The San Francisco call., 1896-03-08

II n the forenoon of brilliant summer
day two lads, each about IA years of
age, wandered. far away from the
camp of their parents in the Santa
Cruz Mountains of California, and
came suddenly upon an odd-looking house
planted in an obscure canyon which opened
into the gorge OF the San Gregorio. This
in turn ran tortuously down through the
mountains to the Pacific Ocean. On the
far side of the gorge was the grade which
crosses the range.
It was evident at once to the sharp
witted boys that the little canyon had
been selected for its remoteness and diff
cult accessibility, and that great care had
been taken TO set the house among the
dark redwoods in spot where its discov-
cry would happen only by an unlikely ac-
cident. This fact did not impress them so
strongly as did the character OF the house
itself. The structure was of generous size
and was built of logs and rooted with poles
covered with a thatch of boughs. In no
particular did it resemble the woodcutters'
cabins so common in the range nor the
houses of the widely scattered settlers.
Its most peculiar feature was its entire ab-
66uCS Vi NluuONS, tnOQSn 1to So4lo4UCi dbtC
dimensions indicated the necessity for
them the only opening was door, which
was massive and strong. Neither road nor
trail led to it, and yet in its immediate
vicinity the lads found evidence of its
present occupancy.
Moved by the curiosity Of their species
they approached cautiously and in silence.
No sound greeted their ears. They gently
tried the door and it topened to their touch.
No one was within. The greater part of
the interior was given up to room con-
tanning quantity of machinery, and low
partitions lnclosed two small chambers
used for sleeping purposes.
As the moments passed the boys ac
quired an increasing sense OF security and
began a study OF the machinery in the
larger room. Its general character was
familiar TO them, for they had seen the
like OF it before. A water mill, fed by q
pipe leading through the wall TO some
distant source of supply, was easily recog-
niZed, as also was a powerful dynamo
placed near it; but although this latter
apparatus had the general characteristics
of a dynamo it had a number of queer
looking attachments wholly unlike any
thing the boys had ever seen before. Sus-
pended in the center OF the room, and
connected with the dynamo by massive
copper wires, was large and exceedingly
complex appliance, which. however strange
its appearance, still suggested an arc lamp
OF tremendous power.
AS the boys were exchanging their
views IN whispered conversation one of
them, called Harry, suggested that as
everything seemed to be in perfect work
ing order, it might be well for James, his
com panion, to try the experiment of turn
ing on the water in order TO ''see the thing
60" James complied in rather gingerly
fashion, and instantly the machinery re-
sponded. The water-mill whirred, the
dynamo groaned and rumbled, and the
complicated apparatus resem bling an arc
lamp sputtered ominously.
In moment the boys began to ex-
perience an extraordinary sensation, the
nature of which they could not under
stand. They watched the lamp to observe
the appearance of the brilliant spark
which they expected, but it did not be.
come manifest. More than that, the lamp
seemed to become invested with a rapidly
gathering haze. The lads regarded each
other in surprise, and then became aware
that something strange was afoot through
out the house. Their first impression was
that the sun had suddenly become OBJ
scured in some extraordinary manner, for
the light in the room was rapidly fading
and a deepening twilight was falling.
They turned simultaneously to look
through the open door and discovered that
the brilliant sunshine without was fast
CRAVING, as though a cloud deeper and
biacker and thicker than they had ever
known before had worked the miracle OF