Catoctin clarion., 1901-03-07
AN ADVENTURE.

DdAIeI, lluSA aheA PAo0PNo'-' "
Grand Canyon Of the Colorado not
many years ago.
Tom had learned from half-breed
Apache of the rumored existence of a
rich gold claim up in the Tolipa River
country.
The Tolipa was small tributary Of
the Rio Grande. To reach it was to
undergo long and toilsome journey;
in fact, wide detour through a rocky
region.
This Journey Tom dreaded, as there
was no little danger of encountering
the Apaches, those sworn and deadly
enemies of the white man. Indeed, the
detour itself was not pleasant matter
to reflect upon when it was considered
that the mouth Of the Tolipa was in
straight line but few miles distant.
by the great horn spoon, III not
make all that roundabout journey
either muttered Tom, with sudden res
olution. If there's no better way, l
VOW I'll risk shooting the rapids
When Tom announced his purpose to
the denizens of the little gulch town OF
Big Rock, he created sensation in
short order.
>Yere mad, Tom Baker declared
several. Yell go to yer death
>Oh, I guess not said Tom, coolly.
Don't ye do it, pard. I advise ye
not to-
There was no better way of egglng
Baxter on than this, however, and with
defiant shrug Of his shoulders he re-
piled:
'Pslaw ye can't skeer me that way.
I'm no chicken, I amt. I'm going
down to the mouth Of the Tolipa in jlst
that manner.
With this he stalked away. A short
while latter he was seen carrying ca
noe on his shoulders down to the rivers
edge.
Then he was seen to enter and pad
died away down the river. There were
some who would not credit the fact
that he was IN earnest, while there were
IL, bo, hoo dc L. N ulu
and declared that Tom Baxter had gone
to his death.
The only way in which any person
could get the faintest conception Of the
force Of the rapids was to climb the
high canyon walls and peer over into
the dark gorge 50 many hundred feet
below. From that distance the turmoil
was frightful. 1t would seem, there
fore, that Baxter's feat was an act Of
mad folly.
Long before he reached the rapids,
Baxter heard them thunder. Soon he
felt the swirl beneath his feet, the white
caps were seen ahead, and the canoe
shot forward.
Little he realized 1t, but in the next
few minutes of time he was to live
whole lifetime of suspense. He was
wholly unprepared for such sight as
now was spread before his gaze.
Such rapids mortal uan had seldom
gazed upon.
Just where the canyon walls were
highest and shut out the light Of day
to a somber shadow, the waters were
most frightfully fierce. The light Ca
noe was caught up, hurled aloft, dashed
down, and whirled like an egg shell on
top of mighty billows.
Face to face with death, we'll know
ing that it is to certainly overtake him,
it is we'll known that the bravest man
will lose command Of himself; so it was
with brave Tom Baxter.
How perilously near to the wall the
canoe was swept Now an inch could
scarcely intervene, and he knew that
the slightest touch would dash the ca
noe over and plung him to death. For
no man could hope to swim in those
swirling, mad waters.
Now avoiding huge rock, sweeping
over concealed tons of treacherous bowl
dars--the slightest touch would prove
fatal-how could the light craft keep
its equilibrium so long and SO well?
It must be fate, or perchance a mir
cle-nothing less, certainly. Terrible
the watery turmoil about, and yet the
canoe, like sprite, continued to sweep
safely oyer all.
But this was not to last forever. Had
it continued but a half hour longer the
passage would have been made In safety
But suddenly, as quick as flash, the
little craft mounted high breaker.
Over it went as it touched the rock be.
meath the shallow surge-over like
fash, and Baxter was in the vortex.
In that awful moment the miner be-
lieyed that his last hour had tome
Even the slightest hope was dead with