The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-09-27
by HUGH =. GRINsTEAD.

INC dSdlHSJ SOllu STONE wall. care
fully feeling my way along the wall.
which seemed to curve to the left at
this point had proceeded only q few
steps when my foot dislodged some
small stones, which went rumbling
downward, and after the lapse of
second or two could distinctly hear
the chug! ohugl as they struck the
water. The sound / had heard then
must be that of running water, pos
sibly of Lost Creek, where it disap-
pears in the rocks. Just after skirting
Blackburns Bluff. If this was the
case l would be more than 100 feet
below the top of the bluff, and half
that distance below the bottom of the
deepest pit had ever looked into on
that bluff.
With my hands against the wall
and by carefully reaching out with
my feet l found l was on q narrow
ledge, on which it was very difficult
to retain my footing. / worked my
way along this narrow shelf, which
was at some points alarmingly steep,
for possibly 100 feet, when my path
way came abruptly to an end. Evil
IDENTIFY | could proceed no farther in
this direction, and was ON the point
of turning back when that befel rue
which, though seeming for the time
a calamity. was in reality the guiding
hand of providence.
/ was sitting on the narrow ledge
throwing pebbles into the water be-
low and mentally calculating the dis
tance, when / suddenly felt the grav-
/ ely bench begin to slide, and in that
awful moment 1 realized the extent
of my peril. II | missed the rocks
and struck the water the chances
were that l would be stunned and
strangled before / could regain my
breath. 1 clawed madly at the
| treacherous gravel. and as went over
the bank caught projecting rock
and held on with the tenacity of des-
peration. My feet were dangling in
the air and my hold was weakening!
shut my eyes and prepared for the
inevitable plunge. | thought how
my body would be sought in vain. /
prayed!
My fingers slowly relaxed, and |
dropped--six feet below to fiat
rock! Joy unspeakable! Shortly
before | was bewailing my fate and
now l was sobbing with very joy. So
overcome was | that it was several
minutes before gained sufficient
strength to enable me to learn the
extent of the friendly rock on which
had alighted.
| found 1t was but the entrance to
a small cave, running at right angles
to the ledge above, and so close was
/ to the ledge, that had i swung out
six inches farther l would have gone
into the water as did the pebbles
which had easily bounded over the
rock. This projection was only a
few feet long, and the only way
could proceed now was by going into
the small cave. / proceeded slowly
having to go on my hands and knees
at times, so low was the roof.
At length the passage widened and
the roof became higher. so that
, could stand erect, and consequently
get along faster. 1t was always up
/, hill. The floor was series of ter
races, in places several feet apart
but always easily climbed by aid o
p the Jagged stones.
: After making my way from one o
a these terraces to the next higher b.
/ feeling my way over a path NOR
v difficult than usual | became faintl.
+ aware of a peculiar sensation.
\ .N.. .
! faint glimmer of light discernibl
6 by no eye save of one who had beel
q In total darkness for long time.
@ still had to feel my way, 70
while the delicate organism of m
:, eyes felt the sensation of light it wa
not enough To guide my footsteps
q However, the light was steadily grow
n ing brighter. was going toward 1t
"a After passing up a slight incline,
+s could see the floor of the cavern an
far ahead a small spot Of light wa
;. discernible. | shouted with joy
=. half ran toward my beacon ligh
10 which gradually grew larger. Now,
Va was beholding the beautiful light {
No day and breathing the pure air; fc
A. blOOu At tup bONtOh VI a. iui
\ Jagged opening. which Instant
y, recognized as one oil the pits o
nj Blackburn's Bluff.
A. | gazed upward and fairly dram
In the pure air and sunshine. A Ii
,t tie bird perched on limb high abo'
~ twittered gaily and seemed to be SIM
70 ing to me a song of good cheer.
or was elnted at once more coming int
"a the light, but my hopes sank as
IN realized the utter improbability
st anyone coming to my rescue in tn
ce remote place before night; and aft
he dark l stood in deadly peril from Il
ne beasts that made their dens in Il
70 cave.
to The slanting rays OF the sun to
NY me 1t was late in the afternoon. II
OF p' .nned escape must work quickl
lrt carefully examined my prison.
ds could scale the wall almost to Il
ed top. Here an overhanging rock wou
stop further progress. Howevs
al growing out from the base OF tn
ro- rock was stunted pinoak, Will
ity from the branches Of a large el
my which stood on the verge above
m huge grapevine dangled within 10
,b- feet of the stunted pinoak. II cou
yIy only climb out on the pinoak q
M |. o