The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-15
Fighting a Mountain.
BY JOHN ID. BARRY.
(In Thfee Parts-Part III.)

Now the real battle began, with gravity adding
its force to the combined forces of the underbrush
the rocks and the logs.
Before / came among these mountains
thought | knew the nature OF log. But was
mistaken. mountain log not the idle, in
nocent worthless, dead thing referred to in the
proverb. 1t a huge obstacle, barricade, a
malevolent monster.
Log after log tried to keep US on that mountain
side night Several times l thought l was
vanqushed. But if the others could get over
those logs, why couldn't 1?
l should always have great respect for logs
Then there were deep gulches that we had to
climb down, only to climb up again, as a rule
through brambles There was no knowing when
one Of them might be impossible and might
be obliged to camp for the night. The thought
of the possibility, in spite of the heat generated
by fierce exertion, was chilling to the marrow.
The nights on these mountains were fearfully
cold.
Tom, agile as wild animal, kept far ahead.
Now and then could hear him yelling to give
us encouragement.
Even as l climbed found myself philosophz-
ing over my plight. Why, at age that | should
once have considered mature, had l been seized
with the mania for Notwithstanding? To think
that, at this moment, might have been at home,
reading book or looking out of a window. Till
now | had never really appreciated the beauty of
quiet life. If once escaped from this mountain
| should be a different man in future. | should
10 dislike mountains or 10 fcel prcluQiCe
against them. l would simply keep out of their
way.
Meanwhile we kept plunging forward van
gushing a multitude of obstacles, straining
ankles reaching out to the narrow walls OF that
gulch and scratching our hands. Now would
be almost buried in underground. Then the gulch
would seem to close about us, shutting out all
light. Occasionally, would burst into the open
and find that there were still faint streaks on the
horizon But, every instant the darkness grew
In ferK SbpriI ha
able to more than few feet ahead.
Suddenly reached place that ran along
rocky level Soon it mounted and we seemed to
be threatened with the loss Of all had grained.
We scrambled hands and knees. We felt that
we were beaten. The mountain had us for cap
tives. The sun was gone now. We might as well
stop here for the night
But our despair was answered by wild cry
from afar.
Tom had gone through
We felt an accession OF vigor. Soon we were
descending again. Toms reassuring shouts came
more strongly; We couldn't be far away.
Jim and slowed up; We looked at each other
sun had disappeared Darkness had closed about
us. The air had grown several degrees colder.
But were not concerned.
When we walked out OF that gulch into free
dom we found Tom sitting fence talking to
that farmer.
a thought you fellers was stuck there for the
peat to us the stories he had been telling Tom,
about people who had been in our plight and had
been held on the mountain till morning.
Now came the question as to where we were
and how we could get back The farmer knew
our hotel. He gravely shook his head. We still
thought it would be too much for US to bear He
didn't know how grateful to have the
chance of walking the ten miles Were there any
t5s ont on T 70 W. sr, o 20 neaG or
turn up pretty soon Oh, yes, nearly all the farm
houses had telephones. About two miles up. the
further pareying, made straight for that house.
Isaac Hardy was not at home but his wife seemed
glad to new faces She asked minute inquiries,
after the habit of country people; She offered us
retreshment. But all we wanted was to get at
that telephone. In few minutes giving
reinsurance to our friends who, we found had
already sent out scout. Where were we? At
Isaac Hardy's? Well for goodness sakel They're
at Isaac Hardys way the other side of the noun
tain. How in the world did they ever get there"
The only thing to do was to send the machine
We spent very pleasant half hour with Mrs.
Hardy. She kept darling to the door to look for
her husband. His not being at home she seemed
to regard as calamity. He would be so disap-
pointed, she explained, not to meet US. And
wouldn't we take glass of milk something?
Perhaps we'd rather have root beer? She made it
herself. So we sat around in front of the CRATE
fire and drank root beer, looking forward to the
meal that we knew would be waiting for us on
our arrival.
We felt so much at home that we were almost
sorry when the automobile finally arrived The
truth was we were just beginning to get the reac-
ton into lassitude Over the road we sped at a
pace that, according to'law, ought to have landed
us in jail AS we swept up to the hotel, the guests
were all out the porch waving their hands
They received us with cheer, not wholly lacking
in the note of derision: 1t was comfort to me
to find that were all regarded as tenderfoots
Soon were in the big rough dning-room
with great logs cracking in the huge fireplace,
and bending over the dinner that had been made
hot for us. Afterwafd, around the FIRE we had to
tell the details of our experience. The men were
amused; The ladies, however, were moved to
sympathy They tried hard to turn us into heroes
But were not in the mood to enjoy adula-
ton palpably unmerited. We ached in every
limb And yet, we told one another that we felt
good. But we should feel better as soon as we
got under the shower and made ready for bed and
for the sleep that should put us in trim for an
other climb on the mountain in the morning.