The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-26

Cured in the small boys estimation, and
with boundless anticipation we went
skating.
After smooth ice the foremost require
ment is abundant room, and this we had
There was more than a square mile for
each of us. The day had been perfect
and the approaching night was such as
Lowell so aptlv describes, sal silence
and all glisten."
AS the sun was setting we started a
roaring fire in sheltered nook and Sc
curely fastening our skates without get
ting at all chilled, started off. Then the
Jun commenced We often wandered
more than a mile away, and it was not
until the fire was reduced to a bed OF
glowing Goals that we returned to our
starting point.
A REMARKABLE SPECTACLE.
Here a great. surprise awaited us. The
heat had drawn from the wooded hillside
near by many a meadow mouse that moved
by the warmth or curiosity ventured as
near as it dared. These mice were equally
surprised at seeing US, and scampered off,
but ii seemed to me with some show OF
reluctance, as if a chance TO warm them
selves so thoroughly should not be
missed.
We freshened the fire little and fell
back few PAGES, but stood near enough
to see if the mice would return. This
they did in few minutes and to our I'M
bounded surprise and amusement, sat up
on their launches like 50 many squirrels.
They seemed to be so many diminutiye
human beings about q camp fire.
1t was sight to give rise to pretty
fairy tale, and possibly oar Indians built
up theirs on just such incidents. These
mice We're there to enjoy the warmth and
nothing else. There was no running to
and fro, no squeaking, not a trace of I'M
usual excitement, and although it was so
cold, we agreed to wait as long as the
mice saw fit TO stay.
This resolution, however, could not
hold. We were getting chilled and so
had to draw near. As we did this there
was faint squeaking which we all
noticed, and we concluded that sentinels
had been placed to warn the congregated
mice OF our approach.
IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES.
The spirit OF adventure was now upon
US and our skates were but the means to
other ends than mere sport. What, we
thought, of the gloomy hooks and corners
where thickets stood we'll above the ice?
We had Stunned these heretofore, but
without open admission that we had any
fear concerning them. Then, too, the
gloomy gullies in the hillside came to
mind, Should we skate into such dark
ness and startle the wild life there?
The suggestion was made and not one
dared say he was afraid.
We thought of the fun in chasing q
coon or skunk over the ice, and bravely
we ventured in, feeling our way where we
knew the ice was thin and rough.
At a bend in the little brook, where a
large cedar made the spot more dark and
forbidding, we paused moment, not
knowing just how to proceed.
THE SCREAM IN THE CEDAR.
In the next minute, we had no time for
thought. A fearful scream almost held
us spell bound, and then, with one dash,
we sought the open meadows.
Once there, we breathed a little freer.
We could see the fast fading light of the
fire and at last could flee in a known d.
rection, if pursued, Should we hurry
home? We debated this for some time
and were more fearful of being laughed
at than of facing any real danger. We
concluded with proper caution, 80 return.
Keeping close together, we entered the
ravine again, stopped near the entrance
and kindled a fire and then, by it's light,
proceeded further. 1t was a familiar SPOT.
but not without strange features as we
now saw it.
Again we were startled by the same
wild yell, but for a moment only. A
barn owl sailed by, glaring at us, as we
thought, and sought the open meadows.
We turned to follow, though why it
would be hard to say. The owl flew
slowly and we skated furiously, trying to
keep 1t directly overhead. Now we
were brave even to foolhardiness, and
sped away over the ice, Indifferent to the
direction taken. To this day I have
credited that owl with a keen sense Of
humor
where the swift but shallow creek flowed
by, and then, when quite too late, we
quickly knew where we were. The ice
bent beneath US, then cracked and in an
instant we were through it, our feet well
in the mud and the water about our
necks.
Just how we got out never knew. but