canyon.
THAT is, indeed, beauty" ex-
claims Aunt Tina, as she turns around
the better to admire it. 'Idon't know
when have seen one of such intense
coloring. If the old-fashioned child
stories are to be believed, there must
be very gorgeous treasure, indeed,
at the foot OF that bow"
"And why not believe them? aues-
tions Mr.. Monk, who, in spite of his
rough garb, is a well-informed, pleas
ant young gentleman. "For my part,
| have never yet gotten rid of the idea
that il one could really find the end
OF the bow he would also find the
treasure.
.Yes, certainly" says Aunt Tina,
Will Al Sli1litr u Ipufl tiBNl lilt tH1
of the bow"
"Mr. Monk" questions sharp,
high pitched voice at this moment,
where do you think that end of the
rainbow is?'
Mr.. Monk turned his head to follow
the direction pointed out by the nerv-
Gus brown finger.
That" he repeats with amischiev-
Gus twinkle in his eye, "Why, down
Turner's Point, to be sure.
II believe, Mr.. Monk" says Aunt
Tina again, chat you told me many
beautiful stones of rare value had
been found in the rugged cliffs of the
canyon2"
YES" returns Mr. Monk, several
fine rubies, sapphires, and emeralds
have been picked up, it ISIS said, though
none OF late. | have never been 50
fortunate as to find one myself, with
q smile, "but the guides who were here
before me stumbled upon an exceed
ingly fine emerald in the gorge below
Turner's Point"
All the way back 70 the hotel the
words down Turner's Point to be
sure,' keep beating time, syllable by
syllable, through Swain busy brain.
"of course 1t is" hereasons. Where
else could it be? Why, hasn't he seen
it with his own eyes. resting right
iainst the rugged points Of the biggest