The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-11-04
Belize, a Xashoe Canary.
By John Harold tlamlln.

| SNSSS'9SoScshcS'Sbs SbsAe'S'SAShshcC1SSSAs
D ELIlE was good mnle-yct he
II had sec, better days-and in
view of the fact that his ribs were
| protruding in truly remarkable
style, and that his labors had been un.
| usually steady and entirely credit
able, it was deemed advisable to grant
him a holiday. Therefore Bellies
driver, Tim Murdock, led him out OF
| the great Sutro tunnel and accompa,
MED him to bleak hilltop, where he
cast off the halter and turned Belize
| adrlft.
There are no very productive graz
ing DISTRICTS. in the vicinity of Vir.
ginia City. and Belzie's prospects of
recuperatiug lost viyor did not prom
ise well. Knolls and gullies covered
with scant sage brush. varied by
patches Of alkali, void even of brush,
were not pleasing to behold, nor did
they teen with provender. But then
a\mule resembles goat in at least
two respects--he can climb well and
is able to subsist on the most impos-
sible fare.
Perhaps Belize remained on that
particular knoll two hours, perhaps
longer. 1t is certain, however, that
MS soon as the sun dropped behind
the crest of bald old Mount David
son, the mule seemed relieved; he
grew quite sportive by the time
nights sable pail fell upon the dreary
landscape. This condition of affairs
appeared natural to Belize, only his
movements were not limited to the
narrow confines of an underground
drift or tunnel. And then, much to
his relief, no everlasting car ratified
at his heels. Oh, indeed. this mule
was happy, and he almost forgot to
forage for food so interested did he
become in exploring the boundless
scope of his new quarters. Thus did
the ovcrworked mules vacation be-
gin; the days slipped by. and ere long
the bony. long-eared. solemn-looking,
Beezle hub became a familiar object
as he roamcd about the Virginia
hills.
Strange things will happen. and it
became apparent that this visible
ribbed donkey was thriving on hisl
sage brush diet. His master noted
the fact, and decided to terminate
Bellies fnrlough. Mules were none
too plentiful just then; work was
pressing and, take it all around, Bel,
zie could i'll be spared, especially since
he no longer cut the same figure as
did the rack of bones that emergsd
from Sutro tunnel four weeks pre-
vious. So Tim Murdoch was detailed
to round up the rejuvenated Beezle-
bub. His accustomed haunts were
searched; no brown mule with the,
peculiar markings of Belize could be,
discovered. Inquiries were made, but
no one remembered seeing him with,
IN the last week. Finally the stage
driver informed Tim that he 'seen,
a mule ambling down Geiger grade,
pretty close to Steamboat Springs,l
day before yesterday" This seemedI
q self-evident clew, and Tim got an
extra day off, mounted spare mule,
and struck out in pursuit of the wan
dering Belize.
Steamboat is noted for its hot
springs. geysers, and the altogether
extraordinary formations in and,
about that locality. These springs
are a favorite resort for natural
scientists, and offer a splendid field
to the researches of geologists.
There happened to be particular
ly zealour professor sojourning at
Steamboat about the same time Bel
zie was rustling for new growth of
bone and muscle. Two prospectors,
firmly believing they had struck a
"bonanza," We're extending an old
tunnel in hillside, about half mile
from the main springs and geysers
of Steamboat. Quite friendship
sprung up between the young pro-
fessor and these two miners. The
three made frequent expeditions,
bent on investigating the wonders
CT hot springs, surmsing causes and
effects of internal heat, and the pros,
pectors listened in utter fascination
to the theories propounded by Prof.
Melins.
One sultry night heavy earth
quake shook up goodly portion of
western Nevada and California. II
played odd tricks in and about Steam
boat Springs. The main geyser went
dry. When Prof. Mellins discovered
this fact, his rapture knew no bounds.
He recorded voluminous notes on the
natural phenomenon, and began the
preparation of exhaustive lectures for
futare classes to digest. While busily
engaged in jotting down notes, and
gazing into the cavernous dry vent
of the erstwhile geyser, the two
prospectors hove in sight. They were
breathless, tired, yet gasped out
voluble and excited description Of
an unprecedented freak Of nature
that had taken place on the site of
their tunnel So incoherent was the
account given by the two men that
it was with difficulty they were un-
derstood; but Prof Mellins compre-
hended at once that something
stranger still than the mere disap-
pearancc of the spring had followed
in the wake of the trembler.
''I,y the trumpetng elements, boys,
this is great" Prof Mellins forcibly
expressed himself by using his favor
ite term. as he bcheld long irregular
fssure beginning few yards from
the mouth of the tunnel and running
directly into it, extending as far as
the eye could penetrate the gloom.
Putting jets of steam arose in thin
clouds, converting the prospectors'
tunnel into veritable steam retort.