The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1912-05-16


yet she had the grace OF Hebe. the
strength of Pallas Athene, and the
swiftness of motion of ATLANTA. Had
she but carried bow and spear, had
she worn tunic and sandals. she might
have stood for Diana and she would
have had no cause to blush by COM
parisOn with the finest model or
Praxiteles' chisel or the most splen-
did and glowing example Of Appelles'
brush.
Uncle Robert was delighted with
her. his contribution to her western
outfit was small Winchester. She
displayed astonishing aptitude under
his instructions and soon became Won
derfully proficient with that deadly
weapon and with revolver also
There was little danger to be appre-
hended in the daytime among the
mountains. the more experienced men
thought still 1t was wise for the girl
always to have a weapon in readiness,
so In her journeyings, either the Win
chester was slung from her shoulder
or carried In her hand, or else the Colt
dangled at her hip. At first she took
both, but finally It. was with reluc-
lance that she could be persuaded to
take either. Nothing had ever hap
| pened Save for a few birds now and
then she had seemed the only tenant
OF the wilderness of her choice.
One night after camping expert
ence of nearly two weeks in the noun
taius and just before the time for
breaking up and going back to civil
iZatiOn, she announced that early the
| next morning she was going down the
/ canon for days fishing excursion.
None of the party had ever fol-
lowed the little river very far. but IL
was known that some ten miles below
the stream merged in lovely gem
Iike lake In a sort OF crater in the
mountains. From thence by series
OF water falls it descended through
the foothills to the distant plains be-
yond. The others had arranged to
climb one especially dangerous and
ambition provoking peak which tow
cred above them and which had never
before been surmounted so far az
they knew. Enid enjoyed mountain
ing that came from going higher and
higher till some crest was gained, but
on this occasion they urged her to ac-
company them in vain.
When the fixity of her decision was
established she had number of offers
to accompany her. but declined them
all. bidding the others go their way.
Mrs. Maitland. who was not feeling
very WELL old Kirkby. who had
climbed too many mountains to feel |
much interest in that game, and Pete !
the horse wrangler, who had to look |
after the stock, remained in camp; |,
the others with the exception OF Enid |
started at daybreak for their long as !
cent. She waited until the sun was |
about an hour high and then babe !
goodbye to the three and began the |
descent OF the canon. Travelling light, |
for she was going far-farther, indeed,
than she knew-she left her Winches-
ter at home. but carried the revolver
with the fishing tackle and substantial
luncheon.
Now the rivera river by courtesy |
only-and the canon turned sharply
back on themselves just beyond the
little meadow where the camp was
pitched. Past the tents that had been
their home for this Joyous period the
river ran due east for few hundred
feet. after which 1t curved sharply,
doubled back and flowed westward
for several miles before it gradually
swung around to the east on its prop
CT course again.
It had been Ends purpose to cut
across the hills and strike the river
where 1t turned eastward once more,
avoiding the long detour back In
fact. she had declared her intention
of doing that to Kirkby and he had
given her careful directions SO that
she should not get lost In the noun
tains.
But she had plenty OF time and no
excuse or reason for saving it, she
never tired of the charm OF the canon:
therefore, instead OF plunging directly
over the spur OF the range, she fol-
lowed the familiar trail and after she
had passed westward far beyond the
limits of the camp 70 the turning, she
decided, in accordance with that ut
terly irresponsible thing, woman's
viii. that she would not go down the
canon that day after all. but that she
would cross back over the range and
strike the river few miles above the
camp and go up the canon.
She had been up in that direction a
few times, but only for short dis
lance. as the ascent above the camp
was very sharp. in fact for a little
more than a mile the brook was only
succession of water fall; the best
fishing was below the camp and the
finest woods were deeper in the canon.
She suddenly concluded that she
would like to see what was up in that
unexplored section of the country and
so, with scarcely momentary hest
tation. she abandoned her former plan
and began the ascent OF the range
Upon decisions so lightly taken
what momentous consequences de-
pend? Whether she should go up the