The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-06-29
A GREAT TREASURE,
The Strange Mystery Surrounding
Its Disappearance.
A STORY OF EXTRAORDINARY INTEREST,
By FRAME BARRETT.
CHAPTER XIX-CoSrrxuED.

CHAPTER XIX-CoSTINUED
The first thing that noticed in passing
under the peat block that bridged the aw-
iul chasm was the comparative silence. We
could % longer hear the rushing OF the
stream Oh the other side, only the dun roar
Of tho water as it struck the bottom of the
canyon some thousands Of fee, below.
Braces voice was startltngiy distinct
when he spoke.
You tell mo thc thing is on the othor
side of the ropes my gel" he said.
She answered yes. and we went slowly
along the narrow and Jagged led$c. our
faces toward the glittering quartz, seeking
.ntarstice5 and projections for hold to our
hands.
We we're getting away from tho fall, but
at a certain point the natural path returned
toward it in Eig-zag along Il lower prolec-
ton. At the angie which offered little
wider standing space, we stopped.
This here hole was fust showed me by
the Kids mother" said Brace; 1T had
served her father for a Ctchette III quite the
carly days Of this country glory.
A cachelte," he explained, is place
where you keep things snug. Almost every
miner. bofers the Vigilance Committee
nominated me Judge, had cachette. This
was mine. and many ounce I've brought
down here; far you see barrin' accidents.
cts won effd safe. You viii allow that no
one could find his way down here in the
dark" q shuddered at the thought of any
,
and from hero right up TO the hole is a fair
straight line. so that no light could come
down without its bcin' seen; but that ain {
the only safeguard, as you shall sec. Come
on, sir"
We made our way by foot along the mar
row ledge for some distance. still descend
ing. Whom Brace again halted. the light OF
ais torch revealed the yellow stream falling
silently through space, a few feet before
him. That silent fall impressed me with a
- Of T. mt Of a
Us.
The ledge ended abrup IL where Brace
stood: a recess il the wall allowed ample
standing room for as three.
The greaser never got no furder down
than this; bat it weren't fur enough for
me- said Brace. Il had my idea Of gettin'
right. down t. the bottom Of this hole,
wherc these waters must have carried tens
o gold"
But the ledge ends here"
1t do; but he added, lifting his torch,
it goes on again over there"
The light fell on a iuting projection cf
quartz upon the opposite side of tho chasm,
distant ut least twenty feet.
But Won cannot leap that.
Correct end | amt goin' to try"
He laid himself upon his face, and
stretched his arm down the chasrn; when
ne arose. he had a cord in his hand. Pull
in& TINS IN, ne drew up Two coils OF stout
EoUe. As he drew them in. / saw that their
other ends were attached to rocks upon the
opposite ledge, one above the other, with
about four feet between.
We must hitch EN- tight-giye us hand,
sir he said.
helped him to make the ropes taut. and
iasten their loose ends upon the projecting
crags that he had long employed for that
purpose.
There, sir, he said. taking his torch from
Lola and holding it over the black gulf,
there's as pretty a bridge and hand-r2il as
the heart of man could reasonably desire. "
For all that, held my breath "a | saw
him step out Oh the lower rope and make
his way, holding by the upper one, across
shat black abyss. NV turn came, and with
the brood humniug in my ears, / stepped
oUt upon the rope. 1t swung to and fro in
the middle. and | was seized with that ire
slstlblc suggestion OF self-destructiOn which
Affects the Imagination of most people in
looking down from an extraordinary height.
Lola began to cross before | was well off.
and when we stood all three in safety on the
ledge a fervent Thank God" rose from my
heart
Wal we've got to git back ag'in." OBJ
served Brace, as if my thankluncss were a
little premature; "howseyer, faint bad to
think Of Providence when you're in danger;
now, my gel, it, for you to lead on.
You can stay here; you're too heavy for
where I'm going" said she, taking the torch
from his hand.
With Il swiftness that terrified me. she
went down the side Of the precipice, finding
fOuthold where we, looking down from the
projection could see none.
They don't know danger-kids don't. "
said Brace. in a low tone. End" he added.
looking into the depths about him uueasily.
/ wouldn't mind feeling the same myself.
FIRST time | ever felt skeery, down this hole,
and I'm burned if it sha'n't be the last I'm
gcttin too old 10 emily risky work
| could not take my eyes from the light
below, a. it passed in jerks from point to
point. AZ last it stopped, and after ii min
Ute's pause to my great relief, it began to
return.
Quicker aud quicker the light danced
along until ! felt sick and giddy with fear
for the girls safety: and then, with one last
bound, she stood upon our shelf of rock
holding the Great Hesper in ner hand.
Am good:' she asked earnestly. nest
In IN. -. - Il