The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-24

Scaur Valley, and luncheon was CRATE
full; but before the leading guide en-
tered the spot trail which swings to
the west above the third spur of Crest
ed Hawk, the sun had dropped into the
notch between Mount Eternity and the
White Lady, and the alpen-glow GRIM
sOned every peak as we threw down
our packs and looked out across the
Black Water Here" said 1. "ouI
Journey ends; Princess Ysonde"-I took
her gloved hand-"be seated, for below
you lies the Black Water-yours by
right of conquest
Il caTlate I'll be right cold tonight
Ma'am," said Buck Hanson.
YES" said Ysonde listlessly.
Y.
Night fell over the Black Water be-
fore the shelter was raised, but the
great campfire lighted up the cleared
space among the trees, and 1 saw Ellis
staggering in under loads of freshly
stripped bark for our roof. Buck Han
son finished matching the exposed ends
with hemlock and spruce. The parti-
ton, a, broad sheet of heavy bark, sep
arated the lean-to into two sections
one for Lynda and Ysonde, the other
for Blylock, myself and the guides.
| had roamed about the underbrush,
Topping off balsam twigs for our bed
ding which Blylock brought in and
spread over the pine-needle floor
When Ellis finished roofing the hut
with his thick rolls of bark I sent him
to the spring below with the camp ket-
tie, and picking up an AK, called to
Buck to follow.
Il should very much like" said Bly,
lock solemnly, ito chop a tree into
sections adequate for the camp fire"
Take the ak and my blessing" said
l, 81 hate to chop"
It's very good of you,' said Bly,
lock, following Buck into the forest
where our freight glimmered red on
rugged trunks towering into the black
ness above.
Z Ysonde came creeping out of her
compartment, her eyes and cheeks bril-
liant in the fires glare
'Lyndas lying down. she said.
isn't supper nearly ready? How deli
cious our bed of balsam smells: what
are you doing with your trout rod?"
I knOtred the nine-foOt leader to the
line, slipped on an orange miller for a
drOpper, tied big coachman three
feet above it and picked up my landing
net.
What is home without a dinner?"
asked, and what is dinner without a
trout? Come down to that rock which
hangs over the Black Water. ana you
shall see your future dinner leaping in
the moonlight
Bobby the poet" said Ysonde
Steadying herself by my arm in the
dark descent to the lake. Poet Bobby
there is no moon on the Black Water"
Look" said /. pointing to a pale
light in the sky above the White Lady,
the moon will come up over that peak
in ten minutes; give me your hand, it's
very dark"
Clinging closely to my arm. she
moved through the underground until
we felt the firm flat rock under our
feet. The rock ran straight out into
the water at right angles from the
shore like pier.
BE careful-oh. be careful she
urged, you almost walked off into the
water there where the shadows lie so
black"
Then hold me-" said I diplomatical-
", and l felt her warm hands close
tightly on my left arm.
The moon peeped over the shoulder
of the White Lady as I made my first
cast into the darkness ahead, and 1
saw my leader strike the water. now
placidly rocking like a lake of molten
silver.
"Oh-h," cried Ysonde softly, oh
the wondrous beauty of it all"
In the silence | heard the thwack of
an AK from the woods above and Bly,
locks voice quite plainly. The water
tapped the edges of the rock below us,
catching thin CLEANS from the shining
sheet beyond. and my silk line whistled
and whimpered like a keen wind lash
ing the sea.
Then a wonderful thing occurred. Out
of the depths of the FURNISHED water
slim shape shot, showering the black
night with spray. Splash. A million
little wavelets hurried away into the
darkness. crowding. sparkling. dancing
in widening circles. while the harsh
whirr of the reel rang in my ears, and
the silk line melted away like thread
of smoke. The rod staggered in my
hand.
''Ysonde, there are two on now" l
whispered.
Give me the rod" she said. excited
ly. I handed it to her, and for mo-
ment she felt the splendid strain.
Then the fish gave a deep surge
to the west, and she gasped and pushed
the rod into my hands.
Living wild things struggling for
life she sighed. 'Oh, hurry, Bobby
it pains me sol" and she pressed both
hands to her breast.
For a second the joy of the battle left
me. / had an impulse to fling the rod
into the Black Water; but 1 am a
hunter by instinct.
Deeper and deeper surged the fish,
and the rod sswayed and bent until the
tip brushed my knuckles.
"Oh, kill the creatures murmured
Ysonde, lit is all so fierce and cruel
/ never thought you were like that.
Il am" | murmured. checking a saw
age sweep toward the north-"quick,
YsOnde-pass me my net"
She did so. and / crawled down to
the waters edge, shortening my line at
every step. 1t was soon over; | washed
my hands in the black water and flung
the fish back into the landing net.
Now" said I, tossing rod and net
over my shoulder. I'VE will go to din
ner: lean on my shoulder-how brutal
you must think me, Ysonde."
Yes" said Ysonde.
She passed me-perhaps it was the
that whitened her cheeks
and I saw her enter the circle of red
freight as Lynda came forward to
meet her.
Hello, Ellis" I called.
Hello, sir" came back from the
spring among the rocks below. and
Jimmy Ellis appeared, carrying a
chunk of pork.
Two / said, turning the trout out
Df the landing net.
Good fish. sir drawled Ellis,