Catoctin clarion., 1900-12-13
UNDERGROUND.
"a True California Aduenta<re.)


u sou, my one legged, raw boned,
red headed, good. natured chum, his ais
ter Dora, tall and ladylike, my sister
Annie, short, plump. venturesome rs a
madcap gypsy. and myself.
The trout season was open, and we
arranged trip which included fishing
in the forenoon; lunch at mid day, a
ride through the mountain to Uncle
Joe's ranch, all nigAt there, and home
again whenever 30 inclined. We live
near the foothills, and 1t is onl ~ ten
mile drive or go up into the the Coast
Range. Bright and early we started,
with Sans big buckskin horse hitched
to our double seated wagon. Mother
had filed the lunch basket as only she
knew how to fill it, the sun WAS just ris,
ing in a cloudless sky, the air WAS crys.
tai clear. and We as gay us the larks on
the fences.
Old Buck soon carried us past the
hay fields, vinyards and orchards of the
valley up to the narrow mountain road,
Here our way twisted and turned
through the hills, diving into wild
gluches, crossing shallow creeks hug
gng smooth cliffs high above gloomy
canons, running softly over little grass.
green valleys. and seeming to lead
everywhere in general and nowhere in
particular. Occasionally we heard the
warning tink.e OF mule team ahead Of
US, and then we had to turn out on a
siding and wait. But without any ser
ious delays, still hilarious in anticipa-
tions of the days fun before US, We
reached our first stopping place-a big
oak at the head Of tiny meadow hid
den from the road and nesting at the
base Of a rugged mountain.
Meantime, what are we girls going
to do with ourselves!' inquired Annie
looking about the sunny nook.
'Do2' said I, busy getting out the fish
ing tackle, nothing at all, or what yon
like. Here is the spot for either; make
yourLelf at home while Sam and fish
up the creek. It's too rough for you tc
90 with U.s.
Thank you, We don't want to go with
YOU Let them have their wrigglna
fish, said Dora.
Well, beware the bear 7 l laughed
but as saw nervous look 60 ovel
Dora's face, l added hastily, What's jOk
ing Of course. Uncle Joe shot the las
of the grizzlies five years ago
Well said Dora, reassured, we have
the lunch and the horse, and if yol
don't come back by time you won
find it, him nor u.s.
>'It' is what will fetch me back II
time laughed Sam; >'him, nor us
wouldn't matter go much, but 1T set
ties it,
took from under the wagon seat th
frypan and bundle of pitch knots
showed Annie where to kindle tir'
ready tor cooking the fish when We re-
turned, and then Sam and l were off ~
the creek.
We enjoyed the sport kee1ly at first
but three hours of crawling through
bushes, climbing and slipping owe
boulders and scrambling up steep bank
innumerable, took off the edge as San
expressed it. About noon, resting on ,
cool fiat rock by the creek. we counted
up the catch-eighty six trout.
Enough for one day. said Sam de-
cidedly. It's good two miles back tt
camp and I'm hungry as wolf now.
1t was after one o'clock, by my Wa
terbury, when hot, hungry and tired
we sighted the little meadow and the
oak.
>HellooY cried Sam, as we came ou
into the clearing; They've got the fir
ready for the fish,
There was Il little fire down beside
the creek, but the girls were nowhere
to be seen. We threw off cur loads ant
sat down in the shade of the oak.
We lay listlessly waiting for some
time, but the girls failed to appear
The fire showed that they had not beer
gone loug-still where were they?
Call to EN-, Walt suggested Sam
and l did so. again and again, and tn
silence following my yells made us mor'
uneasy. Feeling like investigating We
walked down to the fire by the creek
There were good stepping stones acros
and on the other side noticed th'
bushes were bent and broken.
They've climbed the mountain 7
exclaimed disgustedly. Shall we g.
up?'
'Oh' suppose we've got to- groanet
Sam.
rumbling and laughing, we crossed
the creek. Five minuter Of easy climb