Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-04
UP A TREE.

No one In Samanos could ever understand
what pleasure Arthur Peryis and found In
taking long walks, or why we should do %,
when we might just a. well ride.
Everybody else, like most Californians.
went on horseback whenever II was possible,
and a stroll 70 the postoffice or along the
beach WAS the utmost extent OF pedestri-
aniun-
But Arthur and tramped the country in
all directions, ~ we used TO do at home, pay
ing little attention TO the mild surprise Of the
winter sotouruers who wondered at our &C.
centricity, and still less TO the scornful aston
ishment Of the natives, who can conceive but
one reason why any one should go on foot
that he Is To-, 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 10
get our lunch at the 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
OF 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 made it hard to realize that the month
was a winter one, and that our New England
homes were smothered in snow, with the
thermometer very likely down below zero.
In fact, 1t might have been little cooler
without any objection from us, for the warm
sun and breezeless air worked their ef-
iects, 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 us a startlingly Indian
asque appearance, which our tremendous ap-
petites at lunch did not by any n1Dsns Iii suit
However, after an hour two we were
ready for further operations-the more 50
since the sky having become overcast, it was
much less warm than in the forenoon
Looks as il the fog might come in later"
aid the hotel keeper we set out Keep
an eye out for it, boyx'
Arthur and laughed We were both from
the eastern Maine sea coast, where for days
at time you can't across the street. so
thick is the mist, and light California fog
did not strike us very formidable.
IAN right We replied. III we a regu-
| lar PASSPORT srnotherer' heaving In sight
| we'll come 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 more deceitful mountain
| than that couldn't be found anywhere It
hadn't appeared very lofty when looked at
from below, but the longer we climbed the
| higher it seemed to grow and there were so
many ridges and gullies crossing its side
that, what with going up one and down
another, we must have gone nearly twice as
far as if the ACTIVITY had been smooth
This is more Of job than l thought"
| pulled Arthur, while resting at the
end Of the first hour.
II should say So" assented |, looking up
toward the top-or rather looking where
supposl 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. II don't believe we shall get
there in time, for it grows dark early, you
know, and wouldn't be caught up here after
sunset for a good deal"
Same with me. The landlord says there
are no end of guches and precpices all
around, and we might easily tumble in oil
one. Yes, we must hurry"
| So off we started up the ridge, finding. on
crossing it, that there were. as usual, more
!
all directions and pretty thickly covered with
chaparral and stunted trees-a mixture of
rocks, brush ard steep banks anything but
pleasant to contemplate for those who must
either get through it or else turn back.
But neither of us being of the turning back
sort, we plunged into the labyrinth, with the
result that after half an hours hard strug-
| CLING, We simultaneously stopped and turned
to each other in complete bewilderment
Arthur. | think we're lost"
And I'm sure of it, Sam"
Well. that just the state Of the case.
| We hadn't the remotest idea where we were
nor which way to GO
Nothing was To be seen but sharp pima
Giles or long ridges, divided by deep, narrow
gorges. shut in with bushes, and generally
obscure and confusing
Then. for the first time we perceived that
the sky was covered with driving gray scuds,
flying so low as to almost touch the tree
tops.
Were done for" said Arthur. resiguedly.
The fog's coming. and in half. an hour we
might be blind, for all the good our eyes will
do us.
"Oh. not so bad as that" said l. These
fogs are nothing to what we've been used to- :"
perhaps not but you'll find that this one
will be enough and to spare. down here in
these gulches, with night coming on, be-
sides"
There was something in that--a great deal
too much, in fact-and the question arose.
what were we going to dol
We must go down and get as far as we
can before we have to stop Then we must
wait till We can see again"
! Which may not he till Tomorrow morn
ing"
I'VE can't help that Let's go back toward
the base"
But which way is thatf
Don't know. Come on
And, with this unpromising speech, Arthur
led the way in the direction we had come,
hoping to be able to retrace our course.
followed though without any great con-
fidence in his success for we had become
very thoroughly lost before being willing to
acknowledge it, and might have travelled in
circles ever since getting into the broken
| ground.
| We had not gone far before the streamers
! of vapor began floating around like
wreaths of steam They grew longer and
more numerous until without knowing when
or how it happened We found ourselves
burtsi in fog. And 1t was growing dark, too.
Arthur finally stopped and said, decidedly:
| sam, it's perfect foolishness to keep on in
this way. We don't know where we're 60
ing. We're only firing ourselves out. and
/ the first thing we know we may pitch head
first of some precipice. Let's stop and wait
for morning"
was Obliged to admit that he was right
Between darkness and fog, we could not see
where We placed our feet. and all about was
as black Is a closed cellar
These rocks won't make q very sbft bed,r
remarked. after accepting Arthur's propo
sition.
NO, they won't, and don't think it's safe
to sleep on the ground. There are California
lions around these mountains, and I've heard
that rattlesnakes are not very scarce, either
We must find a good tree and get into that
Finding even 80 large an object As . tree ID
not the easiest task in the world, when one
can't see anything whatever. and we CROPPED
about unsuccessfully until we began to think
that we should have to take our chances Of
California lions, rattlesnakes and any other
dangers the mountains might afford. But
Just then | came in collision with something
round and hard that gave me a severe bump