The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-06-22

means OF which a dexterous mountain
climber might, by painstaking care,
reach the bottom.
Waite, who was bred and born in the
mountainous section of North Carolina.
and who, from his early boyhood, had
been accustomed to mountain climbing,
determined to make the attempt.
Leaving his provision basket, gun
and compass on the bank and buckling
his canteen around him he begen the
perilous descent. Making an intelligent
use of hands, eyes and feet, for awhile
all went well.
But a number of small rocks were
piled together on a ledge of the canyon
and in passing over them Waite loos-
ened one. He thought no more of it
then, but as he came within about ten
feet of the water, he was reminded of
his thoughtlessness in a way as terri
BILE as it was sudden. Several rocks
that had gradually become loosened
came rattling down the almost precipi-
tous wall above him. On they came,
followed closely by q horde of smaller
ones, increasing in velocity every mo-.
ment. In this emergency Waite did
not lose his presence of mind. Know
ing is was useless to jump, he clutched
a projecting rock, stood perfectly still
and awaited results. Rocks continued
to chatter by him; some whizzsd past
hic hood. OEhopc ckwrpo~ his No0G S&SlI
he stood as if carved from the solid
rock. Finally, however, a large rock
struck his leg; he lost his footing and
the next moment fell headlong to.
ward the seething food. By jumping
backward, he kept clear of the canyon
wall, and in a trice was covered by
foam and water.
The sinking process was several
times repeated, though he finally sue,
ceeded in keeping his head above the
water. Then by its rotary motion, he
was kept in q continual Whirl until by
an almost superhuman effort he swan
away from the cataract. But there
he found his position still more peril
GUS. A raging current carried him
downstream with frightful rapidity.
He struggled and fought, but all in
vain. On, on it carried him-hrst
through masses Of foam, and again
only his most strenuous efforts would
prevent his being hurled against the
canyon wall.
AS the current swept him onward the
roar Of the cataract reached his ears.
It was just below himl He clenched
his teeth and struggled violently, but
he needed not to look to learn that
it was in vain. Each moment the roar
Of the cataract came to him more dis
Uinctly, and each act of his seemed only
to increase the speed with which the
current was carrying HINT seemed
to destruction. Waite had almost de
SPARED of life when a little islet, from
which a rock projected, appeared in
n4idstream. As the r Fa4g current
swept him near, Wait5 9z1t the jag
ged rock with grasp. With
the wild strength of despair, he at.
tempted to hold it, but for awhile the
current seemed too strong. 1t lossened
the grasp of one arm and for one long,
eventful moment death stared him in
the face. The next instant, however,
he Clutched the rock again and drew
himself on the surface. After recov
ering the full use of his faculties, and
becoming accustomed to the darkness,
he noticed that the left wall of the
canyon was sloping and jagged. With
but little hesitation he swan to it and
attempted to climb out. In doing this
he fell on Ole of the sharp rocks, in
ficting a serious wound. But when at
last he clambered out of the dreary
chasm he felt encouraged though he
had no food.
Although his wound panied him
much, Waite trudged on. He would
never despair while life remained! He
alleviated the pain from his wound by
the application of a liniment, which,
in addition to its medicinal properties,
formed an excellent substitute for ker
osene, in kindling fires, etc. Great was
Waite's joy to see another little stream
trickling along toward the canyon.
Vegetation was abundant just along it's
banks. But greater still was his joy as
he rounded a barren peak to see in the
distance the distance the cheering glow
of a camp fire. 1t might be the fire of
friends or that of enemies. aAt any rate
Waite determined to find out. Man
fully ignoring the pain of his wound,
10 nA.n,nnlnH On in tho dinootinn Of tho