Year: 1869

The route now lay in the direction Of
our scout on the previous day In the
valley, less than mile from the spot
where Dick left US in company with the
soldier, we had by chance discovered a
natural grotto, formed by far;juttiDg
ledge of rock from the precipitous wall Of
the canyon, the open side of which was
screened and protected by the encroach.
ing forest. Indeed the dense growth OF
trees and underbrush, closely interviewer
with wild vines, formed protecting wall
around the broad entrance to the cavern.
There was presented providentially both
security for ourselves against the storm,
and cover and browse for our animals.


This, therefore, was to be our destina-
ton. An indication of the route to the
place was traced on the face of the cliff,
near the ashes of our extinguished fire,
agreeable to our promise made to Dick,
10 order that be might be able to join US
when he returned to that point. We
we're unple ,santy reminded, while wr-
ting those directions, that they might
also be the means of inviting to our
retreat some struggling band of blood
thirsty Mexicans, or horde of Araps.
hoes, if any of those unwelcome visitors
should chance TO be passing in that direc-
ton, and discover and be able to inter-
pret the characters we had traced there.
But trusting in fate for an escape from
such an unfortunate consequence, we
left the directions there and went our
way.


The storm clouds rapidly thickened,
and oyerspread the heavens so densely
that the forest depths of the narrow val
ley wore the gloom and solemn silence
of falling night. The air became ex-
ceediugly chilly and damp, like the at
mosphera in the midst of q cloud.
+ Tne distance from the Cascade to the
grotto was somewhat more than six
miles; yet scarcely more than half this
was passed before the festhery fakes of
auow began to fall, lightly aud thin at
frst but with abundant indications of
speedy increase IN the violsnce OF the
storm.


Securely sheltered, at length, within
the friendly precincts Of the cavern, we
hastened to provide first for the comfort
of our faithful animals, and after that
made certain preparations for the more
convenient occupation of our new quar-
ters. A good supply of fuel was col
lected under cover, aud bright crack.
ling Ere mai aintained beside the rock-waii
at the left extremity of the entrance to
the grotto.
Night came on unusually early, with
more than Egyptian darkness. The


L. l. -
to depth of four inches, and the storm,
augmented by o cutting northwest wind,
had become o bowling tempest, which
roared fercely, like continuous thunder,
above the tree tops, bending and sway
ing the leafess branches toward the
earth, like blades of grass before breeze.


In open places, the fine frozen parti-
cles were swept and whirled by the eddy
ing blast into high-heaped drifts. The
swift, foaming tide of the swollen stream
near BY rolled its dark, deep waters on
into the depths of the gloomy forest with
an eminous, Kissing sound. The valley
resounded with the dismal howlings of
wolves and the cries of ravenous beasts
of prey, prowling in storm and darkness;
some Of whom, to judge from the per-
sistsnce with which they hung about the
cavern, we had made wandering vsga-
bonds OF in thus unceremohiously ap-
propriating their suhierrauean haunt.


But in the midst of all these dismal
surroundings, completely sheltered by
the eucircling walls Of the cavern, we
passed the hours Of that gloomy evening
in the enjoyment of ease and comfort.
A bright fire St cheerful glow around
the apartment, bringing into bold relief
the sharp projections OF the granite walls.
1t pierced tine gloom without, and kept at
bay horde of unwelcome visitors.


Then came the morn Of anothsy day,
and Jti,l ye vers alone, waiting aud
watching. The storm had ceased, yet
the heavens were shrouded in dark
clouds, and the northwest wind blew
fierce and cold. Ten inches ofsnow lay
on the ground, hesped here and there in
drifts almost impossible. The surface
of Little Grow creek was covered with
a shifting mass of ice spa hali-frcsen
snoy, which GROUND and grated together,
with a sound like rnstling leaves, as the
swayipg MAS swept by.


The wintry day wore on. We did not
venture lar lrOm tue Sa'cAoi Oes eH
ployed the time mostly in caring tor cur
animals, and In whiting on fancy csces
and pipe-heeds. Night came again, aud
yet Dick Armstrong had not arrived.
We we're already becoming seriously
concerned for bis safety. hut what could
We do 10 render him assistance Moth
ing, oertaisly, but to wait little longer
for him there. An extended search
would in all probability result in our
wider separation. if indeed Dick was
still alive and moving. Therefore We
tarrisd still longer in our comfortable
quarters in the cavern,


Darkness descended again, with abun-
dsul indications Of speedy renewal Of
the recent storm. The wind had sba,ed
somewhat its fury, but at the distant
mountain-tops q snllsn roar like rum
bling thunder was heard, which boded i'll
TO those who were abroad on that night.
Il was On omen Of suffering and death to
man and brute alike. We heard the
sound in significant silence that ssch in
terpreted but too readily, as We thought
of our absent comrade and trenbled for