Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-06-29

the distance from the top to the bot
tom. The man stopped here and with
much difficulty clambered up until he
could reach this vine, up which he
went, hand over hand, as a sailor goes
mp rope. About twenty feet from
whore he started he ceased climbing,
and giving the vine swinging motion,
after two or three vibrations suddenly
disappeared, apparently into the very
facs of the rock
The hounds came on. They lost the
trail at the stream. up which the fugi-
tive had waded. 1t delayed them q
little while-it was all he had expected
and then they picked it up again,
following it eagerly and plunging into
the ravine, their deep voices echoing
among the rocks and making as great
a clamor as though there had been full
pack engaged in the chase. Suddenly
they stopped and began to sniff about the
foot of the cliff where the man had
climbed up, holding their heads up and
baying at regular intervals
Three mon now made their appear
ance leading their horses, which they
had been obliged to dismount, in order
that they might pick their way down
an almost impracticable path. The
dogs were trying to crawl up the face
of the rock
well, I'll be burned if tibet chap
amt clum' up to tibet there gravevine
an gone up tibet like squirrul," said
one of the men.
"Is there no way to get to the top of
this cl;tf?" asked one who seemed to
be the chief of the party.
"This here cleft" said he who had
spoken first. ooh, yes! thar's way
roun'; but hell heve got a good start
on us, an I reckin thet's bout wat he
was up to. They does try all manner
er tricks when the dogs is benin 'em,
terber sho'. But come on, we'll see eff
we can't catch up with him. Here,
Pete-here Jack, {" to the dogs, which
were with some difficulty prevailed
upon to leave the spot where the trail
ended
When the little party at last reached
the top of the cliffs and the dogs were
set to work they failed to find the trail.
though they went over the ground
thoro 1ghly, pacing hither and thither,
with their noses down and their tails
swinging back and forth like pendu-
lums.
"Now thet's wat I call GURUS, said
the master OF the hounds. ",That fell
Ter amt never been up here"
"Where did he go, them" asked the
officer of the law, for such was the
chief of the party.
"N'w, thet's jes W at I'd like to know,
merse'f," replied the other. "He
c'udn't o flowed away"
"The dogs must have been at fault,
said the sheriff's deputy.
"No, stranger" said the man, "them
thar houns never was at fault yit, es
long es ] hes had 'em; I'll sw'ar by 'em
TO- jedge an jury"
The speaker then went to the verge
of the cliff, and, lying down on his
belly, looked over.
"Cantsee nothin' from thar" he said,
getting up. Then he clambered out
on the trunk Of the tree that overhung
the abyss. "By golly!" he shouted,
"he's thar
"Where?"
DIN hole down thar. Yer c'uldn't
see it to save your life frum anywhar's
elst but right here It looks, fur all
the worl', like a great big chimney
swaller's nes', and Til bet my hoss an
my dogs to boot tibet he's in thar"
He may be in there, as you say,
said the sheriff, but the question is,
How is he to be got out?'
"I'll git him out" said the man.
Didn't barg'in to ketch yer man fer
yer?"
ayes, you did, but I have no desire
to see you throw your life away, bar
gain or no bargain, and 1 know that
this is desperate man you propose to
tackle at great disadvantage.
"a barg'in s barg'in," said the
other, unsheathing big huntiug-knife
that was buckled round his waist, and
siding down the grapevine with it
gripped between his teeth.
When he got opposite the opening in
the wall of rock he held fast with his
left hand, and taking the knife out of his
mouth with the right, called out. Those
above could hear all that was said,
though they could not see the speakers
"Hellow, stranger!" he said, "kin yer
'commodate another Teller in thar, ur is
the house crowded."
Waiting few minutes and getting
no answer to his demand, he called
again.
"Look out the do, landlord" he
shouted; when folks is wantin' to
stop at yer tavern. is this here the way
to treat 'em? knows yer're at home,
an less'n yer be drunk, yer're jis'
grumpy, an tibet do look bad in man
wat keeps tavern. Come, now, femme
hear from yer, fellow-citizen.
As it was evident that this man did
not intend to be denied, the occupant
of the cave at last made his appear
ance.
"Look here, my frien," he said. fix
ing his fierce eyes on his I'm Welcome
visitor, "did yer never hear tibet old
sayin', Better let sleepin' dogs lie p
Eli yer didn't, yer hears it now"
cob, yes" was the reply, II have
heered it afore. but heve cotch many
a sleepin' dog by the throat an he'll him
till the breath was out'n him, an I ain
skeered Nv dogs nur men, sleepin' nur
wakin'. Thar's some folks up here on
the top Nv this here house Nv your'n as
re- In soo xror x.>G 4, ,,,>,.