Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-03-06
MOUNT MYSTERY.

We were lost in the heart of Costa Rica
There were six of us In the party, all
young fellows with little or no experience
and when we realized our situation we
were in despair.
When we started out from the coast It
seemed to us that 1t would be a regular
frolic to spend n couple OF weeks among
the mountains In the interior. At the end
OF that time the brig Pacific would be
ready to depart, and we could then resume
our journey to San Francisco.
The captain OF the vessel endeavored to
dissuade us.
''The natives are not likely to bother
you" he said, "but very little Is known
Of the country beyond the mountains
Strange tales have reached my ears, and
although l am as fond Of adventure as
anybody, the trip would not suit me''
We laughed at the old sailor We were
we'll armed and afraid Of nothing.
SIT is all right" told the captain,
with proper caution there Will be no
danger. We may make valuable dscov-
cries and become famous explorers. It Is
time to unveil the secrets OF this wonder
ful land, and 1t Is nonsense to be frightened
Off by few sailors yarns.
The captain shook his head and said no
more, We completed our preparations
tor the trip, and early one morning started
or in the highest spirits.
When the discovery was made, after we
lad been cam ping out for about week,
that we had lost our way 1t appeared to
muddle our ts&as.
Various attempts were made to head
towards the coast, but in every instance
we were compelled TO return disheartened
and uncertain ~ to our course.
The few natives encountered in our
wanderings were unlike those along the
seaboard. They were light colored, hand
some and active, and fed at our approach,
refusing To hold any communication
with us.
One evening we camped on the Dor
ders Of lovely lake under the shadow OF
n frowning mountain.
There Is something queer about that
mountain" remarked Walpole, the only
sailor In our party.
''Queerl' replied cautiously 'Every
thing IL queer I'm this peculiar land.
What Is 1t about the mountain that strikes
your"
"While have been resting here" said
Walpole, who was lazily reclining on the
grass, ~ have been using my eyes. The
mountain is rs steep on this side as the
face OF stone wall. II 1t Is that way all
around the top must be inaccessible ~
"Well," answered, ."who wants to
climb to the tops"
az do, for one," responded Walpole.
''The luminous cloud or vapor around the
summit and reaching down the sides Is
strange thing. just watch 1t for a mo-
ment.n
looked upward at the precipitous mass
OF rock. The cloud was stationary, and
looked more like steam than anything
else.
Occasionally" said my companion, 81
see birds fly out Of the cloud, and after
circling about for awhile they always re-
turn. Then, II my ears do not deceive
me, aud they are keen ones, | can dis
tinguish various voices all coming from
the direction Of the cloud"
why, man, you are losing your
Senses" interrupted. ''If the summit
Is inaccessible what can there be up there
10 make noise ~
birds at least" said the sailor, with n
smile, IL can swear to seeing the birds.
don't know what else may be up there,
but several times In the last half hour l
have heard the claug OF metal and the
sound Of human voices
''He IL right" said Hinton, another
member OF our party. al have heard the
same sounds, but l didn't like to men
ton It,.
'wny not explore n little ~ suggested,
lndifrerently.
To my surprise everybody agreed. The
men were tired roaming about aimlessly
with disappointment ut every turn. They
were ready for anything for change.
In the morning two men started In one
direction around the base of the mountain,
xyl n txyo In. la ~
was TO proceed until they met, and then
return together.
| remained with one man Mt the camp.
Others might investigate Mount Mystery,
rs we called IT, but felt too fatigued for
such All effort.
During the day we lounged about and
watched the cloud wrapped phenomenon
before us More than once ! heard a
elatter apparently in the upper air, and
once or twice | was sure that / heard
voices. Evidently Mount Mystery was IA
good name for this freak of nature.
Late In the afternoon our comrades re-
turned. They had walked all day, COW
ering many miles, and they had learned
nothing except that the mountain pre-
scented the same perpendicular wail-like
appearance all the way around.
~ one place, - said Hinton, tive saw
a tolerably large stream of water trickling
down the sides OF the rock So there is
water up there, and II may he that the
whole surface is productive and inhab
ted
"You forget / objected, "that It is
impossible for any living thing except
bird TO get up there"
''Of course | don't attempt to explain
II, said Walpoic, 'but 1t is possible that
ages ago the mountain sloped down, at
least on one side. An earthquake or
landslip may have left it in its present
condition. with a whole tribe of people
stranded there among the clouds don't
say IL Is 80, but that may be the way
Night came upon us again, and we were
glad 10 rest.
what is thatN
Hinton was standing over me pointing
to the mountain. l was wide awake in a
moment and listened intently.
High above the earth | heard voices
singing what seemed TO be barbaric
chant. Mingled with the voices l could
hear the clash and sonorous peal Of
musical instruments.
What do you say now'" asked Wal
pole, coming up.
Every man in the camp was awakened,
and we spent the greater part of the night
listening to the marvellous concert in the
clouds.
The dawn Of day found us looking at
each other with pale faces and anxious
eyes.
shall we break camp and mover" !