Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-05-05

to It's base by the way Of the rive,
bank, and to where the cascade pour
eh over the rocks. waking the solemn
echoes OF the otherwise silent ravlne
Their Instructions were to station
themselves near the rocks which bore
The Spanish legend-to keep q sharp
lookout on the face of the cliff and all
the way up to the grove OF banana
trees that grew on It's summit.
Billy the cabin boy was left in charge
OF the hut and boat, while Hislop.
Win the rest OF us advanced toward
the ciif. up the sloping bank OF which
It's only accessible point-we pro
ceeded TO climb.
IL WAS. or Is twelve months can
make no change) hundred and fifty
ieet In height. as | have stated, ris-
ING Sharply up from the side OF the
great mountain. and is covered by a
jungle Of wild shrubs that must have
Deen growing there since the days OF
the deluge.
Inc creepers with gummy branches.
the sharp serrated grass, the yellow
gourd vines, the wild tendrils and
plants OF which we knew neither the
names nor the nature. were there in
| terwoven as closely as a herring net,
TO the depth OF seven or eight feet
! from their roots.
Amid this jungle the hum OF the
myriads OF great insects which we
/ nd Siuin
while the black clouds OF gad-fies and
cockroaches were very bewildering.
and. 10 say the least, annoying.
We soundered and fell as We waded
through this sea OF leaves and verdi
ure; but rose and scrambled on again,
pausing ever and anon. breathless and
exhausted. TO sit and fan ourselves. or
TO aid in pulling each other out OF this
tungly network. for Il resembled that
which sprang by magic spell around
the palace Of the sleeping beauty IN
the old fairy tale to battle all intrud.
ers for hundred years.
Hlslop. who had not yet recovered
his strength, was among the first tc
give in. and declare. when half way up
that he could climb no further"
Two or three took advantage OF thii
admission to remain with him for
time; but |. refreshed by a ripe ba
mana which had fallen from the tree
at the top. and which found jus
at hand. pushed on. and being lighte
than any OF my companions, got ahea
of them all.
After half an hours severe toll. dur
Ing which my hands and knees wer
lAeerated and torn by sharp blades @
gigantic grass, and by the quinn
creepers 10 which ones very flesh ad
hered at times. reached at last tn
banana trees, the foliage OF whic
waved like a gigantic plume on th
summit OF this Isolated rock.
The banana rises with stem whic
: is about six or seven inches in dian
eter at the root, and from thent
o tapers upward to the height of eightee
!. or twenty feet to where the leav,
e spring like a bright green tuft. broa
y wavy. feathery. and dropping. as thoi
of the palm do.
n uttered a shout-an 10 poeanr-
n to my companions, announcing that
!, had gained the summit before ther
. and armed with my only weapon. Il
!, Lakewood spear. pushed my way 70
!, ward between the smooth stems OF q
bananas. till reached the abru
brow of the cilf. from the verge
which | saw. far down below, Z
bright blue stream that rose on &
u slopes of the great mountain, runni,
through the heart OF the isle and 81
% tering In the setting sun among grow
L and ravines. to where IL poured
Is foam upon the white sandy beach, a
Id mingled with the mighty Southern 81
d, | saw also the figures OF Chute a
!? Carlton. as they stood near the TO
lie which bore the inscription, but th
Id could neither distinguish me nor he
liz my shout, which gave fresh ardor
IS. those whom / had left halfway dow
ig and who now resumed their ascent.
IN Ito be continued.)