San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-27
A PERILOUS ADVENTURE.

| claim on Une NefQlSTlS rlVer, AnTee miles
above where the city of Coffeyville now
stands.
There were few settlers in that vicinity at
the time, and game, such as deer, wild tur-
keys, geese and ducks, were found in great
Numbers along the stream.
10, who was the proud poSsesSsor Of a
! double barreled shot gun, spent much of his
time, when not engaged in work on the = aim.
in roaming through the woods in search of
game, and managed by these frequent excur-
sions into the woods to keep the family well
supplied with fresh meat.
The river ran a westerly course from the
Barton cabin for about mile, then made an
abrupt curve to the left, flowing in a south
easterly direction. Just where the river
makes the short turn, on the left bank stands
steep cliff that rises to the height of $50
feet above the water. This is known as Ea-
gle Rock, deriving its name from the fact
that for many years pair Of eagles built
their nest in the rocks about midway along
the face of the cliff.
10 often passed by this ledge in his ram
bleS through the woods; and one warm o.
tober day he discovered that a swarm of bees
were busily at work in a crevice of the rocks
about forty or fifty feet from the summit of
the cliff. r
He told his father of this fact ON his return
home, and endeavored to induce him to help
him to devise some means Of obtaining the
honey.
But Mr.. Barton discouraged any such ef-
forts, and replied that it was an undertaking
Of more danger than profit.
But this was far from checking Joe's de
termination to see what could be done in that
direction
He returned to the cliff the next day, and
took a mental survey of the surroundings.
On closer inspection of the ledge, he dis
covered that shelf of rock ran along its face
just below where the bees had taken up their
quarters, and could easily be reached by let
ting a rope down from the top
He had brought rope wifi him-one that
his father had used in sinking well. 1t was
about twenty-five yards long, and would
easily reach from the top of the cliff to the
shelf of rocks to which he wished to descend.
He tied one end of the rope to a small tree
that stood on the very edge of the precipice
Then he threw the other end over, and com.
mepced to descend.
The first twenty feet of his descent was
more Of an incline than perpendicular, and
as he slowly made his way over this by means
Of the rope he noticed signs that indicated
that some sort Of wild animals had recently
made their den in the rocks.
He was fully convinced of this fact when,
descending little further, he caIne to q pro-
lection in the cliff and discovered several
large holes extending back into the precipice
He continued his descent till he reached the
shelf below, and here he found an easy foot
ing
a few yards along the cliff. just above the
shelf of rock, he discovered the bees busily
svarming about a large crevice.
But he saw at a glance that it would be i'm
possible to obtain the honey without the use
of powder to blow away the rocks.
The creyice or opening in which the bees
had taken up their quarters was securely pro
tected from invasion by huge bowlder that
would weigh ton at least
After examining the place carefully, Joe
came to the conclusion that the bowlder could
readily be removed by placing a good charge
Of powder in the crevice behind it and light
ing it by means Of fuse.
1t would take but short time to try the
experiment, at least, and he made up his
mind to do SO at once.
He hurriedly climbed to the top of the CLIFF,
and then returned home, where he obtained
a couple Of pounds of blasting powder and
about twenty feet of fuse, that had been icft
over from blasting in the well.
He said nothing to his parents regarding
his intentions, but hurried back to the cliff
alone anxious to put his plan into execution.
He placed thespowder and fuse in his coat
pocket, and again climbed down the rope to
the shelf Of rock on the face of the cliff. He
then wrapped the powder in a long, fiat par
Gel, and placing one end Of the fuse in this,
he tied it securely with Irvine. He then Slip
ped the parcel into the crevice behind the
bowlder as far as he could, and made ready
to light the fuse
The bees flew about him, angry at the in.
trusion, and drove him along the shelf sew
eral yards, where he waited for their rage to
subside before lighting the fuse.
He then looked at his-rope, and made sure
that it was all right and in its proper place
1t would not do to make any miscalculations
He must be ready to climb the minute he
fred the fuse, as there would be no time to
lose.
Seeing that everything was secure and the
rope in place, he picked up the end of the
fuse and drew a match from his pocket. He
cast a glance over the edge Of the precipice
as he did So aud drew back with a shudder.
A hundred feet below the river reared
through a mass of sharp, jagged rocks.
What if the rope by some mischance should
become detached from its fastening above9