Mexico Missouri message., 1912-06-13

of rock foot in width, from which
place flying leap must be made
across the staream, with only a slop--
ing rock wall to land upon. Some
way Henry made it without falling In.
and with his help too got across, but
slipped after safety was reached, and
as result | found It expedient to.
climb up the mountainslde, which here
sloped conveniently, and lie in the
warm sun and dry out.
House Of the Hermit.
Soon the canyon narrowed and
where the creek rushed between YER
teal walls we must needs wade the
stream. of came the shoes and stock
ings, and in we went. 1t was a cold
job. I'm sure that ice water would
be only milk-warm in comparison to
that little river.
| Thus we went on, wading when neo-
essary, and resuming our shoes and
walking when we could.
Later we sat by the big pool, churned
by a plunging waterfall, and watched
several trout as they darted about in
thei- liquid no. @. And when we went
on again. Henry, with his usual luck,
passed this pool dry-shod, and slip
ped down the smooth side of rock
big as n house, and pumped into the
sitting room Of the trout. From this
time on | was not SO particular about
taking off my shoes and stockings be-
fore entering the stream.
When the canyon opened out lit
W
through vines and trees and ferns high
above the creek, we hurried along and
covered some miles In short time, only
TO be confronted by a wall across the.
canyon, down which leaped a large
fall in three cascades of tumbling
silver.
We saw the game was up in that d.
rection, but were glad to find a tran
leading up the side OF the hill and
over divide; and standing at the
itop, we knew we were about to reach
our goal, for below us the stream ran
circling through a valley and several
stone houses or huts.
Soon we were in the house OF the
Hermit, and we're drying out before
the wood fire on the hearth. Outside.
the river roared along under the naked
trees, and the wind tore by the cabin,
shrieklng that storm was coming
But little we cared as we undid our
lunch and accepted at the hands OF
the Hermit tin cups of black and
steamlng coffee 1t mattered not that
lit was poured from an ancient sprink-
ling can, or that the room was not up
to good housewife standards OF neat
ness. Poor Hermit! For ten years
this room has been his library, gran
airy, kitchen, wood-house and store
room. But his heart was kind as his
black beard was long, and when he
found a silver dollar In one OF the re-
turned coffee cups, the presence OF
which none of us could account for.
his protestations were long and sin
cere.
At three o'clock that afternoon we
left our shelter, and bidding the Her
NIT goodDy, started up the steep tran
to the top OF the ridge. Soon we were
above the noise Of the stream, but the
wind was louder than ever, and q
rain started to fall, changing soon to
a sleet. However, It was only the
edge of the storm that we were in;
across the canyon and back on the far
Their ranges we could see the clouds
dropping their burdens of moisture in,
great sheets, and saw soon, too. the.
slopes whten under falling snow. Az
we came out on top Of the divide snow,
was coming down upon us, also AND
through it's fllmy curtain we looheiS
out and saw the San Gabriel valley
shining in the sun and the new green,
on the hills on the farther side appear
ing like great crinkly folds in a cloth
of velvet, a rare and never-tO-be-for-
gotten view.