The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-03-10

anu "ithout any delay began the climb
which was not an easy one by any
means. The lower part of the snow
was packed perfectly solid by the wind.
but upon this the last storm had de-
posted another layer, still loose and
soft, to be toilsomely waded through.
can testify that climbing that hill
was no joke. Every few feet we would
come TO line of bare. perpendicular
rock, up which one of us would scram.
bic, afterward pulling the sled after
him, with the assistance of the others
pushing from below.
The rocks being high and the sled
heavy, our task was tremendously hard
so hard that we were obliged to sit
down upon the top of every ledge to
get breath enough 10 attack the next
one
If we had been doing this as work.
we should have thought ourselves the
most abused boys in the world: and
even as play it wasn't what one would
care to do very often
When we at length reached our Jour
ney's end, and stood at the mouth of
the cave, we were nearly tired out and
pulled like high-pressure steam en-
gines.
keesaw Cave, a hollow in a nearly
precipitous ridge of granite, was some
ten feet deep and six or eight wide.
Its top was formed by thin slab of
stone, only foot or two thick. set at
sharp angle like house roof.
Upon this we found great snow
drift, going straight up until it almost
touched the summit of the ridge. and
making the cave look black as night
by contrast with its dazzling white
ness.
Inside, the cave was quite free from
snow, and it was not long before we
had brisk fire blazing away. A good
cup of coffee soon relieved our weari-
ness, and preparations for dinner went
on rapidly.
Jack brought in wood, and I un-
packed the provisions and spread blan-
kets. Frank, while attending to the
cooking, also furnished something to
cook, happening to see rabbit run
ming past at which he got snap shot
and managed by good luck to bring
down.
After eating all we could, we lay back
upon our blankets, taking comfort TO
the fullest extent. Jack, proud of the
success of his plan, was rather disposed
to glory over Frank, who had opposed
it pretty strongly.
He now asked, triumphantly:
Glad you came, aren't you, Frankly
boy?"
Was it an earthquake, or was it the
cave falling in?
a duh. rumbling noise Jared the very
rock, followed by the sound of a heavy
mass striking the ground with rush
like a tornado, while in one moment
we found ourselves plunged in dense
darkness, lit up by the blazing fire.
We quickly understood what had
taken place. The bank of snow above
Us, loosened by thawing. had slid down,
and we were buried behind an ava
lanche!
NO. I'm not. Jacky, boy!" replied
Frank. struggling out of the snow
which half covered him, and answering
Jacks question as if all was perfectly
serene.
There was something so ludicrous
about this that, Notwithstanding our
dangerous situation, Jack and l roared
with merriment and Frank gave dry
chuckle-his nearest approach to a
laugh.
But this didn't last long. The state
of affairs was too serious. Here we
were, halfway up mountain. shut off
from escape by an unknown depth of
snow, and the day half spent, besides.
How were we to escape?
Dig out with our hands and hatch
cts" said Jack.
NO USE" answered Frank. There
must be tons of snow out there, and
this is small hole. We couldn't stow
away what we'd dug out"
As this was very true, we gave up
the plan.
Then" continued Jack, lets dig
round the edge next to the rock"
Cant be DONE" again objected
Frank. ''for the same reason. And if
YOU could do it, the whole thing would
cave in on u.s.
We gave that up, too.
Build fire under it, and melt a
hole through, l suggested.
Frank routed me also.
How are we going to keep a fire
burning with snow-water dropping
down on it?"
Then fix things yourself" said Jack,
petulantly, as if Frank was to blame
for il all,
III try to-" responded he, calmly.
LET me think minute"
He looked all around, and then
seemed TO fall into 'brown study"
Il have it," said he. at last. Harry,
your idea of melting isn't so bad. after
all. / think we can use it. You see.
bays, this heap outside must be shaped
something like half a sugar loaf-very
broad at the bottom and quite small
at the top. The upper part touches
the roof, which is very thin, you know.
Now. if we can build a good fire up