Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1908-06-20
freed by a
SnOwSlide
~ JOHN u. HAMLrN.


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It was sultry afternoon In the
Nevada mountains. and the campers
folled at their ease in hammocks
swung beneath the pines. So when
Anne. the energetic one. appeared at
the flap OF the girls tent and sug.
gested a trip to Rock Lake, there was
no burst OF enthusiasm from the lazy
ones. -
"It's just cloudy enough for good
fishing. Won't some one Join me?"
entreated Anne. as she adjusted the
strap Of a hsh.basket about her shoul.
ders.
At these words Elliott Noxon's tousl.
Cd head appeared above the edge OF
Q hammock. Besides continued
Anne. ''the climb to Rock Lake will
give one a fine appetite for supper"
Noxon. the every!hungry one, sank
back with sigh. "Oh, It's too hot to
be strenuous. Anne. and I'm famish.
cd right now. Let's wait till even.
Ing"
But the girl shook her head, pick.
cd out q hyrod from the assortment
leaning against q tree trunk, and set
forth for the lake. rags" the set.
ter. followed close at her heels.
Rock Lake lay about q mile from
the camp site. The trail leading to
Il crossed q mountain meadow. on the
border Of which and empowered In
huge ar. and pine-trees. Struggled the
tents Of the camping party. From
the far side Of this meadow bluh rose
In massive. volcanic terraces; high
up toward the summit. In q crudely
scuiptured basin, the waters Of Rock
Lake shimmered like a purple gem
Anne was no novice at mountaineer
ing, neither was she an inexperienced
fisherman. When she topped the last
> blum that hid from view the lake. she
uttered little cry OF delight NJ the
: scene below. The surface OF the lake
was rippled just enough by the slight
breeze to make the flies skim Ovel
the waters in most alluring fashion
| The girl lost no time In gaining
the shores. and In the excitement o.
casting her flies to the 'gamy" trout
she was totally unconscious OF all else
But Rags. the dog. who had chosen
b act as her guardian, suddenly Sc
up long.drawn howl
Heavy black clouds were rolling
over the mountains. Rumblings o
thunder were each moment growinl
moro distinct. '.,.ss--
III Anne paused In her fishing lonl
enough to scan the approaching storm
clouds. They looked Ominous indeed
i but the trout were rising to the file
20 beautifully that she could not re
sist another cast. A fine lusty trou
leaped for the fly before 1t touche,
che water; for ten minutes Anpe stub
bornly played him. Rags frequen
howlings hardly interrupted the girl
tussle with the fish. BY the time sh
: safely landed the two.pound trou,
the dog lost all patience. He caugh
the edge Of the girls short skirt 4
his teeth and gave 1t a sharp tug.
u 20 Ragsie, isn't It a beauty?"
Rags response was more vigo
4 Gus pull at her skirt.
4 "Yes, Rags, am satisfied now
We shall run for camp this very II
slant"
n A clap OF thunder punctuated thi
remark. Anne realized that she woul
4 have to hurry to escape a sever
drenching. lShe hastily wound u
y her line, slipped the reel In the pocl
= ct Of her Jacket, and as she unjointe
4 her Ay-rod. warm drop OF rain fe
\ upon her hand.
20 dear me. Rags, why didn't
y obey your warning long ago? W
= ehall have to take tho short cut
camp"
! The short cut was down a dee
eorge that cleft the>western wall
= tho mountain. Although 1t was mi
4 summer, the altitude was so gre
4 that the gorge was choked with
! huge drift Of snow, which complet
T. ly Allied the upper portion and tern
I mated In wall OF dripping ice ha
way dewn the canon.
4 1t was q quick but dangerous d
scent. The campers had used 1t
once before, only to md the W
4 round by the longer trail preferab
Al A dash OF lightning decided Anne
4 course She scrambled through
tangle Of manzanitas, climbed up
rocky gully to the mountainous RI
encircllng Rock Lake, and follow
q faint trail that took her straight
the glacier-lke mass of snow tn
dipped downward at an astonishi
u angle. Rags ran ahead Of her, VIII
ing pitifuIly at every thundercla
4 The rain came down In big wa
spiashcs. The heart OF the stol
ives roaring across tho lake and hur1
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