Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-26

basin. After an exhausting scramble we reslch-
ed again the gap in the cliff through which
we had come in, and there we turned To
look back. The cloud had already reached
the farther side of the basin and was pouring
softly into it, filling up all the cracks and
crseyiccs, and burying everything in its heavy
folds as it came
That cloud is going to catch us, Frank,
| cried. eve must drop the meat and run"
"It does look bad" said my companion,
as he let his load fall to the ground. "One
moment Ted; we'll take little of it."
With that he whipped out his knife, cut
off about two pounds of the mutton, and
crammed the piece into his pocket.
Now, said he, give me my rifle, and let
us hook it."
Our course led us across a wide stretch OF
snow, which lay against the foot of long,
bare "hog- g-backed" mountain, on the other
side Of which we knew must be the pine
woods. On the level we found that we could
travel as fast as the cloud, but as soon as
we began to ascend the slope. where, for want
of breath, we were obliged to come down to
walk, the pursuing vapor overhauled US
hand over hand.
Look, Ted" Frank exclaimed at will
be upon us in a minute! We must get our
bearings while we can. Our camp is some
way off to the left, l think, but we had bet
ter turn our backs square to the cloud and
go straight up hill with it, turning to the left
after we get into the woods. Don't you think
so"
yes" 1 assented, chat will be the best
way. 1t doesn't so much matter about being
lost In the woods, because we can make a fire
there; but here"
Before 1 had finished speaking the mist
enveloped us. All the features of the land
scape were blotted out in a moment we
could not see two steps in any direction.
Our expectation that the motion of the
cloud would help to direct our course proved
to be baseless; the billowy mass seemed to
have no motion at all. Our only resource,
therefore, was to keep on going up hill as
nearly in straight line as possible. Up hill
we went accordingly, and soon we NSad the
satisfaction of finding that we had left the
mow-bed and were walking on the bare
rocks. Over these we blindly stumbled for
long distance, sometimes inclining up hill
and sometimes down, until, presently we
made discovery which took the heart out
OF us entirely. We came upon an extensive
field OF old snow; thing we had not ex-
pected to lind on the camp side of the noun
tain. The momentous question at once arose:
Was this one of the fields we had already
traverseds or were we still going in the right
direction? Up to this time we had fell some
confidence that the course we were pursuing
would eventually bring us to the woods. but
now all confidence seemed to slip away from
US, and the feeling that we were lost took its
place.
We kept steadily, if slowly, on however.
first one leading and then the other. until
presently We came upon an object, the sight
of which filled us with joy-a little aid.
twisted tree trunk. We had reached timber.
line at last.
Though we carried back with us no tro.
phies of the chase our expedition had NOT
been altogether proftless. We had demon
strated by practical experience that il IL well
TO attend TO the warning when the hair
blows loose from the Old Woman's head. -