White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-16
LILY, NEVADA
MY, NEVADA
KLY, NEVADA

me. This grew louder as l proceeded,
until at last 1t was clearly quite close
{ % me. When l stood still the sound
was constant, so that 1t seemed to
come from some stationary cause. It
was like a boiling kettle or the bub-
bling of some great pot. Soon | came
upon the source of 1t. for In the center
of a small clearing l found a lake-or a
pool, rather, for 1t was not larger than
the basin of the Trafalgar square foun-
tain-of some black, ~pitchlike stuff, the
surface of which rose and fell in great
blisters OF bursting gas. The air above
1t was shlmmering with heat, and the
ground round was so hot that I could
hardly bear to lay my hand on 1t. 1t
was clear that the great volcanic out
burst which had raised the strange
plateau so many years & had not yet
entirely spent its forces. Blackened
rocks and mounds of lava l had al
ready seen everywhere peeping ont
from amid the ,uxuriant vegetation
which draped them. but this asphalt
pool in the jungle was the first sign
that we had of actual existing activity
on tine slopes of the ancient crater. /
had no time to examine 1t further. for
| had need to hurry II | were to be
back In camp In the morning.
1t was a fearsome walk and one
which will be with me so long as men,
DRY holds. In the great moonlight
c%learings | skunk along among the
shadows on the margin. In the jungle
/ crept forward, stopping with a beat
ing heart whenever I heard, as I Of
ten did. the crash of breaking branches
as some wild beast went past. Now
and then great shadows doomed up for
an instant and were gone-great, ST.
lent shadows which seemed to prowl
upon padded feet. How often | stop
ped with the intention of returning.
and yet every time my pride conquer
ed my fear and sent me on again until
my object should be attained.
At last tmy watch showed that 1t
was l In the morning. l saw the CLEAN
of water amid the openings of the jun.
gle, and ten minutes later l was among
the reeds upon the borders Of the cen
trail lake. was exceedingly dry, 50 l
lay down and took q long draft Of its
waters. which were fresh and cold.
There ri q broad pathway with
many tracks upon 1t at the spot which
l had found. so that 1t was clearly n
Of the drinking places Of the animals.
Close to the waters edge there was q
huge Isolated block of lava. Up this
l climbed. and, lying on the tsp Of
this block. | had an excellent view In
every direction.
Lake G~ladys-my own l%ake-lay like
q sheet of quicksilver before me. with
q reflected moon shining brightly In
the center of it. 1t was shallow, for
In many places | saw low sand banks
protruding above the water. Every
where upon the still surface l could
see signs of life. sometimes the CLEAN
of a great silver sided fish In the air,
sometimes the arched, slate colored
back Of some passing monster. Once
upon a yellow sand bank l saw a crea-
ture like a huge swan. with a clumsy
body and a high, flexible neck, shutting
about upon the margin. Presently 1t
plunged In, and for some time l could
see the arched neck and darling head
undulating over the water. Then 1t
dived, and l saw 1t no more.
My attention wal oon drawn away
from these distant sights and brought
back to what was going on at my very
feet. Two creatures like large anna
dillos had come down to the drinking
place and were squatting at the edge
OF the water. their long, flexible
te0gues. like red ribbons. shooting In
and out es they tapped. A huge deer.
with branching horns, = magnificent
creature. which carried itself like .
king. came down with its doe and two
fawns and drank beside the armada
los. No such deer exist anywhere else
upon earth, for the moo or elks
which l have ven would hardly have