Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-03-24
by contrast With its dazzling white

Inside. the cave was quite free from
snow. and il WAS not long before we
hat: brisk fire blazing away. \ good
cup of coffee soon relieved our weari-
ness and preparations for dinner went
on rapidly.
Jack brought in wood. and un-
packed the provisions ard spread blan-
kets. Frank. while attending 10 the
cooking. also furnished something TO
cook. happening to see a rabbit run
ming past ut which he got snap shot.
and managed by good luck 20 bring
down.
After eating alive 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 dull, rum bling noise Jared the very
rock. followed by the sound of heavy
mass striking the ground with a rush
like u tornado. while in one moment
we found ourselves plunged in dense
darkness. lii up by the blazing fire.
We quickly understood what had
taken place. The bank of Snow above
us. loosened by having. had slid down.
and we were buried behind an ava
lanche!
No. I'm not, Jaclly. boy!" replied
Frank. struggling cut of the snow,
which half covered him. and answering
= III
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 Il 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'f 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 us"
We gave that up. too.
Build fire under it, and melt a
hole through. I suggested.
Frank routed me also.
How are we going to keep fire
burning with snowwater dropping
down on it?''
Then fix things yourself" said Jack,
petulantly. as if Frank was to blame
for it all.
I'll try to-" responded he, calmly,
Let me think 4 minute"
He looked all around and then
seemed to fall into a brown study"
II have it," said he. at last. Harry,
your idea of melting isn't so bad, after
all. l think we can use it. You see.
bays. this heap outside must be shaped
something like half u 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 good fire up
there, and heat the roof pretty thor
oughIy. the hot rock will melt the snow
touching it all along its edge TO the
open air, and the rest of the heat will
follow the same direction Under
stand?"
We did, and said SO. But how to build
4 fire so high up?
l. Il
ton we trampled the snow into a hard
slope, and at the summit Frank dug a
level recess, in which we built the fire
upon our frying-Pan and some stones
we found scattered about.
Fortunately there was fair draught
through u crevice made for that pur-
pose long before. But still the smoke
was pretty bad, as our watery eyes and
constant coughing gave evidence.
Frank made as long passage as he
could parallel with the rock, so that
the hot air might go that way. Then
we awaited results.
The first was stream of water that
made things very unpleasant for us IN
til. we turned it off down an inclined
tunnel into the bank.
AS the rock heated, the stream be-
came larger, and we joyfuIly perceived
that the scheme worked just as Frank
had said it would. until. when our wood
was completely gone. and the sled as
we'll, the smoke began, to clear away
and finally went up in body around the
tongue of ledge overhead.
"Hurrahi" calculated Frank. THE
ways clear now!"
Perhaps it was; but we had to wait
until the fire burned away. and then
it took some time for the rock to cool
off. as it was nearly red hot in places.
1t did cool at last, however. and Jack.
hatchet in hand crawled I'D the hole