The National tribune., 1891-06-18


some branches and made a rough hut Of the
hemlock houghs, also patched mp one Of
the sheds with fresh boughs 10 keep of The
dew.
A fire was lighted, and around its genial
warmth we drank hot coffee and listened TO
the stories told by the Indians Of the dread
ful demons that appeared at the lake as soon
as the sun went down; of how no one had
ever returned who stayed there nj night
We two Europeans of the party did good
deal Of thinking as TO how they knew about
this il no one had ever come back; who
STAYED late enough TO see these devils; but
we did not express our doubts lest they
should take Oflense and leave us IN the
lurch
We did however, tell them that our
"Great Spirit" was quite able to manage
their devils and that they would see that
both we and the Indian who stayed with us
would come back safely.
Having piled the fire with big logs, we
rolled up in the blankets, clothes and all,
and slept long and heartily. As the first
etreal,s Of light shot upward over the mount
aims, we were up and partaking Of our frugal
repast OF shin biscuit and coffee, while our
two packers had already started up the trail.
We were soon ready 10 follow, and shotgun
ACROSS Our SHOULDERS,
struck the trail, silently following our guide,
who Eatchet in hand, led the way.
The puih led rapidly upward through
thick undergrowth of vines and creepers,
while the sunber forests of white spruce,
cedar and hcmock lowered over our heads.
The stiffness of the early morning was I'M
broken, except when some dead branch or
rotten tIey crashed down away of In the
forest There seemed 20 be no animal life,
not bird; even the flies and musketoes
had lvit as.
Suddenly pausing, the grave Indian who
was cur guide, mOti0ning TO huge cleft
rock which lowered on the left remarked ::
"Hcre begins the land Of the spirits. That
a. their work.' Considering comment un-
nucc .saly, hr turned and pushed onward.
"The old fellow ought TO have read
Dante said John, my companion.
III we are killed by the spirits, we will
nut up the proper sign, said L All hope
abandon. ye who enter here"
Farther conversation was rendered i'm
possible. fer the path which we had been
following now vanished, and we were obliged
TO concentrate all our attention TO the work
Of following, step by step, the guide. Some
heavy storm had swept across this part OF
the mountains, Tor huge trees were ever
turned, making
A PERTERT MAZE.
Tie th0my underhrush had filled in all
the space below, SO that We Travelled in the
air, following the hinge trunk Of one tree
until we reached another lying across II 4;
then on 60 this one, up and down, now walk
ing, now creeping, here a jump, there
scramble up; travelling a mile 10 get onward
300 yalds
For nearly two hours we kept on without
n rest. when we overlook the two packers,
who were taking smoke upon the uptumed
roofs of a tree Here we paused and smoked
qnie; pipe. The road, the guide said, was
Just Ike this all the way 10 the lake, but
there il was more open.
while The others were sitting on the ground
i scrambled along mp the trunk Of the tree
some 80 feet, aud found a good place on the
stump of some limbs. As j sat ] was good 80
feet above the ground, and as there were no
trees rcs. ing on this0ne, II moved with the wind
gently 10 ard fro. j had hardly seated myself
when caught through a vista, glimpse Of the
blue ocean. How bright and placid il looked
litile white sail came in sight, but passed
quick y out arHin. Seeing that by ascending
more could get better view, crept on up,
and soon bad the whole panorama Of the coast
i%"s aroused from M roverie by shouts to
come on, aud ] saw tl6 party below already
advancing. Creeping hown j reached my
guns, and Qnce more We plunged along up and
down,
scrAMBLTNoAtRkwLrNo,
bat steadily advancing, until about II, when
We once more bad the pleasure Of walking on
Mother Earth.
Fora me it required a liberal use Of our
batehsts 10 make way, but soon the under
brush h.uued out, aud through the trees ahead
We could -ee the sunlight gIiHtiug on water.
skirtiEg the lake we reached little woody
neck which ran cut into the lake. Here The
guide psnIc,ed We should camp; but espyiug y
emal, ism out in the lake little distance
directed Dim % cut some small sgpings which
were growing near, and opening the canvn,
canoe, much tg the surprise 0f the Indians,
Slipped ln.se sticks into their loops aud
launched l upon iAc lake.
IiTls Only big enough for two, so took the
camp eqI sage in aud padded across 10 ths
is-aIc. Il.E Tas 5 cosy spot, high out Of the
water. villa 4lt,le hollow near lis center, Will,
sever. huge cedar trees with their OVcrhang
inE lT rr..c 10 made perfect roof over our nest
Lau iEE BE stores, ] returned and tying The
rope g. che tau0c loit the cuG with John, while
j ierril4 iae guide 10 the island The r0pt
was loHr taoEgh 10 reach over by tying tht
pack rope. .IG tie end OF a long vine.
A. soon D. We landed John pulled it back
and cutting nc vine, brought over vine, Topos
aud hIM-rit
Hc sEo4t.d sdieu to the packers aud tol,
them 90 COle o. this place ia three days for us
N-th silent waving of the hands they disap
pcaredt aul probably found food for converse
tion iu ihc hope Of getting our belongings
the
DEVILS OF TEE LAKE
KILLED Us 1ly reasons for going 10 the islam
were twDiald. d prevented our guide lr0I
slipping sbsy aud leaving ne Il he got wOrric
about sp.rIis. aud VIC were safe from wild beas,
o. IlucH greater extent than IL we wer
Canifea CO., iiiC shore.
Tie afternoon was occupied in making on
nesting place In the hollow comfortable Hal
lug gathered loose stones, Of which there wei
many n tHo hollow we built a nice ireplaC
Whore convenient limb enabled us TO han
TIE pot over b..
We tHcT collected lot Of dry moss and mad
the place We had selected for sleeping dry an
soft. DH tLis we spread heml0ck boughs az
arranged clo-s-pieces overhead, on which v
spread oar canoe, using 1t as a tent top
might,
Mhie the other two were making the
prepniat ole, ! took the canoe aud my shotgL
and paau.td down along the shore Of the lax
It was srpaIrDtly some TWO miles long by ha
Hmilc wide narrower ln places, with yariO
little deep ldDntatiOns where the mounta
streams Tau in.
AZ the Tar end the overflow of The lal
found iis way nOsily over o fall Of 30 or
feet aud llen wound down q gorge 10 4
ocean. Tie amount Of water was incOnsids