The Advocate and news., 1899-02-15

he spoke.
At their feet was the deep grassy
valley, hemmed by precipitous bluffs.
The greensward at the base OF the bar
rier ridge was soft and velvety. A rich
er soil nourished the roots Of the bunch
grass, and all men knew that more than
once in bygone days the sudden swell
ing of the brawling waters that came
Roaming and swirling down the ravine
from the depths Of the crested heights
within had turned that beautiful little
sheltered nook into deep lake that
Elowly emptied itself through the mar
row, twisting, rocky gorge that ended
at the White Gate On the level turf
the dancers were merrily footing it
even now to the music of an inspiring
quadrille, the pretty gowns Of the wo-
men, the uniforms Of the men, adding
brightness to the picture Below the
camp the mules and horses were placid
ly grazing close by the inner opening Of
the gorge, the white covers Of the wag-
Ons and the snowy canvas Of the two or
three tents adding to the picturesque
ness of the scene. All at the feet Of the
watching group was life, laughter anc
careless Joy, all beyond that merry
scene o black and ominous heaven
frowning down on gloomy pine and
rocky hillside. The Ceaseless clamor Of
the seething waters as they turned
whirling into the tortuous gorge rose
steadily above the throb and thrill of
the dance music, and aloft those relent.
less clouds sailed sternly eastward over
the sky.
Still the smoke from the campfres
settled back and shrank about the earth,
as though dreading the encounter with
the sleeping forces of the air. Then as
the watchful eyes Of the elders turned
once more up the mountain side there
came cry from Brooks: "By Cd,
it's coming There isn't a second to
loser'
Frazier, following the direction Of
that pointing finger, looked upward,
saw the crestward frs and pines and
Cedars bending, quivering, before blast
as yet unfelt below, saw sheets Of ashen
vapor come sailing over the hilltops
and sweeping down the rocky sides, saw
the whole mountain face turn black as
in a single minute, as though hiding
from the storm that came roaring down
the slope, then Lighting up the next in
stant in dazzling, purplish glare as a
zigzag bolt Of lightning ripped the
stormcloud in twain and in the instant,
with crash and roar as of a thousand can
p non rolled into one, let loose the deluge
sleeping in its depths. AS though Mag.
ara were suddenly turned upon che hill
side, a vast volume Of water swept
downward, kissing, foaming, rolling
over the rocks, and the leaping spray
dashed high in air as the black wealth
Of waters came surging down into the
ravine.
"a cloudburst, by all that's holyw
screamed Brooks as he sprang down the
grassy side of the bluff. "Up with you,
up the hillside, for your lives" The
dancers, faltering through the sudden
futter Of the band, for the first time
looked upward and saw the peril.
Then, men and women, bandsmen and
strikers" the camp made wild rush
up the eastward hillside. Another
binding flash, another thunderous roar
that seemed to shake and loosen the
rocks about them, and in that second
Of brilliant, dazzling glare the watch
ers could see the white wall Of the
Blanca come spray tossing, seething,
whirling huge logs and trees on its out
ermost wave, tumbling them end over
end, now deep engulfed, now high in
air, one immense, furious, moving noun
tain Of raging water, sweeping toward
them from the depths Of the chasm.
Then, rolling and frothing over its
puny banks in the valley below, a
chocolate food, foam crested, spread
right and left through the deserted