The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-06-22

we reached Petersville--the most wretched
collection Of rotten shanties ever saw.
Not a living creature was to be seen;
there wac not foot-mark in the slushy
snow which lay ankle deep upon the ground;
1t seemed completely abandoned. But the
Judge led the way through the deserted
rows of tumble-down huts, and presently
pointed to one from which q column OF
blue smoke was ascending through the
clear air.
We were on a plateau in the very heart OF
the mountains. All around the raggeG
peaks rose high into the still air. tinted
with purple glow IN the shadow. and the
loveliest rose pink where the sunlight
fell dpOn the snow. Where the snow
had slid away from the precipitous sides,
the granite. streaming with water, glittered
in the bright rays as If it were lncrusted
with jewels.
As we came TO a halt waiting. for a re-
Spouse To Braces cali tho silence was
broken by 4 prolonged roar like that OF dis
tant thunder, as some rock foosened by the
frost broke away and hurtled down the UNI
fathomed canyon.
a man came from the building. which stIll
bore faint trace of the word Hotel" on its
facade, and, greeting Brace with the air OF
an old acquaintance, said he had got every
thing aired, and a supper all ready to put
down to the fire. Brace had seen the ne
cessity Of preparing him for the reception.
couple of rooms had been made as de-
Gently comfortable as might be expected.
We left Lola there, and strolled out while
dinner was preparing.
The end of the town abutted upon wide
stream that was tearing and whirling along
among the gigantic powders that marked
its course, toward black cleft which d.
Vidcd a towering mountain in two. Fan
tastic Is are the effects which characterize
the heights of the Sierra. | had seen moth
ing comparable to this. 1t was as if some
mighty hand had split the mountain in
half.
Il have know'd the time" said the Judge.
in prcssiyely, when both sides of this river
was lined with miners and every one on
'em worth his thousands of dolars!"
! had no sympathies with the past glories
Of the stream. My mind was filled with adj
II -ation of the savage beauty of the scenery
around.
Thar" said the Judge. finging piece Of
wood, part of an appliance which might
have washed gold untold. into the turbid
that1l pass the Great Hesper in less time
than it will take us to get back TO the ho-
tel"
us It through that cleft we have to eo?"
All, sir. and down into the very innards
of it.
/ was looking toward the dark chasm with
a feeling Of awe, when Brace touched my
elbow. He was dragging at his chin tutt,
his lower lip protruding. his heavy brows
-
snow.
The man from the hotel been down here
is that what you mean! | asked.
1t amt him, sir. that mark. Look at it
its one-footed man! End" he added.
Stridinr forward and looking closer. END
it's a one wooden-legged man" and then.
with conviction. It's the burned Niger
that's been spyin' after us. Leave him to
me. He amt goin' to spy Us tomorrow,
not hef | knows it,"
/ approached the marks, and perceived
that beside the foot was d round hole made
by the wooden stump.
Alter dinner Brace looked to the pine
torches he had brought up and spent the
evening in drying them carefully, while
chatting with the man Of the hotel. He
said not a word about our discovery, nor
did the man speak Of any visit or being in
the horse. This, with a certain cunning in
his little red eyes, alarmed me.
We were called at four o'clock the next
morning, Brace saying that we must start
early, in order to get our job done in time
to get back to a comfortable dinner. but in
reality, / belle &c, to preclude the POSSIBLE
ity of being followed. When we had fin
ished our breakfast Brace. taking the hotel
man by the button, said:
"Old pal, you hey got a stranger staying
in this house, | reckon"
The man scratched his ear, looked up and
looked down. and then, at jerk of his but
ton, biinkad up at Brace, and said
Wal. | allow hev.'
"A Wooden-leggsd stranger, think?"
Tho same shufIlng, and then;
'Waal. | allow he hey got wooden leg"
a nigger. believe"
WAL. nigger. accordin' to appear
ances."
Il kinder fancy he's in tho little chamber
over there. 'Twarn't u swine | heard
gruutin were itf"
"You kin inspect him, il YOU like"
Il viii After which, hef take a fancy
TO naIlin' Of hin tip for four and twenty
hours for the same number o dollars. you
VIII allow me the use Of a hammer and
some thrcc-inch pints."
Il VIII do that" said the man; and the
two, having shaken hands on the bargain,
lie went oil to get the articles required,
whlio Brace looked into tho room.
II the same said Brace. and. turning
up his sleeves. he proceeded to nail up the
door in Il business-ike manner.
Il don't think he will trouble us, unless
he kin afford 70 make it worth the Old pala
while TO let him out" said Brace, rs we
started from the house; end even then he
Won get much OF a chance, ScCln' as no
mortal man can get down that hole without
a light. and we We got eyes for TO sec hef a
light is follerin on us,"
1t was dark, despite tho show that lay
upon the ground Brace led the way with
pine torch, which burned sluggishly in
the mist that cnvclopcI rs. Lola. hofding
my hand lightly. we Followed close behind
Brace, WHO kept tho torch low to show the
nature OF the path; nevertheless. we slipped
and flpundered considerably in stepping
nom hpwlder to bOwdcr the half melted
snow rendering it impossible to obtain a
firm footing.
Under other circumstances Lola would
have enjoyed the difficulties and laughed
at our mishap3, but now she neither smiled
nor poke. Sometimes she would press my
hand little tighter-that was all the sign
she gave. We followed the course OF the
river, guided 10y the sound of the rushing
waters. As we proceeded the descent grew
mere and more rapid. the stream forming a
long succession Of falls, and. the light in
creasing. the rocks and powders about us
became visible through the gray mist. At
length our progress was stopped by huge
| rock that rose perpendicular before Us.
Hank" said the Judge as we stopped TO
regain the breath that had been pumped
out OF our lungs by the last scramble.
l listened We seemed TO have turned
our backs on the stream-its rushing
sounded more distant than | had yet
heard it. l said this.
"Hark again." said Brace. Then, as
| leaned my ear attcntively, heard besides
the swlring and dashing noise in our rear
a muiHed roar, that seemed TO come from
| the Very bowels Of the earth | almost
Iahcled l lelt the rock vibrating under m
You're right" said Brace, when I gave
/
| IS that stream shootin down thousands Of
| feet to the bottom of the great hole. II it
| warn tfOr the burned mist" ne added. hold
| ing up tho torch. which revealed but a few
| feet above our heads of the granite wall hy
| our side, you'd see that we're now stanain'
| right between the two sides of the divide
! we looked ut last night. We air standin'
| right over the canyon, with per APPS four or
| i've thousand feet of nothing under us, on
! a lump OF rock that's tumbed down from M
/ above. and wedgeditselt here, cause some
1 thin stopped its goiu' furder. end it do
] tremble, | allow. It aiu't soudl It's moved
( lump since | knew it in the old DAYS.
| and one o. these days Il chunk from IN
| above VIII come down and start it of Tor
| God an ali"
4 thinkwe may as well get or it. in that
case"
| Wall. yes, It amt more risky standin'
| on 1t than standin' under it; but as we've
! got to 90 under it, and down the hole. we
| may as well Git.
He led the way along the trembling rock
a dozen yards may be-the rushing water
| sounding upon the left of US. and then
| stretched out his left arm to stop us. He
| advanced cautiously. and holding out the
! torch ar arm s-length, the light fell unon
| the yellow water as it poured down into