The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-08-22
LIONS PHOTOGRAPHED.
How a Snap Shot and a Crack
Shot Both Scored q Hit.
&isking Life for . Picture-But the Cam.
era Fisnd Got His Negative and His
Comrade Got the Pelts A
Thrilling Experience.
[coPYRroHT. 1861

look out!-he's going to jump!"
A startled cry from Viardot, who, at
q short distance on the top of great
rock was watching his companion, Ber-
nard, crawling up the steep cliff to-
wards dark cavern midway to the
top. The two young men were spend
ing the summer in the wilds of the
Rocky mountains. They had been
graduated from college in June of the
same year, and were ''roughing it" dur
ing the summer months to build up
constitutions that were somewhat the
worse for year of unusually hard
study; for both men were conscientious.
students and preparing in earnest for
the battle of life. In physical appear
ance and temperament they were al
most the exact opposite of each other,
yet they had been the most intimate
of chums during the entire college
course, differing often in their views,
yet never having q serious falling-out.
Bernard was quick, wiry, stumpy
little fellow of five feet four, with
straight, black. close-cropped hair and
smooth-shaven face. His small roguish
eyes were set deeply in his head under
shaggy brows; his nose had been called
"stubby" by classmate who had been
passed in the race by him, and his
mouth. generously proportioned, was
OF the Laughing" variety. He was as
active as a cat and, when in good
physical trim, quite an athlete. Withal,
Bernard was decidedly venturesome,
and during their summer outing his
quiet, more phlegmatic companion was
kept busy restraining his impetuosity
and heading of reckless adventures.
Viardot, tall and slender, required ex-
actly five feet eleven and three-quarters
inches of the tape to take his measure.
His luxuriant yellow hair caressed his
high forehead and his necl, with grace
full curls. A pink-and-white complex
ion was matched with large blue eyes
and his features were regularity itself.
When the two chums landed at the
ranch where they first stopped, they
were loaded with rifles, rods and cam
eras. blankets and saddles, and all the
paraphernalia supposed to complete
the outfit of Rocky mountain tourist
party.
Bernard liked to hunt, but he liked
still better to take choice shots with
another pet instrument, his camera.
There was no risk that he wouldn't run
to make choice negative.
THAT photographers box of yours
will get you into your wooden overcoat
yet" exclaimed Viardot one day, after
Bernard had fallen out of pine tree
Into which he had climbed to get ia
vorable focus on a silvery cascade.
But Bernard was small and tough.
and laughed merrily at his companions
warning.
The two finally pitched their camp in
a wild canyon, miles from any human
habitation and infrequently visited by
white men. There were roaming In
dian hunters seen occasionally, but as
they were reported to be peaceable no
fears of them were entertained.
II we are going to rough it" said vi
ardot, philosophically; five are going
to get away from the conventionalities
and turmoil of the city, let us get as fnr
away as we can" And SO the two col
legians travelled three days journey
from the hospitable ranch before thcy
found spot primeval and remote
enough to suit their fancy.
They had been in camp four days and |
were beginning to feel comfortably at |
home, when trio of prospectors came
along. looking for traces OF gold in the |
sands of the mountain rtream. They
were invited to stay for supper, and aft |
erward rolled themselves in their
blankets and slept soundly out unfer |
the stars.
After supper the five men sat around |
- eie ass q p'as beusAs' aad ps.sse