Evening journal., 1889-09-14
UP A TREE.

what pleasure Arthur Pervis and found IL
taking long walys, or why we should do 50.
when we might just as well ride.
Everybody else, like most Calfornians.
went on horseback whenever it was possible,
and o stroll to the postofioe or along the
beach was the utmost extent Of pedestri
anism.
But Arthur and tramped the country In
all directions, Us we used to do at home pay.
ing little attention to the mild surprise OF the
winter solourneTs, who wondered at our 60
centricity, aud still less to the scornful aston
ishment Of the natives, who can conceive but
one reason Why any one should 20 on foot
that be is too poor TO buy or hire horse
One morning we started out on an expedi-
ton to the Hot Spring canyon, in the mount
aims some six miles from town, intending to
get our lunch at tho hotel there, and after
ward to spend the rest of the day in climbing
the mountains above, toward which we had
always looked longingly during previous Wis
its TO the place.
or We went, at our customary road pace
Of four miles an hour, between the pepper
tree hedges OF the town and out into the open
country, where green grass and growing
crops nlade It hard 70 realize that the month
was winter one, and that our New England
homes were sDothered In snow, with the
Thermometer very likely down below nero.
In fact, it might have been a littls cooker
without any objection from rs, for tbs warm
sun and breeUeieas air soon worked their ef-
fects, and when we reached the little hotel.
precisely an hour And a half after starting.
our crimson faces, relieved and set OF BY
yellow dust gave as a starthngly Indian
eeque appearance, which our tremendous APP
petitee at lunch did not by any means i'll suit.
However, AFTER AN hour or two we were
ready for further operations-the more 10
since, the sky having become overcast, 1t was
much less warm than In the forenoon.
Looks as If the fog might come IN later, >
said the hotel keeper as we st out Keep
an eye out for IL. boys"
Arthur and laughed. We were both from
the eastern Maine sea coast, where for days
at time ron can't see across the street, 50
thick Is the mist, and light California fog
did not strike us as very formidable
IAN right we replied. III we see a reRtl-
lar 'Eastport knotherer' heaving in s5ght
we'll como back"
And, with another laugh, we began scram-
bling up the deep slope, leaving our host
gazing doubtfully after as long as he could
see us
| must say that a more deceitful mountain
than that couldn't be found anywhere. Il
hadn't appeared very lofty when looked at
from below, but the longer we climbed the
higher It seemed b grow, and there were 30
many ridges and gnllies crossing it's side
that, what with going up one and down
another, we must have gone nearly twSoa ~
far MS II the accEivfty had been smooth.
This is more Of Job than thougAk =
pulled Arthur, while we were resting at the
end OF the first hour.
II should say so,s assented /, looking up
toward the top-or rather looking where /
supposed It to be, for another Of those pro
voking ridges barred the way and shut of
every glimpse OF what might be beyond.
IF we don't hurry" continued Arthur, re-
luctantly rising from the bowlder he had been
sitting upon, 81 don't believe we shah gel
there in time for it grows dark early, You
know, and wouldn't be caught up here after
sunset for good deal
Same with me- The landlord says there
are no end Of gulches and precipices all
around and we might easily tumble in or Of
one. Yes, we must hurry.n
So or we started up the ridge, finding, or
crossing it, that there we're. as usual, more
y
all directions and pretty thickly covered with
chaparral and stunted trees-a mixture q
rocks. brush and steep banks anything bat
pleasant to contemplate for thoss who mus
either get through ii or else turn back
But neither Of US being Of the turning bach
sort, we plunged into the labyrinth, with tt,
result that after half an hours hard strux
CLING, we simultaneously stopped and tlrnsC
70 each other in complete bewilderment
ARTHUR, think we're lost.
And I'm sure Of it, SAM
| Wen, that was just the stats az the case
We hadn't the remotest idea where ~ wsrs
nor which way TO 60
Nothing was to be seen but shss-p pima
Giles or long ridges, divided by deep, marrow
gorges, shut In with bushes, and generally
obscure and confusing.
Then, for the first time, we perceived tha
the sky was covered with driving gray scuds
flying 20 low as TO almost touch the tree
tops
Were done for said Arthur, resignedly
The fogs coming, and in half an hour "
might be blind, for all the good our eyes viii
do US
"Oh, not 30 bad as that" said l. ''Thes
fogs are nothing to what we've been used to.
Perhaps not; but youu find that this ON
will be enough and TO spare, down hero i
these gulches, with night coming on. bs
| Sides
There was something in that-a great dee
too much, in fact-and the question arosS
what we're we going to dos
I'VE must 20 down and get as far as "
can before we have to stop. Then we mus
wait till We can see again.
Which may not be tin tomorrow morn
ing
I'VE can't help that. Let's go back towar
the base
but which way is thatl"
Don't know Come ON
And. with this unpromising speech, Arthu
led the way in the direction we had CONF
hoping 70 be able TO retrace our course.
| followed, though without any great col
ddence in his Success, for we had becom
very thoroughly lost before being willing I
acknowledge it, and might have travelled
circles ever since getting into the broke
ground.
We had not gone far before the streamei
OF vapo4 Dsgan Coating areuiid Us III
: wreaths OF steam. They grew longer an
more numesons, until, without knowing whe
or bow it happened, we found ourseiv'