The Maid of the Mountain — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

54 THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAIN. “We have got them, lads,” cried Lane. “ How canwe get sight at them ?” “JT think if we could cross the gulch we could see Better. zZ replied Elliot. “ A bridge !” was the ery. “The rangers rushed back to the opening and set to work. In Jess than half an hour they bad brought three small pines, nearly forty feet long, laid them on the earth close to the cdge of the chasm, and- were ready for the bridge. Their way of laying them was unique. The limbs were left upon one end, and then the men united in lifting the tree upon its butt end, and when-this was done they let it fall across the rift in the rocks. The limbs struck first and were broken, and the body settled safely upon the rock. The tree was then rolled close to the rocks, and another pushed over, and then the third. When this was done a very good bridge was completed, over which Elliot was the first to cross. A volley Seadiateniabieanamenptietdele About half the men ‘stooping and keeping close to the wall ; but, two or oranda « were slightly wounded. All who had now could see the The platform was “perhaps feet in width, and as in length. It was crowd- ed with men, who were hurrying about, evidently in great haste. Even as they looked, a sort of screen rose suddenly in front of the cavity, and all was still behind it. They looked on in wonder. A wall of rock seemed to have risen, barring the room from their -view. But a wind sweeping through the gully convinced them that it was-only a canvas screen after r saw it stirto: the: passing: breeze. me into this place and see what has become of.our friends ?” FA eran: ca pemeeicaecrs pene aot man gosh darned if I won't go down there. Tm curs ve gah a that show.” “You f said Elliot. mig commiclooolks.conn