The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-06-13

~xCN Lhl Nj summer Wnlcn
7 - Y spent among the White
o o Mountains became ac-
- qualnted with an old farm
Eo~ er-hunter. Eben Holt. who
knew more about the woods and "all
outdoors in general than any one else
have met. He related TO me this adj
venture that he had had nearly sixty
years before:
When Cousin Thad and were boys
our families came up from connectl-
cut and settled In Grafton County,
New Hampshire. In rough region but
sparsely inhabited by back kwoods;Ne:::.
That spring we We're put to cutting
timber on the lower slope OF Grantham
Mountain. at the foot of which the
farms lay To save tramping back and
forth we carried our dinners. and as
fresh meat was scarce we took along
an old musket. called the Thunderer.
which Thad's father had given him,
and spent most OF our noon hour in
bagglng such small game as we could
find
We had hardly swallowed the noon
smack one day when a gray squirrel
darted across the open space before us
aud scrambled up a nearby tree Thad
grabbed the gun and fred. but missed.
and the squirrel. evidently thinking
himself IN the wrong place, started of
at great rate. leaplng from tree TO
tree.
We gave chase. On and on he led
us, straight UP the mountain; some
times we thought that we had him.
aud again he was far on ahead. We
scrambled over rocks and crawled un-
der fallen trees and fell into hollows.
but foolishIy kept cn. with our eyes
rolled up to the heavens.
But we had TO give up the chase at
last. aud threw ourselves on the ground
to rest and get our breath.
~ say. rhad. we've never been up
so high as this be(orer | cried. sitting
suddenly bolt upright. for saw thar
we were in the dense growth of the
upper mountain, which we had been
strictly forbidden u penetrate. On the
right. dark scanned sandstone ridges
stretched upward 70 a huge pile OF
ugly looking rocks; gray mosses hung
IN masses from the lower dead
branches OF the fir trees. which stood
SO close together as to shut out every
CLINT or sunshine. The dampness and
gloom OF the place were appalling even
to omr healthy imaginations
LETS get out 81 this was Thad's
comment, as he sprang to his feet.
wen give old Grantham hail,
though Judging from these gray
locks we must be pretty close to his
ear
"He pointed to the hanging mosses
and tickled at his own wit gave a great
war whoop Then we both turned te
plunge down the mountain A wall
long and plaintlve, sounded out Of the
gloom below us in fearful echo to the
shout. II arrested our steps and frozt
US TO the spot in sheer horror W.
knew that wild cry we'll 1t had shlv
cred down from the desolate forest OF
many a cold night Of the past winter
sending prIckles Of fear over MS ever
III the safety Of the home freight.
"'Its a painterv we gasped. Agaii
the cry sounded. nearer this time.
elf sou ever hear that screech wheI
out alone. boys. run hard for home,
father had once said. And run we die
now. but unfortunately. as the DANCE
was between us and that refuge WI
were obliged to scurry up the mount
ain. Thad dragged the gun we neye
thought OF loading Our small siio
would but enrage the great beas
which was so rapidly overtaklng us.
1--WE gained the ridges and ran oI
and on up their slopes. which grew
sleeper, rougher and more broken th
higher we went The cry sounde'
nearer and nearer at each repetition
Breathless and exhausted at last W
sank down for moment behind th
FIRST obstruction; then a nearer scream
neryed us to renewed efforts and W
scrambled up again.
"Great masses OF ledges now SUI
rounded rs. Through monstrous crack
we rushed, over fallen blocks an
round huge houlders. | trlpped an
fell, but Thad jerked me up; the gu