Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-19
buried in fog. And it was growing dark, too.

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"
l 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 as a closed cellar.
''These rocks won't make a very soft bed, i"
I remarked, after accepting Arthur's propo-
sition.
"No, they won't; and don't think it's safe
70 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 good tree and get into that "
Finding even so large an object as a tree is
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
on the nose.
I've found one, Arthur I exclaimed
"Come along slowly till you touch me. I'm
standing against itn
He did So and then assisted me to climb
the invisible tree
Il was twisted and distorted, like all noun
tain trees exposed to high winds, extending
out at an angle from the great rock under
which its roots found nourishment, so that
its inclined trunk and heavy branches made
by no means the worst of resting places
We slowed ourselves away in the first and
second forks, glad enough to rest after our
hard days tramping.
/ Surprising the time TO be somewhere about
s o'clock, we would have to stay there for
. some eight or nine hours till sunrise, and the
night air, combined with the fog, was cold
and damp.
But, on the other hand we found a few bis
cults il our pockets, and our coats were
/ heavy. We We're not so badly situated after
all
Then, too, the morning would probably be
clear, and with the sun for a guide we could
/ certainly find our way
oh, we can stand this!" we agreed, cheer
ily. It'll be a long night, but that's the
worst Of it. tn do US no harm, and win
teach Us to carry cOmpazoos the next time we
20 mountaineering"
Ia this frame of mind we prepared to tough
it out 1t was a long night and most un-
comfortable one.
At first we could not get TO sleep, try as
we would, and we talked and told stories for
hours Then we began TO feel drowsv, and
settled ourselves as well as we could to take
nap
But the hardness of The rough wood and
the frequent aches and cramps which ran
through Us made sleeping difficult, and even
dangerous, for both of US came within an ace
of falling out of the tree several times during
the night.
Once Arthur, who was above, slipped and
fell directly upon me, carrying me with him,
and we both slipped some feet down the trunk
before we could stop.
''Whewl that was a close shave" painted
he, pulling himself back again.
ITS lucky that this tree doesn't stand up
straight said l. WED have been pumped
down on those hard rocks if it did"
We'll, it isn't very far to the ground, for
tunatelv," answered he. Were not I'D more
than ten or twelve feet, I should say
After this we kept broad awake and passed
the tedious hours somehow or other, but they
We're the longest | ever remember to have
spent.
1t seemed to us that the night would never
be over, and we were wondering whether the
world hadn't stopped turning on its axis,
when Arthur suddenly exclaimed:
Why, can see you, Sam
And looking up could just descry his fig
ure and the shapes Of the branches near him.
Hurrahl It was really morning at last.
The light grew rapidly stronger, and over
head the fog was breaking up Strips of dark
blue showed through the clouds, and We were
now able TO see quite stretch of the ground
over which we had come.
Curious that it clears away faster on one
side than on the other" remarked Arthur.
Il can't see thing under US, while all out
the other ay the rocks show as plainly as
can he
l looked down and saw nothing but fog be-
meath and further out.
1T is queer" said Il never saw fog
cling 10 the ground 50 before in my life, stiH
less only in one place"
just then the sun broke through the vapors
AMI flooded Us with its brilhancy was look
ingup 70 get my bearings from it. when 4
sort OK gasp from Arthur caused me to glance
at him. first In surprise and then in alarm.
He was ciutcbing the trunk with both hands
and gazing downward with staring eyes.
open moUthel and pale faced, a perfect
statue OF terror.
Hastily following the direction Of his look,
l caught one Eliuse of what he saw. and in
s-autiy Rugged the nearest branch like q mad
man
Beneath me was an empty gulf, going down,
down, I'll the tree tops at the bottom looked ike
shrubs, and through the thinning fog saw
that cur tree Ere" out Of the very edge Of a
sheer precipice hundreds Of feet high, over
which 1t hung Ike the arm Of q crane.
Do YOU wonder that we were frightened. CT
that Tor soma minutes we chung there, trying
70 steady our swimming heads and brace our /
trembling nerves after the sudden shock Of /
tina, sight!
What an ordeal that was getting of our
neriious psrch. moving an inch at time,
sliding, holding on. and finally making lase /
plunge TO the safety q the firm ledge! We |
lay there half an hour before we felt able to
move again.
Think how near came % walking right /
Of the edEe.a l kept repeating, over and /
over again.
And then that time when We almost fell /
out the tree together Arthur SAID. shud- /
dering. Suppose We'd taken a fancy to /
jump down IN the nlEaJ,'
We safely descended the mountain. much 4
10 tha relief OF the landlord, who was about /
sending men 70 search for Us. and drove back /
to town: but il was long before We cared 10 4
dwell upon the remembrance Of that rncon- I
sc.0us, careless and frightfully dangerous |
ui-at we had passed up q uee-4anley Il /
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