The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-09-15

and no opening Is visible from below.
1t can only be reached from the forest
above, by q zig-zag track along the
face of the cliff path scarcely six
inches wide In some places. 20 that one
has to lean against the rock 60 keep
his balance. In front Of the cave,
however. there Is o fat shelf several
yards In breadth. commanding beau
tiful view of the valley beneath, the
river looking like mere trout-brook
i in the distance. the logs in it like little
sticks. and the mill like a plaything
that a boy might work with n crank.
The entrance Of the cave Is 80 low that
l had to crawl in on my hands and
knees. Inside, II is about as big as On
| ordinary room, and In the middle just
high enough to let q boy stand erect,
the roof sloping down toward the
edges. But the most remarkable thing
about II is that roof and walls and
floor are oil Of jasper, beautifully mot
tied In red and yellow. There is little
doubt that it had been gradually hol-
lowed out by the Indians in ages past,
rs they continually Clipped away ut
this vein of bright-hued jasper to
get Its hard, sharp-edged flakes for
their arrow-heads. Indeed, / found
several of these and other stone i'm
| plements by paving over a heap of
| flinty scales which lay in one corner;
and subsequently il was made plain
that the secret of the place. once so
valuable to the savage warriors, was
still carefully guarded with sort of
superstitious reverence by the de-
generate remnants Of the tribe.
When told Bessie about this fns-
| cinating spot she was crazy to see 1t,
and begged me to take her with me
the next time l went there. She was
my chief comprehension nearly all
the boys in the neighborhood were al
ready kept hard at work in the mills
and as knew that she was almost rs
clever at climbing Us was myself,
finally agreed that she should 20. So
one sunny Saturday morning we start
ed out together, carrying n substan-
tial lunch in game pouch which /
slung over my shoulder. We didn't ex-
plain very fully what we meant to do,
only saying that we wanted to go up
the mountain after spruce gum
which was true, but not the whole
truth-a piece of duplicity for which
we were punished severely enough be-
fore we saw home again.
For about two miles our course lay
along the main road; then 1t
branched Off toward the hills--a mere
trail. Just at the turn we met an old
Indian staggering down the path with
n heavy pack-basket corded upon his
shoulders. AS he approached he STUN
bled across log and fell.
why you put things make me fall
down." he grumbled, struggling un-
steadily to his feet.
I recognized him at once as 'Moose
Joe" skillful hunter and a good
guide. but otherwise-well, he was
very far from being dead Indian" I
saw, too, that he had been drinking,
though not enough rs yet TO set him
crazy.
little gal 'frsid?" he said, as he
Joined us. For, indeed. Bessie was not
able to concea! her uneasiness, and
this evidently excited him. mo need
be 'fraid Of Joe. Joe not hurt any
body. Children like play with joe"
The more he talked the more fright
ened poor Bessie became, and the more
she showed alarm the more vociterous-
ly he proclaimed his harmlessness
That evidently wouldn't do.
run ahead, Bessie" whispered;
and she sped forward while remained
behind with the Indian-though
should have much preferred 10 run,
too. The fellow soon quieted, but. to
my great disgust, turned and reeled
along at my side.
"Why, you go up here?" he asked.
| I broke off twig, pulled out my
jackbnife, and made o show Of whit
tling. Best keep it in my hand with
the big blade open, thought.
Were just going up after gum,"
answered him.
Then got him to talking about his
traps and the game he had taken; and
at last, to my immense relief, he start
ed back toward the road. Ihad long
chase, however, before could over
take the terrified Bessie; the nearer I
came the faster she fed.
"Oh! Tum,' she painted, as came
up. sis 1t you? ! was most sure you'd
been killed and he was coming after
me-"
~ guess we're rid OF him now," told
her. "He's gone on to the village for
more whisky and that1l be the end Of
him for one while"
| Soon we wore again tramping along,
iquite at ease, laughing and shouting.
As we proceeded the path grew steep
er and sleeper, and presently we found
ourselves on the top of the mountain,
ready to begin the more difficult de-
scent along the face Of the cliff. Here
I cut stout pole with which TO assist
Bessie In the most dangerous places;
and with true cbildren's luck we
crawlcd and edged along in safety un-
II A n A 4.