The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-08

Food creek the first time. My horse had
zone lame early in the afternoon, and al
re plodded ON up the trail continuous
Ow rumble of thunder accompanied thu
bearer sound of his stiff, jogging steps. The
Mountains on either side rose almost from
he creek bed, great shoulder like brown
lopes, clothed with the sombre green of the
imber, such as are characteristic of the
over Rockies. The sky above was cloudy
Thite. and the wind coming in cold putfa
waved the dark tree-t tops to and fro.
Where the creek widened. dashing and
oiling over the stones,' between banks
capped with the debris of spring floods, ]
rev rein, and turning in the saddle looked
p and down the canon, wondering where
|as. Halfway up the mountain side, stand
hg in natural clearing, rose the cliff of
rap rock that had been described to me. its
tide, horizontal cleavage visible even from
hat distance. Across the creek the timber
las thinner, and sometime in the past had
yidently been burned through. The straight.
lender trunks stood up close together,
baking clear, dark shade, and hundreds
fallen ones lay on the ground, silvered
18th age.
l looked rather anxiously for the mouth
the prospect was in search of, but I did
Ot see it until crossed the creek. A ward
two of the swift, clear water was still be-
pre- me when, with rattle that echoed
Pveral seconds, fragments of rock came
(aping down from above. Looking up I
w the black opening of the tunnel mouth
I'D extending from it's lower edge the gray
hd hopeful yellow of the trunk. At first
Thought bucket had been emptied, but a
cond glance showed me man who, COM
IL from the cabin near, had crossed the
de of the dump and was striding down to-
ard me.
"Hello"' shouted above the echo of the
Pntinuing his rapid descent without trying
speak.
''ihis is the Gem Pine claim?" as he
me within talking distance.
"Yes, guess it isl he answered.
''Are you James Callen?'
He nodded again and something like
Pod-natured welcome expressed itself on
features; Think know who You are,"
remarked. l must have been looking ut
m hard, confirming first view into 1rst
OPPRESSION. as he spoke, for in spite of sub
Auent acquaintance my best recollection
him refers to that moment. A tall, mid
Gagged man. with broad shoulders and
ng swinging arms, a belt strapped over
trousers was fastened loosely about his
q
|s flannel shirt. His face was freckled
ut neither tanned nor burned, and he had
q smooth skin and sharp yet high and
gged features that usually denote the
Irnishman. His eyes were blue, the sort
Opaque, decided color that is oftenest
Pm in children's, and with multitude of
inkles about the corners. A beard still
hung from his chin, though his hair,
Fmerly much darker in shade, was
eaked with gray, and when he lifted his
:, as he presently did, he disclosed the
IT that it was lacking entirely on the top.
first glance had been without much
riosity and merely the unpersonal regard
ich Is most naturally turned upon the
familiar; but closer scrutiny gave me
Pn sense of his individuality. saw from
nething in the leisure of his manner that
had not been working; certainly not
ht day, possibly not during q good many
is before, and as followed him up the
Fh, leaving my horse picketed near the
eek, found myself rapidly reviewing his
Pbable habits of life in the place found
Fe indicated the cabin by jerk of his
mb towards the door as he advised me
put my saddle inside. The door step was
pot above the level of the ground and
dirt floor, and, standing in the only
ming blocking the light, the interior re-
led itself as an affair of one room about
I've feet square. The bark had not been
pped from the logs of which it was built
shreds of yellow moss still adhered to
A foot of stovepips was visible outside
an inner view connected it with q
ted cookinR-stove which sat on the earth
bus legs. Along one wall ran a shelf up
which was rather unnecessary number
cooking and eating utensils. Under
tn was table or rather another and
er shelf and beside it wooden arm
lps% rot
e complex manufacture. The prospect
bunk was on the opposite wall, and in
OF it, on his blankets, lay his dog,
wn setter. sleeping with its head
tched out upon its paws.
allen took piece of candle from the
Re above the door and led the way to the |
hel, remarking indifferently that he
light he had enough to show all there
to see. He had taken only few steps
the crooked opening with its uneven
cool, cave-like walls, when he turned |
to point out to me where he had found |
outcrop. As he stood with his arm |
tched out, one knotty finger directed to |
OF far to the left, noticed on the |
md place that looked as though some |
had sat there often. Below was nat
footrest with the print of bootheels on |
black soil where the grass and lichen
been pushed aside. On the other side |
he canon the dark color of the ever
% timber was mixed on its borders with |
vivid green and shivering silvery grey
he high trunked aspens. The leap of
foam on the creek was just visible and
sound of its rush was far enough off to
accompaniment rather than an inter
ion. If Callen had been accustomed
tgue with his encouragement there he
at least shown good taste and sense
mess in scenery.
Ee tunnel was in little more than a
bred feet. Good showing" Callen
without any attempt at impressiveness,
passed the candle along the rocky wall
Fh closed it; but in fact, to person
be enthusiasm considers the comparative
fad OF the positive merely. it was some
more. l think Callen was really
hnelated; 1t would have implied care
less for the pursuit of his life amount
% lack OF common sense; probably it
MN some effort to maintain before me
unmoyed appearance. He hummed
popular tune as we turned to come
and e1tinguished the candle absent
lily. This made my progress decidedly |
hyenient and when reminded him he |
ght brlef1y as he scratched q match |
said. with Renialness that I already
gniz ed as unusual to him, that he for
didn't know the tunnel in the dark as
cooked the supper of bacon. biscuit
canned tomatoes while examined a
Der of specimens from the Gem Pine
decided which ones I would take to
70 my principal, Twas sitting on the
nd outside the door with the pieces of
t. beside me and the dog smiling
contemporary, when Callen came mo
ring bucket of water from the creef
stopped. You'd better take Hale that
largest piece with the streaks aud the
lest with the one chunk to -
ID. THAT il If you van