Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-08-18
Even the fall Of his own fee.

|
Th, high perpendicular walls Of the
uanyoh magnifed the sound, the echoes
beingidashed back and forth till lost in
hoatse murliur far overhead. As they
; went bn il seemed 10 Howard rs II they
were descending into the bowels Of the
earthI The narrow strip Of blue sky
looked like an ethereal river in which
the siI.rs were reflected, for be it known
that in the profound depths that char
acterike the mountains oil the west th'
stps Ian h. distinctly seen even wher
the cloIudless sun shines with midsum-
mer flrvor in the sky of the upper
world
"CaI we ever get out of this place,
captaihg" asked Howard Blanchard,
when Ihe darkness became 50 dense that
he could hardly make out the form Of
his guide few yards III the advance.
"Y,E. Trust to me and keep good
heart, replied the captain, without
haltink OF looking back.
To bass from the narrow, black cell
of Dungeon into the center of an illu-
nina,ld salon in Windsor palace, II
sudde.lly affected, would b. transfer
matioJ that would blind the eyes for
the tnhe and overwhelm the senses IL
a light like the sun We're suddenly to
flash ia the high heavens at midnight,
peOpljwould ignore the phenomenon for
the mJmcnt III the overwhelming effect
upon Sle senses. yet something like this
happcfed TO Howard blanchard There
was n khort turn in the canyOn--a turn
that revealed what seemed To Howard
Blanchard like the door of mighty fur
mace tllcd with molten gold. and IN
this dor the black form Of Captain
BrandIn stood out like statue against
the sub
HID your hand TO your eyes for "A
Bit" lhe captain shouted back, himself
settin1 the example, and Howard obcyed
him. After few minutes the captain
callcdE Eut:
"NM. open your eyes and come on. "
Thi, advice was Ia prepare the young
man flr the suddcn effect of light that
was nltural. but dazzling ON account Of
the chLngc and the hrilliancy Of the sur
round bg snow peaks from which 1t was
rcflectId. A few yards farther on How
ard blanchard discovered that the
canyoA terminated i'll valley or de-
prcssih about quarter Of n mile III
diamcIcr Excepting at point directly
oppusIe a. that 10y which they had On
ter-d. .his remarkable valley was shut
in bv Irccipituus walls that rose up for
3. 600 tcet or more, and here and there
dctac1 Il mass. in the form of pinnacles
and lIking like the mighty ruins Of
Go,hiI cathcdrals rose for 1000 feet
highei|
Tho stream flowing along the bottom
II thl canyon by which the two men
had entered widcnCd out into an irrcg-
ular slaped lake hundred yards wide
in It's lnarruwcst diameter and flashing
like aErcat mirror in the center Of the
rpck immcd basin. Here the waters
seemed 10 rest before rushing on through
the o!lening III the opposite wall. 10y
which, hIavcuuc they went down 10 JON
the SULPHUR crusird rocks II the won
dcrfullYcllnwstone The lake was fur
thcr f, II 10y waterfall that lcaped from
the s!mmit of the wall, starting ~ 4
band II liquid silver and reaching the
bo,torl "A y, II II iridescent foam. The
irregular shape of this valley added no,
n littl| "a its beauty. The few trees near
tho wills. the many shrubs bordering
the III and the grass carpeting the tx
panse 'crc of various shades OF emerald
each. j. the eye rested on il, seeming
the yeIv perfection Of natures cOiorlng.
"Wtv, " exclaimed Howard Blmch-
ard. when he could give utter.mcc to
his ST prise this is wonderful
"Tle Indians call it The Grea,
Spirits Council Place" said the cap
tain. lis face glowing in the soft light
that : fused everything about him.
AID "a fitting name il is The com
bincd hands Of humanity. working
throul|h all the ages. could not build ~
gloriols n structure to the honor Of IN,
ever lining God" said the enraptured
Howatd
Captain Brandon. who had been stand
ing b. blrchcaded, replaced his hat and
said. Let Us la moving on.
As Howard followed him he asked,
"Is it hot curious that this place Is not
inhablt ted?"
1t is place in the belief of the In
dians Ioo sacred for man to dwell in.
"BJt white men could have no such
feelim b."
"Tihe. White men consider no place
sacredIthat they have not built them
selvesl Our affairs are sacred III proper
ton tCI the art we lavish on them. But
this temple has a priest.
"A priest"
"Yd 5; priest as pure and faithful a
ever dIvoted his life to the truth"
"Who can he be?'
"THis, ," said Captain Brandon, com
ing toIa halt, lis the home OF DAME
the P1Pphet." "
"Od that remarkable being who came
to our |aid9"
"Y,e"
"Ti |e chances are he is now prisoner
in Bottoms hands. "
ING, Howard, the chances are he ha'
reache h this place ahead Of Us. "
I, TheE had come to halt opposite
series bf openings that looked like i'm
menseIhoneycombs cut into the face q
the w,u. Both heard noise and ben
TO lisjen. From faroff depths the,
caught the sound Of deep bass voice
singing Howard recognized the air. H'
had often heard it in the camp meeting
of Wek. Virginia. The words, at frs
indisthguishable, became palmer ant
plainef till he caught the phrases;
a strong mountain is our God.
knd the hills are his footstool.
"Tfat is the Prophet, said Howard
awed ly the sound and the silent sub
Unity Of his surroundings.
"Yfs, he comes this way.
The words had but passed Captain
Brand ms lips when the rhythmic beat
ing oil feet could be heard in cadenc'
with The voice. Then the measure
chang4d, and in more joyous tones tn
words Fang out:
~ arl Joseph. your brother" he said.
"AiId still 10 my heart are you dear.
You bid me. You thought was dead.
ButiGod for your sake sent me here"
By Ldbanon's shadow we stood,
, Thddark ccdars rose out 'gainst the SKY,
, whcnlthe gray coat was dappled with blood
AMI the slave traders came passing by.
TheIProphet had reached the exit O
the cafe and stood framed by the rock
|: | and bsIthed by the golden sunlight