Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-10-17
- OR THE
SEAKSH FOR THE BIGGEST

before we reached Petersvile-the
most wretched collection of rotten
shanties ever saw.
Not living creature was to be seen;
there was not a foot mark in the
slushy snow, which lay ankle deep up.
on the ground; it seemed completely
abandoned But the Judge led the
way through the deserted rows of
tumble-down huts, and presently point.
ed to one from which a column of
smoke was ascending through the
clear air.
We We're on a plateau in the very
heart of the mountains. All around
the rugged peaks rose high into the
still air, tinted with deep purple in the
shadow and the loveliest rose-pinll
where the sunlight fell upon the snow.
Where the snow had slid away from
the precipitous sides, the granite,
streaming with water, glittered in the
! bright rays as if it were encrusted With
jewels.
AS we came to halt, waiting for a
response to Braces call, the silence
was broken by a prolonged roar like
that of distant thunder, as some rock
loosened by the frost broke away and
hurtled down the unfathomed canon
A man came from the building,
which still bore faint trace of the word
"Hotel' on the facade, and greeting
Brace with the air of an old acquaint
ance, said he had got every ything aired
and supper ready to put down to the
fire. Brace had seen the necessity of
preparing him for our reception. A
couple of rooms had been made as de.
Gently comfortable as might be cX.
pectcd. We left Lola there, and
strolled out while the dinner was pre-
pairing
The end of the town abutted upon a
wide stream, that was tearing and
whirling along among the gigantic
powders that marked its course, to.
ward black cleft which divided a
towering mountain in two. Fantastic
as are the effects which characterize
the heights of the Sierra, l had seen
nothing comparable to this. 1t was as
if some mighty hand had split the
mountain In half.
II have knowed the time" said the
Judge, impressively, when both sides
of this river was filled with miners,
and every one of 'em worth his thou.
sands of dollars"
l had no sympathies with the past
glories of the stream. My mind was
filled with admiration of the savage
beauty of the scenery around.
Thar" said the Judge, fiinging
piece of wood, part of an appliance
which might have washed gold untold,
into the turbid and rushing water;
thar, bar stoppages, that'll pass the
Great Hesper in less time than it will
take us to get back to the hotel
rs it through that cleft we have to
go?'
"Ah, sir, and down into the very in
nards Cf it,"
| was looking toward the dark chasm
with Il feeling of awe, when Brace
touched my elbow. He was dragging
at his chin tuft, his lower lip protrud-
ng, his heavy brows bent. He point
ed slowly to a trace in the snow.
"The man from the hotel been down
iere-is that what you mean?" l asked.
ut amt him, sir, that mark. Look
at tits one-footed man, end he
added, striding forward and looking
rioser-end's it's left-fOoted man, end
it's a one wooden-legged man, and
hen, with conviction, its the blamed
beggar that's been spyin after us.
Leave him to me. He amt goin to
spy us tomorrow, not hef knows it."
| approached the marks, and per-
,eived that beside the foot was the
:ound hole made by wooden stump
After dinner Brace looked to the pine
torches he had brought up, and spent
the evening drying them carefully,
while chatting with the man of the
hotel. He said not word about our
discovery, nor did the man speak Of
any visitor in the house. This, with
4 certain cunning look in his little red
eyes, alarmed me.
We were called at o'clock the next
morning, Brace saying that we must
start early in order to get our job done
in time to get back to comfortable
dinner, but in reality, l believe, to
preclude the possibility of being fol.
Owed. When we had finished our
breakfast, Brace, taking the hotel man
by the button, said:
"Old pal, you hev got stranger
stayin' in this house, l reckon?'
The man scratched his ear, looked
up and looked down, and then, at a
jerk of his button, blinked up at Brace,
and said:
"Wal, / allow hev."
"a wooden-legged stranger, / think"
The same shufiling, and then:
"Wal, l allow he hev got woode
leg
"a native, | believe"
"Wal, native accordin' to appear
ances."
Il kinder fancy he's in the little
chamber over there. 'Twarn't swine
| heard gruntin, were it?'
You kin inspect him, If you like
Il will, after which hef take Il fan
cy to nailin' of him up for four-and-
twenty hours for the same number O
dollars, you will allow me the use of
a hammer and some three-inch pints?"
Il will do that said the man; and
the two having shaken hands on the