The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-05-26

ultl, anu Ahte ana IN lfuuI " VIZ
an even hOttsr day than yesterday and
the tramp was a Weariaome one BY
the time we arrived At the foot Of the
STEM we were quite ready 70 rust q few
minutea In the shadow Of the rock. for
GOODNESS and breath.
"No, can't do i'll" said Mr. Birch
more. wiping his forehead and glaneing
hOpele'Sly mp a. the narrow white foot
path that seemed TO mount almost
straight upward 70 the distant summit
just leave me here, with few sand
witches and n bottle Of hock and shall
DO very comfortably ill you come back "
II was certainly very ArduOus work
clambsring mp that laddsrlike path.
and dOubt whether Rates detRFminA-
ton and mind would have held out mad
the motive which urged ~ breu merely
one Of curiosity Bnt thu. top was gained
At lust. and we threw ourselves down On
the dry grass 20 rest and 10 he tanned
by the welcome breezr that blew there
Slurk placed the basket in little mol
low where some bushes kept Of the d.
rert rays Of the sun and stretched MIN
self Al full length Oeside It.
Nov let rs walk about suggested
Kate. At length, in an undertone. I'VE
must are what there n 10 be seen
We had already arranged all the steps
by which we were u prOcesd " the
achievement Of our purpEs and we felt
that the sOOnsT II was ended now the
better Tbs surface on which We
stAHld though preserving n general level
was full Of irregularities and uneven
nes~. It VIVA OvergrUwn with low buEhUa
and pArvhed grass with perhaps halt n
d1zsn starved and nislVEeT trSsA Hare
and there the naked r0ck JuttSd forth
FROM the thin soil cFumbling and
weather worn, its surface stained IN
places with dry lichsnA The sntirr
table WAS Hcarrely twO-thirda Of IN Arrr
IN AREA. and n more fOrlOFn and unCOn
genial sIpIt It would be hard to lind even
In the midst Of summer The cave 10
which the rOhlsrs livsil wRs somewhere
lower down. we had passed it, sntrRnCp
on our way up. but II WAS herr prOla
bly, that an outlook was kept over tnr
country. 70 spy out the approach Of VIC
tins or Of enemies II struck, me that Il
was hardly worth while to be a handtt.
Il one must put up with such bleak and
unAttrRCtivp quarters In which to carry
on the business
Kate and wandered over this barren
summit hand in hand The uIUment
was now very near that was 10 make Z
great change IN the world for bIth VI
US We felt somehow ~ II we wRrr
taking leave Of n certain part Of OuI
lives then At least remember gazing
ont acTOss the WIDE sxp4nse Of sunlight
country that stretched far away on
every side and wondering whether Il
would luDk the same an hour hence
Slurk all the while lay bssids his basket
and appeared to be asleep
We came ~ the brow Of sort Of shell
or shallow declivity dsrpnding whIrE
we found ourselves on lower level by
some six OF seven feet and 40 mnrh Ol
the area a. lay behind M ctzuNsl V hp
visible Advancing few pA,'pS farther
W. paused abruptly On the tTigp OF n
da.k profound cleft which gHIHri rlghl
1T our feet. II was 40 narrow that OIIr
might easily leap acrOs It ut IT. WHILST
FasANa b"A ~ "aaH NJ NuNA AlN hlt
that | could Aee ii might descend To Ihr
very base Of the Stein PeeI1ng down
ward earnestly however my eys- D-
coming accustomed TO the gI,Em could
dimly discern what seemed 10 bp n UOi
tom at depth Of not more than twenty
feet.
Its an awful thing to DE- after ALI
] murmured after 4 lO1g InsptE'tIOn
looking up at Kate
Are you really was all her answer
"Iss, said !, shAme1 by her resolu-
ton. Let him come"
She mounted the little ridge, and stood
with her graceful figure silhouettcd
against the blue heavens. |, below,
turned up the cuffs Of my sleeves and
buttoued my coat across my chest.
"Slurkr' called she, in a clear, pene-
trating tone, bring the basket here, II
you please. We mean to take our lunch
con on this side"
She remained standing there, with her
back toward me. From my lower posi-
ton could not see whether Slurk were
answering her summons with alacrity
or not; but since it would be his last OPP
portunity Of obeying her orders, | was
content to let him take his time. By and
by he appeared, with the basket on his
arm; he descended the ledge, and Kate
followed him, with her eyes on me.
Set 1t down there, near the edge Of
this pit; not quite so near, please. Now
take hold Of himY'
The last words were spoken in . sharp,
ringing tone, and at the same moment
the girl drew q long knife from beneath
the overskirt Of her dress and stood with
It in her hand. Surprised at her action,
hesitated half an instant-in that half
instant Slurk had thrown himself to-
ward me and grasped me around the
body with his long. powerful armA Al
most simultaneously with his attack ]
felt myself borne down by q heavy
weight from behind and my arms pin
toned The struggle for a minute or
two was tremendous, but | felt that |
was overpowered. Ahand was pressing
hard against my windpipe. Kate stood
there with her knife, a new and strange
expression on her face, but she did not
stir.
At length q painting voice close to my
cara voice which ! knew well, and
which. heard now, 80 amazed me that
I almost ceased 10 resist-said;
1--we got him safe here, slurk. Have
you got his isgsT'
A grunt from slurk intimAted that he
had.
"Now then, Kittie," continued Mr..
Birchmore, "be quick there. win your
Kate came toward me with her knife.
At that sight uttered yell Of animal