White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-25

IL = ~ II - -
you at the fazenda | instituted very
particular inquiries about Maple White.
At Para they knew nothing. Fortu-
nately. | had a definite clew. for there
was a particular picture in his sketch
book which showed him taking lunch
with Il certain eeelesiastie at Rosario.
This priest | was able to find. and
though he proved a very arguments
tive fellow, WHO took it absurdly amiss
that I should point out TO him the cor
rosiye effect which modern science
must have upon his beliefs, he none the
less gave me some positive informa-
ton. Maple White passed Rosario four
years ago. or two years before | saw
his dead body. lie was not alone at
the time, but there was a friend. an
American named James Colver, who
remained in the boat and did not meet
this eeclesiastic. | think, therefore,
that there can be no doubt that we are
now looking upon the remains of this
James Colver."
Nor" said Lord John, sis there much
doubt as TO how he met his death. He
has fallen or been chueked from the
top and so been impaled. How else
could he come by his broken bones and
how could he have been stuck through
by these canes with their points SO
high above our headsY'
We moved off in silence and eontin-
ued to coast round the line of cliffs,
which were as even and unbroken as
some of those monstrous Antarctic ice
fields which | have seen depicted as
stretching from horizon to horizon and
towering high above the mastheads of
the exploring vessel.
In five miles we saw no rift or break.
And then suddenly we perceived some-
thing which filled us with new hope.
rain, there was drawn a rough arrow
in chalk. pointing still to the west
ward.
maple White again. said Professor
Challenger. He had some PRESENT.
ment that worthy footsteps would fol.
low close behind him."
HE had chalk. them"
"A box of colored chalks was among
the effects I found in his knapsack. I
remember that the white one was
worn to a stump"
THAT is certainly good evidence"
said Summarize. I'VE can only ac-
cept his guidance and follow on to the
westward"
We had proceeded some FIVE more
miles when again we saw a white ar
row upon the rocks. It was at a point
where the face OF the cliff was for the
first time split into a narrow cleft. In
side the cleft was a second guidance
mark. which pointed right up it with
the tip somewhat elevated. as II the
| spot indicated were above the level Of
the ground.
1t was a solemn place. for the walls
were so gigantic and the slit of blue
sky so narrow and so obscured by a
double fringe OF verdure that only a
dim and shadowy light penetrated to
the bottom. We had had no food for
many hours and were very weary with
the stony and irregular journey. but
Ohl htINto Y tto u W aifO
us to halt. We ordered the camp to
! be pitched. however. and. leaving the
Indians to arrange II. we four. with
the two half breeds. proceeded up the
narrow gorge.
1t was not over forty feet across
at the mouth. but it rapidly closed I'M
Ill II ended In an acute angle. too
straight and smooth for an ascent.
Certainly 1t was not this which our
pioneer had attempted to indicate.
We made our way back-the whole
gorge was not more than a quarter Of
a mile deep-and her suddenly the
quick eyes of Lord John fell upon
what we were seeking. High up above
our heads amid the dark shadows there
was one circle of deeper gloom. Sure
ly it could only be the opening of q
cave.
The base of the cliff was heaped
with loose stones at the spot. and 1t
was not difficult to Chamber up. When
we reached IL all doubt was removed.
Not only was 1t an opening into the
rock, but on the side of 1t there was
marked once again the sign of the ar
row.
Here was the point and this was the
means by which Maple White and his
III fated comrade had made their as
cent.
We were too excited to return to
the camp, but must make our first ex-
ploration at once. Lord John had an
electric torch In his knapsack. and this
had to serve IS as light. He advanced,
throwing his little clear circlet of yell
low radiance before him, while I'm sin
gle file we followed at his heels.
The ave had evidently been water
worn. the sides being smooth and the
floor covered with rounded stones. 1t
was of such a size that a single man
could just fit through by STOPPING. For
fifty yards II ran almost straight into
the rock. and then 1t assembled at an
angle OF forty-fve. Presently this In
cline became even sleeper. and we