Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-10-17

II don't think he will trouble us, un.
less lie kin afford to make 1t worth the
old pals while to let him out" said
Brace, as we started from the house,
lend even then he won't get much of q
chance seein' as no moral man can
get down that hole without light
and we've got eyes for to see hef Il
light is follerin' on u.s."
! 1t was dark, despite the snow that
lay upon the ground. Brace led the way
| with pine torch, which burned slug
gishly in the mist that enveloped us.
Lola holding my hand tightly, we fol-
lowed close behind Brace, who kept
the torch low to show the nature Of the
path, nevertheless we slipped and
floundered considerably in stepping
from bowlder to bowlder-the half
melted snow rendering it impossible
to obtain firm footing.
Under other circumstances Lola
would have enjoyed the difficulties.
and laughed at our mishaps, but now
she neither smiled nor spoke; some
times she would press my hand little
tGhtCr-that was all the sign she gave.
We followed the course of the river,
guided by the sound of the rushing
waters. AS We proceeded the descent
grew more and more rapid, the stream
forming long succession of falls, and
the light increasing, the rocks and
powders about us became dimly WIS.,
ible through the gray mist. At length
our progress was stopped by huge
rock that rose perpendicular before
us.
'Hark" said the Judge, as we
stopped to regain the breath that had
been pumped out of our lungs by the
last scramble.
l listened-we seemed to have turned
our backs on the stream--its rushing
sounded more distant than l had yet
heard It, l said this.
'IIark again. said Brace. Then as
| listened l heard beside the
swirling and dashng noise in our rear
Il mutled roar, that seemed to come
from the very bowels Of the earth.
brating under my feet.
You're right" said Brace, when
gave him my impressions; "end the
roar you hear is that stream shoOtin'
down thousands of feet to the bottom
of the great hole. If 1t warn't for the
blamed mist" he added, holding up
the torch which revealed but few
feet above our heads of the granite
wall by our side, you'd see that were
now standin' right between the two
sides of the divide we looked at last
night. We air standin' right over the
canon, with pre'aps four or five thou
sand feet of nothing under us, OH a
lump of rock that's tumbled down
from up above, and wedged itself here,
cause somethlh' stopped its goin' fur
der. and it do tremble, l allow 1t
amt solid! Its moved lump since |
knew it in the old days, and one O.
these days chunk from above will
come dowp and start it off for good
an all"
II think we may as we'll get off it,
in that case"
"Wall, yes. 1t amt more risky
standin' Oh it than standin' under 1t;
and as we've got to go under it, and
down the hole, we may as we'll git"
He led the way along the trembling
rock dozen yards, may be-the rush
ing water sounding upon the left Of
Us, and then stretched out his arm to
stop us. He advanced cautiously, and
holding out the torch at arms length.
the light fell upon the yellow water
as it poured down into the black gulf
upon which our standing place abut-
ted. The flame of the torch was drawn
down by the current Of air as If 1t
had been at the blast hole of a furnace.
Raising his voice to overcome the noise
of the water, Brace called out
We've got to go down there"
"You are not afraid Lola?" asked.
She shook her head, and gave my
hand another little squeeze.
Brace led us off the rock keeping
the water still on our left and there
was some more downward clamberinS
for few minutes. Then we came to
stand, and he showed me lateral
opening about four feet in height.
1--WE goes through there" he said;
then lie produced flask, poured out
a dram, and handed it to me. offered
1t to Lola. Another shake of the head,
and another little squeeze.
1 emptied the cup and Brace helped
himself.
"Thcre amt no need to get ourselves
in muck over this job. We'll put our
rubbers on" lie said, 'the wet drips
through
| took out the overcoats from the
bundle of rugs, and we put them on.
Then l strapped the roll of rugs on
my shoulders again.
Brace touched my shoulder and
pointed upward to couple of family
pink nebulous patches in the mist.
"What is it?' I asked.
"The sun ketchin' the tops Of the
peaks" he replied.
lie took couple of torches from
the bundle he carried, and began to
light them at the end of the one he
had last used.
Wont you wait llttle-it will be
light in half an hour" 1 said.
Not down there" he replied; its
pitch dark at noon in that almighty
hole. Now" he added, when the
torches were well lit, "take one of
these kick the snow we'll off your feet,
keep one eye on me, and tother on the
rocks, and leave the rest to Provi-
dence."