The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-12-16

tighter-tbat was all the sign she gave
We followed the course OF the river
guided by the sound OF the rushing
waters. AS we proceeded the descent
grew more and more rapid. the stream
forming long succession OF falls, and
the light increasing, the rocks and
powders about US became dimly Wis.
ible through the gray mist At length
our Progress was stopped by q huge
rock that rose perpendicular before
US.
"Harkw said the Judge, as We
stopped 10 regain the breath that had
been pumped out OF our lungs by the
last scramble.
Dstened-we seemed 10 have turned
our backs on the stream-its rushing
sounded more distant than / had set
heard IL. ] said this.
"Hark againw said Brace. Then os
i listened edattentively heard beside the
swirling and dashing noise IN our rear
muffied roar, that seemed 10 come
from the very bowels Of the earth.
/ almost fancicd felt the rock vi.
brating under my feet.
you're right" said Brace. when ]
gave him my impression; "end the
roar you hear is that stream shootin'
down thousands Of feet 10 the bottom
Of the great hole. II IL warn't for the
blamed mist" he added, holding up
the torch, which revealed but few
feet above our heads Of the granite
wall by our side. you'd see that we're
now staDdin' right between the two
sides Of the divide we looked at last
night We air standiD' right over the
canon, with pre'aps -four or five thou.
sand feet Of nothing under us, on a
lump OF rock that's tumblcd down
from up above and wcdged itself here,
cause somethin' stopped its gOin fur
der, and It do tremble, ] allow. IL
amt solid! It's moved lump since /
knew il IN the old days. and one O
these days a chunk from above will
come down and start il of for good
an all"
II think we may as well get off il,
in that case"
wall yes. 1t amt more risky
standin' on il than standin' under IT,:
and as we've got 10 90 under il. and
down the hole, we may as well git"
lie led the way along the trembling
rock dozen yards, may bc-the rush
ing water sounding upon the left Of
rs, and then stretched out his arm 10
stop us. lie advanced cautiously, and
Ha ~ 1n,t t,,tI
the light fell upon the yellow water
as it poured down into the black gulf
upon which our standing place abut-
ted. The flame of the torch was drawn
down by the current of air as if il |
had been at the blast hole Of furnace. !
Raising his voice to overcome the noise
Of the water. Brace called ont:
We've got TO go down there"
"You are not afraid. LOlaY | asked. |
She shook her head, and gave my |
hand another little squeeze.
Brace led us off the rock. keeping /
the water still on our left. and there
was some more downward clambcring /,
for n few minutes Then we came to
a stand. and he showed me lateral !
opening about four feet in height.
I'VE goes through there" he said; |
then he produced flask. poured ont |
a dram and handed il TO me. ! offered |
il TO Lola. Another shake of the head, |
and another little squeeze.
] emptied the cup and Brace helped |
himself.
"There amt no need to get ourselves
in a muck over this job We'lput our
rubbcrs on" he said, "the wet drips
through
! took out the overcoats from the !
bundle Of rugs, and we put them on.
Then | strapped the roll of rugs on
my shoulders again.
Brace touched my shoulder and
pointed upward to 4 couple of family
pink nebulous patches in the mist.
what is itY' | asked.
"The sun ketchin' the tops of the
peaks" he replied.
He took couple Of torches from
the bundle he carried. and began TO
had last used.
wont you wait lttlc-it Will be
light in half an hour" | said.
Not down there" he replied; Its
pitch dark at noon in that almighty
hole. Now" he added. when the
torches were well lii. take one OF
these kick the snow well off your feet
keep one eye on me, and t'other on the
rocks. and leave the rest TO Provi-
dcnce"
With this last injunction he stopped
down, and passed through the opening.
We followed. but singly, for we needed
both hands TO make the perilous de
scent.
The first thing | noticed in passing
under the great block that bridged the
awful Chasm was the comparative ST
lence.
To be Continued.
.a.-.-
Too Versatile.
Poor Jack of all trades. So strong