The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-11-14
been rocka, and were doubtless what

been rocka, and were doubtless what
originated the Indian legend.
IAN idea suddenly occurred to me
that this story Of certain death to who
ever went up to that mountain top was a
story Of the Indians to prevent any one
going there.
"'rn bet horse said /, that the
mine Is there, and I'm going to see.'
"Well, to cut 1t short, l left him
there, and with one mule started for the
Chihuandassi. calculated that could
get around in three days, and told him
to camp there and wait for me. It was
nasty work getting down into the river
bed, but did it before night, and had
the satisfaction Of camping on an old
trail that night. EARLY the next morn
ing entered assure at the base OF the
lone mountain. It was a dry water
course, not more than dozen feet wide,
and wound around between high sand
stone walls It was, however, compare
lively free from brush, and got along
famously for time. There were many
rattlesnakes and centtpedes along the old
water course, but nothing more.
81 had been going up the old channel
for probably four hours, getting higher
every step The walls Of the water
course were getting lower, and at this
point was not more than forty feet be-
low the surface. AS I turned q sharp
bend, however, came right up against
q bowlder that completely Allied the creek
bed. The trail ended right there. It
appeared as If the rock had recently
rolled down to where 1t Lay.
II thought that If I could climb over
it could continue on up the water
course. So I started to climb. The
bowlder was rough enough for me to
gain holds for my hands and feet, and
though it was slow, hard work and /
often slipped back, at last I managed to
surmount it and stood on top. To my
intense surprise found myself within a
dozen feet of the floor Of the mesa, and
just above me one arm Of the giant Gao
tus had seen from the other mountain.
Then I determined, instead Of continu-
ing In the dry creek bed, to scale this
wall and 30 reach the mesa, where ex-
pected to find the silver mine.
1.-THE sandstone was soft and I had a
strong knife. Besides, at the edge I saw
some vines hanging over that looked
strong enough to bear my weight II
succeeded In reaching them. So began
to climb the wall.
"At last grasped the hanging vines.
1.-THE stems were covered with ane
points, like prickly pear, but could
not let go without falling. reached
my other hand higher and grasped an
other vine
I'm an instant its tendrils were around
my wrist, other stems fell over the edge
Of the cliff. They curled around my
arms and waist like snakes. Then they
began to draw me up, and almost before
realized it was dragged over the edge
Of the chasm almost to the foot Of the
cactus
1.-The vines dragged me on. othe,
stems curled about my legs and drew
tighter and tighter.
"Theu realized that the Indian story
was no fable. The idea Of being in the
power Of this constructing thing thai
covered acres Of land paralyHed me fo1
an instant The hand that had Just
touched the vines was being crushed IL
the deviish tendons My little fngel
was broken backward by the power O
the vine. The pain brought me to m!
senses, and began to fight for my life
One hand was free, and In It was N.
knife. began to hack at the snakelik
coils Of the devilish vegetable AS fas
as could cut away one running stem
another would coil around me. Fgh
as would, the vines was stronger, ant
On and on it dragged me.
"My foot struck something. and fel
it crush and crumble beneath my heel
looked down. It was q human head
one Of those white spots had seel
through my glass. The body, fearful
shrunken and emsciated, lay Their
among the coinng, twisting vines Nea
it was another.
IL realized it all while I hacked an
struggled. These two had been caugh
in the tolls Of the awful monster hk
myself and strangled.
II was getting weak. The pressur
about my limbs was unbearable. l ha
cut myself badly In cutting the strar
Cling honda l looked over the mes
with wild hope Of seeing some one c
something to help me.
1.-The mesa was all In motion. III
vines were twisting. curling. falling. III
ing. trembling. It was q moving mas
like the ocean, and the waves WEI
reaching and falling toward ma
lit was not the wind blowing th
snakeweed The 6endish plant had III
and motion and every aber Of 1t WI
straining to reach me. knew that
those advancing waves OF black eve
reached me was Lost. Iwould be LII
those shE4veled bodies by the giant ca
tus.
II made q final effort to escape.
could hear the muscles crack and strai
as pulled. cut the thickest stem tn
enveloped me. and for the first tin