The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-03-10
KeesuW Cave
By Manley II. Pike

NUR short winter vacation was never
lively one, and sometimes be-
came really tiresome. As it came rather
late in the season, there was generally
so much snow that you could neither
skate nor coast, and although indoor
amusements are all very well, no
healthy boy wants to spend his holi-
DAYS in the house. after having been
shut up within the four walls of
school-room for eight or ten weeks.
So, at this time, we were always at our
wits end for amusement. and willing
to do almost anything that promised
sport, especially in the open air.
Jack Adams. Frank Fisher and /
found ourselves in this state of mind
one morning when we met at Franks
to see what we could do for amuse-
ment during the day.
We three went together" as boys
say, and people used to wonder at il,
because we were of such different char
acters. Jack was bold, daring sort of
fellow, first getting into scrapes
through having almost too much cour-
age and enterprise, but invariably get
ting out again by means of the same
qualities; while Frank was exceeding
ly cool and thoughtful, fond of study
for his age, and much more mature
than we other two. For myself, there
was nothing whatever remarkable
about me, but | was more like Jack
than Frank.
Nevertheless, we were great friends
III spite of our unlikeness-perhaps on
account of it-and never had serious
quarrels. The only disputes that arose
1 among us were caused by Franks pro-
voking habit of showing the weak fea-
| lures of the impossible schemes con-
stantly proposed by Jack or myself, to
which we naturally objected; but as
we "supped sorrow when we had our
own way, and met with success by fol-
lowing his advice, we usually ended in
adopting his plans, which always turned
out TO be the best.
sometimes, however. we carried our
point against all he could say; and so
IL was on the morning | speak of.
Boys, / tell you what let's do"
burst forth Jack, in his headlong fash
ION. Lets climb Grow Hill, and spend
the day in keesaw Cave"
Crow Hill would be called a small
mountain anywhere but in Baalbec.
winch the inhabitants of neigh hboring
towns laughed at as the place where
ioiks never made any butter because
'nere wasn't level ground enough TO
set the pans for cream
"hile this statement may possibly
De slightly exaggerated, still it is a
TACT that about the only difference in
paaloec land is between high hills and
low ones.
halfway up the hill was Keesaw
'ase, favorite resort for summer pic
.ne parties, but not exactly a pleasant
pace In northern winter, with at least
'nree 1eet of snow on the ground.
Jacks proposal suited me well. and
even frank did not make nearly so
many objections as he might, although
nc assured us that we should certainly
eome to grief in some way before we
returned, and were likely TO have more
trouble than we expected, both going
1 nrz
up and coming down.
Inc TACT that the thermometer was
IN 'he vicinity of zero did not enter
1n'o our calculations in the least. If
New Englander is prevented from
"ahihg winter excursions by the cold,
nc Will rarely make any at all.
90 an hour later, protected by thick
g'ercoats and fur caps, we started out
uiagging behind us a sled loaded with
provisions, cooking utensils, blankets
aau other supplies. Besides this. each
VI Us had a light hatchet. and Frank
airied his gun, for. as an enthusiastic
naturalist, he never missed a chance of
securing specimens.
Following the highway mile or two
we turned off into woodroad, which
'ook us to the base of the hill. Here
our difhculties began.
Ahere was narrow. winding path
eauing up the steep ascent, but no
ghs OF ii could now be seen. since
'ne whole slope was a smooth surface
~ snow, broken at frequent intervals
- great granite ledges, intermingled
win closely-growing trees and bushes.
), straight up." said Frank. That's
The only way"
we saw that as plainly as he did,