Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-03-24
K eesow Cove
By Manley FL Pike

came really tlreSOme- AS II came rather
hate in the season, there was generally
so much snow that you could neither
skate nor coast, and although indoor
amusements are all very we'll. no
healthy boy wants 10 spend his holt
days in the house, after having been
shut up within the four walls of a
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 it,
because we were of such different char
acters. Jack was a 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
~ 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 l was more like Jack
than Frank.
Nevertheless, we were great friends
in spite of our neutrality-suspicious. on
account of it-and never had serious
quarrels. The only disputes that arose
among US were caused by Franks pro-
volang 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
it was on the morning l speak of.
Boys, 1 tell you what let's do"
burst forth Jack, in his heaolong fash
ion. Lets climb Crow Hill. and spend
the day in Keesaw Cave
Grow Hill would be called a small
mountain anywhere but in Baalbec,
which the inha bitants of neighboring
towns laughed at as the place where
folks never made any butter because
=
set the pans for cream
While this statement may possibly
be slightly exaggerated, still it is a
fact that about the only difference in
Baalbec land is between high hills and
low ones.
Halfway up the hill was Keesaw
Cave, a favorite resort for summer pic
mic parties, but not exactly a pleasant
place in northern winter, with at least
three feet of snow on the ground.
Jacks proposal suited me we'll, and
even Frank did not make nearly so
many objections as he might. although
he assured us that we should certainly
come to grief in some way before we
returned, and were likely to have more
trouble than we expected. both going
up and coming down.
The fact that the thermometer was
in the vicinity of zero did not enter
into our calculations in the least If
New Englander is prevented from
making winter excursions by the cold.
he will rarely make any'at all.
So, an hour later, protected by thick
overcoatS and fur caps. we started out.
dragging behind us u sled loaded with
provisions, cooking utensils, blankets
and other supplies. Besides this. each
Of us had a light Ratchet. and Frank
carried his gun, for, as an enthusiastic
naturalist, he never missed Il chance of
securing specimens.
Following the highway a mile or two.
we turned off into II woodroad which
.ook us to the base of the hill. Here
our difficulties began.
There was a narrow, winding path
eading up the steep ascent, but no
signs of it could now be SEEN since
the whole slope was smooth surface
If snow, broken at frequent intervals
oy great granite lodges, interniIgIed
with ciosely-growing trees and bushes.
straight up!" said Frank. That's
he only way"
We saw that as plainly as he did.
ind without any delay began the climb.
Thich was not an easy one by any
means. The lower part of the Snow
vas packed perfectly solid by the wind,
1ut upon this the last storm had de-
'osited another layer, still loose and
loft, to be toilsomely waded through.
1 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, cur 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.