Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-08-18
FROM A VOLCANO.

Somewhat distant from one of the main
routes between the eastern states and Cal
ifornia, following out the scoriac apex of
steep, rugged, conical elevation, is the
crater of an old volcano
One day small party Of adventurous
ladies and gentlemen, leaving their riding
and baggage mules at the base of the steep
assent, clambered up it's jagged sides to
the summit, where an extended view over
ward.
One of the party was bright, vivacious
venturesome girl, who was both the pride
and worry of her accompanying parents,
the latter because she was SO full of romp-
ing, giddy, daring life.
Ada Widen, quick of motion and light
of foot, SO SKINNED over the rough, honey
combed surface of the scoriac pile that she
soon put considerable distance between her
and her parents, and now, instead of heed
ing her mothers call to come back to her.
she began to recede along the edge of the
crater, finally mounting what seemed to
be toppling crag, and standing up clear
against the background of shimmering
sky.
The next moment there came piercing
shrek from the same quarter, and the
down together to the awful depths below.
When the fateful spot was reached, moth
ing of the missing girl could be seen, but
100 feet below some of the debris of the
fallen crag was visible along the edge Of
the black, stagnant water
IAN of us will help We will do every
thing we can!' cried voice, to which all
the others gave ready assent
The speaker was a young man, supposed
to be very partial to Ada, and to him the
distressed father turned, with a mournful
hope.
1T will be necessary to go down into
tho water to find her, he said.
"Oh, could not do that, t" replied the
young man, shrinking back. "The water
might poison me. Besides the cliff here
is beetling, and there is no way, safe or
otherwise, that one could climb down to
the pool"
"Who will venture?" asked Mr.. Widen
wildly
No one answered.
A minute afterward young, handsome
stranger, In the garb Of hunter, with
rifle over his shoulder, was seen approach
ing the group with light, quick step.
The catastrophe was quickly and eager
ly explained to him as he looked down
from the fated spot.
''I'll go down and get the body" he
said in quiet, positive tone.
In few minutes the daring hunter had
arranged rope and signals for his peril
Gus descent.
One end of the line was secured to an
inmovable lava rock and the other about
the body Of the venturer.
Then, lowering the rope, double, about
half way, SO that it would not have to
slide over the verge as he descended, young
Randolph boldly swung himself over the
abyss amid the catching Inspirations and
gulping EXPLANATIONS of the ladies and
went quickly down, hand under hand, his
legs and feet also clinging to the support
ing rope.
AS if he saw something that those above
could not see, he stepped back a few PAGES,
gave running jump and swung out Of
sight under the beetling cliff.
In fact, he did SEQ something those
above could not see-the fair girl herself
lying still on the little shelf to which she
had bounded when the mass that took her
down struck another in its descent and
threw her off.
He swung himself to her and found her
just In the act Of opening her bright blue
eyes in wonder.
For moment or two she stared at the
strange hunter, then quickly at tho black
lake below and her desolate surroundings,
exclaiming:
where am II And who are your"
He explained everything in a few Sec
onds.
Eyes" she answered, with little shud-
der, II was too vcnturesome, and re-
member feeling awfully scared as I was
going down. suppose my parents will
never get done scolding me about 1t. It's
nicely romantic, though, isn't it? And
you've happened along just in time to res
cue me!'
"You are not quite rescued yet, Miss
Ada" smiled the amused hunter.
"But shall be, Mr. 49,
Randolph"
II shall be, Mr.. Randolph, of course.
You are not going to miss the reward ia
Their offered for mep''
IF save you, Miss Ada, it will be for
yourself and not for the pecuniary re-
ward"
Ada readily assented to every suggestion
of her deliverer, and when he did swing
off with her, and she waved her arms to
those above, they could hardly credit their
senses, and the excitement became intense.
just at that moment when every heart
was beginning to bound with hope, a voice
shrieked out In horror
"Oh, they're lost! See, tho rope here is
partingl"
The rope, passing over a sharp edge Of
Stag, had been cut almost in two by the
long, heavy swing back and forth, and
now seemed to hold by only a frail strand
or two, which the gay girl was fearfully
straining by her joyous motions, waving
her arms, kissing her fingers and calling
merrily to those above.
For heavens sake, keep quiet!' shout
ed down a Mortified voice. Tho rope here
is parting! In another moment you may
be plunged to deathr'
"What does he mean, Mr.. Randolph"
queried Ada.
THAT by our swinging on this rope 1t is
nearly cut in two, and any motion of ours
now may part it. Don't stir-scarcely
breathe"
''Then there's danger YETI"
Fearful danger, Miss Ada"
Her features paled, and she remained ST.
lent.
Eager, trembling hands were now at
work above, stretched over the edge Of the
Doe xw&~
that was cut
For the few moments 1t took to do this
there was an almost breathless, gasping
silence. And when it was completed, and
the rope slowly pulled up by eager hands
till the main one could be secured, there
was general groan Of relief.
1t turned out that he was the son of a
clergyman and was himself