Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-08-25


comparatively easy work. In places I
scrambled up without any trouble or
raised myself by the ivylike vines that
grew against the rocks And then at
last stood on the summit. where one
Of the most wonderful panoramas that
ever the eye Of man looked upon was
stretched ont before ma
took the pocket handkerchief from
Oh my neck. and putting stone in it
sent 1T flying down in the direction Of
the crevasse. It was to be a signal to
SNOWFALL that l had made the ascent
safely and the coast was clear
The sun had come ont strong and
the heat was oppressive. I took south
easterly course. Il was comparatively
easy travelling. SO that my progress was
considerable Sill. noticed that the
sky looked threatening away to the
south and feared thunderstorm, as il
must necessarily mean delay felt ~
II . new lease Of life had been granted
ma My spirits rose. and / went al
most merrily along. must have trav.
eled for at least couple Of hours when
suddenly there came a check. I had
come to little ironstone ridge, and
ascending it to have look around saw
something that made me draw back in
terror and inst,nctively look for q hid
ing place.
It was little above where the river
entered into the amphitheaterlike val
ley. overlooking narrow gorge, and
there, all along the brink, were a great
number of savagea There might have
been hundred or more. and they ap-
peared as if waiting patiently for some
thing that was to pass through it un-
derneath them. The situation flashed
upon me in second The squatter $
party had been seen coming, and they
were lying in wait to effect surprise
But the savages had reckoned without
their host
There was an ominoua blackness now
away to the south and at intervals
subdued rumbling in the air The first
Of the great thunderstorms had begun in
that part Of the country.
My pace was quickened till at last il
broke into run. knew that the blacks
must have been told by some signal fire
that the squatter was coming, which
doubtless had caused them to take up
their present position
It was midday The heat was in
tense. the air was sitting, but hurried
on. One Of my boots had given way
and was vaguely conscious of the fact
that the foot was chafed and bleeding
But still, after all. that was minor
consideration was hungry and half
dead with anxiety and fatigue, but
there was still some work left in the
human machine.
Away to the south the heavens had
become inky black. At last stood on
the edge OF a gully which led right
down to the valley through which flow
ed the creek. and there l saw on the OPP
posite bank sight that made my heart
throb wildly. 1t was that of several
horsemen with mob Of pack horses.
shouted aloud in my joy for it meant
deliverance to those in the cave
There was an ominous murmur in
the air. and that grim. all enveloping,
inky cloud Travelled up swiftly from
the south. There was something sinister
and portentous, suggestion of sup
pressed force and fury. in the way it
came rushing on that made one think
Of some horrible nameless thing CON
serving its strength with evil intent
Though all around was peaceful and
the sun shone fiercely down. yet from
that cloud there came noise as OF the
rushing Of mighty wind. It was
cvclone and thunderstorm in cne. which