Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-07-15

toward the opposite ledge with all his
might. Branasko caught him.
"Good," he grunted. "There IS an.
other place; we must jump again. 1t is
farther on" Along this ledge they
went for some distance, Branasko lead.
ing the way and holding the arm Of the
American.
NOW, here we are. The ohasm is q
little wider, but the ledge on the other
side is broader - As he spoke be re-
leased Johnston's arm and prepared to
Jump. He filled his lungs two or three
times. But he seemed to hesitate.
"Pshawl Watching you back there has
made me nervous. I never cared before.
If I should happen to fall, 60 back to
where we met. 1t is safer there without
guide than here"
Without another word Branasko
hurled himself forward. Johnston held
his breath in horror, for Branasko's foot
had slipped as he jumped. The Alphiun
had struck the opposite ledge, but not
with his feet, as he intended. He
clutched it with his hands and hung
there for u moment struggling to get
foothold in the emptiness beneath him.
''1t's no use; I am falling. I can hold
no longer" And Johnston, too terrified
to reply, heard the poor fellows hands
slipping from the rock, causing guam
tity of loose stones to 60 rattling down
below. With low cry, Branasko fell.
An instant later Johnston heard him
strike the ledge beneath and heard him
cry out in pain. Then all was stin ex-
cept the echoes of Branasko's cry, which
bounded and rebounded from side to
side OF the chasm and grew fainter and
fainter, till it was submerged in the
roaring below. Then there was rattle
Of stones, and Branasko's voice sounded.
"A narrow escape" he said family.
II am on another ledge" Then, after
q slight pause: ut is much wider-l
don't know how wide. Are you listen
ing3"
"Ycs; but are you burt?'
"Not at ALL Simply knocked tho
breath out of me for moment There
is cave behind me, and (for. a mo-
ment there was silenoe) can see q
light ahead In the cave. think it must
be the reflection of tho internal fire.
Come down to me, and we will explore
the cavern and see where the light
comes FROM"
II cant get down there" shouted
Johnston to make himself heard above
q sudden increase IN tho roaring in the
chasm. "There is no way"
"Wdt o moment" came from the
Alphian. "This ledge seems to incline
upward.
Johnston stood perfectly motionless,
afraid to move from tho ledge either to
right OF to left, and heard Branasko's
footsteps along the rock beneath. "All
right so far" he called up, and his
voice showed that he had gone to con-
siderable distance to the left. 1.-THE
ledge seems to be still leading gradu.
ally upward. l think l can reach you.
Fifteen minutes passed. The lone
American could no longer hear Branas-
kos footsteps Johnston was becoming
uneasy, and the hot air was causing his
head to swim. He was thinking of try
ing to retrace his footsteps to place of
more security, when be heard footsteps
and then the CHEEKY voice of Branasko
nearly opposite him across the chasm:
Are you theres'
YES"
1T is we'll. have discovered q good
pathway down to the cave and pool Of
fishes besides. I have saved some for
you. was so hungry l had to eat
Now, you must jump over to me. F."
II cannot" declared the American.
II cannot jump SO far; besides, you
failed"
Branasko laughed II did not leap
In the right direction. 1t is this point
on which I am now standing that l
should have tried to reach. Come, I
will catch you"
Johnston could not bear to be con-
sidered cowardly, SO he stepped to the
verge of tho chasm and prepared to
Jump. Hts head felt more dizzy as he
thought Of the fathomlcss depths be.
meath, and the rush Of hot air up the
side Of the cliff took his breath away,
but he braced himself and said calmly,
"All right. 1 AIN coming" The next
instant he sprang forward. Branasko
caught him in his arms, and they both
rolled back on the level stone.
Good" cried the Alphian, trying to
catch his breath, which Johnston had
knocked out of him by the fall. "You
did better than I. You are lighter"
where shall we 90 nowi" asked
Johnston, regaining his feet and feeling
of his legs and arms to see II he had
broken any bones.
Down this winding path to the
place where I saw that light I want to
understand 1t. But you must first eat
this fish. 1t is delicious. They are
swarming in the pools below"
"And waterf' said Johnston.
Gan abundance of it, ae cold as ice."
As Branasko preceded him down the
tortuous path Johnston ate the raw fish
eagerly. Presently they came to a deep
pool Of water, and both men threw
themselves down on their stomachs and
drank freely. After this they proceeded
slowly for several hundred yards, and
finally reached the entrance to the cave
in which Branasko had seen the light
At that distance it looked like the light
Of some great confagration reflected
from the face Of cliff.
They entered the cave and made good
rroprooc to,vord tho lioht For ~ abouad