Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-04-28
K eeSdW Cave
By IIanley Il. Pike

came really tiresome. Asst came rather
late in the season, there was generally
so much snow that you could neither
skate nor coast, and although indoor
Rmusements are all very well, no
healthy boy wants to spend his holt
days in the house, after having been
shut up within the four walls of q
school-room for eight or ten weeks.
So, at this time, we were always at our
wits end for amusement, and willing
10 do almost anything that promised
sport, especially in the open air.
Jack Adams, Frank Fisher and I
found ourselves in this state of mind
one morning when we met at Franks
10 see what we could do for amuse-
ment during the day.
We three went together" as boys
say, aud people used TO wonder at it,
because we were of such different char
acters. Jack was 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.
for his age, and much MORE mature
than we other two. For myself, there
was nothing whatever remarkable
about me, but ] was Lore like Jacl
than Frank.
Nevertheless, we were great friends
in spite of our unlikeness-perhaps OF
account of it-and never had seriouG
quarrels. The only disputes that arose
among us were caused by Frank pro
voldng habit of showing the weak fea
lures of the impossible schemes con
stantly proposed by Jack or myself, tt
which we naturally objected; but az
we "supped sorrow" when we had ouI
own way, and met with success by fol-
lowing his advice, we usually ended ~
adopting his plans, which always turned
out to be the best.
Sometimes, however, we carried oul
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 headlong fash
ion. lets climb Crow Hill, and spend
the day in Keesaw Cave"
Crow Hill would be called small
mountain anywhere but in Baalbec
which the inhabitants of neighborinP
towns laughed at as the place where
folks never made any butter because
there wasn't level ground enough tr
set the pans for cream"
While this statement may possible
be slightly exaggerated, still it is {
fact that about the only difference ia
Baalbec land is between high hills ane
low ones.
Halfway up the hill was Keesaw
Cave, a favorite resort for summer pic
mic parties, but not exactly pleasan,
place in northern winter, with at least
three feet of snow on the ground.
Jacks proposal suited me well, and
even Frank did not make nearly 90
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 wal
81 the vicinity of zero did not enter
intO our calculations in the least. i
New Englander is prevented from
making winter excursions by the cold
he will rarely make anyiat all.
So, an hour later, protected by thicl
overcoats and fur caps, we started out
dragging behind us a sled loaded Will
provisions, cooking utensils, blanketl
and other supplies. Besides this, eacl
of Us had a light Ratchet, and Franl
carried his gun, for, as an enthusiast,
naturalist, he never missed a chance o.
securing specimens.
Following the highway a mile or two
we turned off into q woodroad, whicl
took us TO the base of the hill. Her
our difficulties began.
There was a narrow, winding patti
leading up the steep ascent, but d
signs of it could now be seen, sine
the whole slope was q smooth surface
of snow, broken at frequent interval
by great granite lodges, intermiugle,
with closely-growing trees and bushes
straight upl" said Frank. That
the only way"
We saw that as plainly as he did
and without any delay began the climb
which was not an easy one by an,
means. The lower part of the snoV
was packed perfectly solid by the wind
but upon this the last storm had De
posted another layer, still loose an
soft, 10 be toilsomely waded through.
can testify that climbing that hi
was no joke. Every few feet we woul
come to a line of bare, perpendicula
rock, up which one of us would scran
BILE, afterward pulling the sled afte
him, with the assistance of the other
pushing from below.
The rocks being high and the sic
heavy. our task was tremendously har
so hard that we were obliged to 81
down upon the top of every ledge t
get breath enough TO attack the mex
one.
If we had been doing this as worl
we should have thought ourselves tn
most abused boys in the world; an
even as play it wasn't what one woul
care 20 do very often.
When we at length reached our jou
ney's end, and stood at the mouth {