Words can convey to the reader an idea of only those things with which
he is familiar, or of which he can form a picture through his
imagination, and even when the latter is vivid it must draw largely for
its creation on things with which it is somewhat acquainted.
No pen or tongue could properly describe the situation and the feelings
of the four human beings who through the long black hours of that night
whirled and drifted down through the black depths of the canyon.
As it was useless to stand up and attempt to steer, for he could not see
his hand held close before his face, Sam Willett crouched down on the
raft, and clung with nervous hands to its trembling timbers.
Now and then they seemed to be floating through quiet waters, but just
when hope came to cheer them with the belief that they had passed
through the most dangerous part of the current, the raft would be hurled
down long lines of rapids, or caught by some projecting rock it would be
sent spinning around with a velocity that made the occupants sick with
the whirling motion and the fear that the end had come. Such a situation
would have tested the strength of the most experienced nerves, even if
the midday sun was shining into the chasm, but the darkness added to its
terrors and filled the bravest with alarm.
On and on, and on. It seemed to Sam that they were sinking into the
bowels of the earth, or flying away through the realms of night and the
abode of impenetrable darkness.
Now and then he would look up at the few stars visible in the strip of
sky far overhead, to assure himself that he was yet in the world of life
and light.
They were floating down a quiet stretch of water when Ike called out in
a tremulous voice.
"Say, Mistah Sam, ken yeh heah me?"
"Yes, Ike, I can hear," was the reply.
"How does yeh feel, 'bout dis time?"
"I feel hopeful, Ike."
"Why does yeh feel dat way?"
"It is my disposition," said Sam, for want of a better answer.
"Got any ideah wot's de time?"
"I have not, Ike."
"How long does yeh tink it is since _de sun went down foh de last
time_?"
"About eight hours," said Sam, though, judging by his own feelings, it
seemed like so many days.
"Eight houahs!" exclaimed Ike. "Oh, Mistah Sam, yeh's away clar off de
track."
"How long do you think it is since the sun went down?" asked Sam, for
the sound of their voices seemed to lighten the gloom.
"Jest 'bout fifteen yeahs an' six months ago," said Ike, with the
greatest solemnity, adding quickly, "an' I don't tink de sun'll eber
rise agin. It's done gone gin out. My, if we could see our faces 'bout
dis yer time, do yeh know wot we'd find?"
"What, Ike?"
"Dat we've all growed up in de darkness, and dat we'z ole men."
"Me not feel like ole man," said Wah Shin.
"What do you feel like?" asked Sam, glad to hear them all speaking
again.
"Me feel belly hungly," was the reply.
"Patience, patience," cried out Ulna, from the forward part of the raft,
"God's sun is rising now."
"Where!" was the exclamation of all.
"In the east," said the young Ute.
Not one of them could tell in what direction the east was, but all
turned their heads.
Suddenly Ike called out:
"Oh, I see a light in de sky!"
At the same instant all saw it, high up and directly in front.
The light looked like the glow of a wonderful fire opal, set in the inky
blackness of the sky.
Brighter and brighter it grew each moment, till the reflected light
penetrated the profound depths of the canyon.
It was the rising sun saluting the highest snow peaks of the mountains,
a section of which was visible in front.
With the joy of the blind when the blessing of sight is restored, our
friends watched the increasing light coming down from the sky.
Gradually the towering walls of the canyon became more distinct, till at
length their far-off summits could be seen, with here and there a cedar
clinging for dear life to the giddy ledges.
"If dis yar day is gwyne to be ez long ez de last night," said Ike, when
he felt that the coming of the sun was not a false alarm, "why, I reckon
we'll all be ole men afore it gits dark agin."
Even the dog gained courage by the coming of the day, and sitting up he
began to bark in a way that proved his interest in the world was
returning.
There was no means of telling how far they had been borne by the current
during the long hours of that awful night, but as soon as it was light
again Sam took the pole and resumed his position as helmsman.
As they were swept on he looked to the right and left in the hope of
finding a place where they might make a landing.
They were wet, hungry and weary, but the coming sun revived their
drooping spirits.
It was not till near noon that the precipitous walls expanded into an
area a quarter of a mile in diameter, that looked, in its flooded state,
like a subterranean lake.
Here the current was much slower, and with Ulna's help, Sam succeeded in
gliding the raft to a ledge of sloping rocks, where it was made fast,
and again the passengers carried the cargo on shore.
The sun shone on their landing place, which, being on the south bank of
the river, Sam decided to explore thoroughly in the hope of finding a
way out of the canyon, for he did not lose sight for a minute of his
father's trying situation.
This expansion of the canyon walls was much greater than the one from
which they had come the day before, and there were so many recesses and
irregularities that getting out appeared to be an easy matter indeed.
They spread their wet blankets and clothing on the rocks, and they found
enough drift-wood to make a fire, but all were so hungry that they did
not wait for the fire before eating.
Wah Shin had some cooked food ready, and, although it had not been
improved by its long soaking, hunger made it very palatable.
After the fire was started, Wah Shin and Ike, thoroughly exhausted, and
it may be more weary in feeling because unburdened with the
responsibility of the situation, lay down on the sun-heated rocks and
were soon asleep.
"You must be tired also, Ulna. Lie down and I will look around and see
if I can find a way out of this," said Sam, laying his hand on the
handsome young Indian's shoulder.
"I will not say that I could not lie down and go to sleep at once,"
replied Ulna, "but if you are going to search I shall go with you. I
know how you feel about your father, and that thought is always in my
heart; so if you stay awake to work, I must do the same."
[Illustration: _Sam succeeded in guiding the raft to a ledge of sloping
rocks._]
The two youths shook hands, and after seeing that their rifles were in
order and loaded they slung them over their shoulders and started off.
They clambered over huge masses of white sandstone rock that had fallen
in from the sides of the canyon, like the ruin of a giant's stronghold,
and at every step they could see by the drift-wood that the present
flood had been preceded by others much higher.
Compared with the great pillars of stone scattered about them each was
impressed with the idea that his companion must have shrunk, he looked
in contrast with his surroundings so much smaller than usual.
After much searching and climbing they came to a great rift in the canyon
wall that led up to the blue sky, and seemed to promise an outlet from
these awful depths.
At the discovery Sam could not restrain a cry of joy, and even Ulna's
usually impassive face was illuminated with the light of hope.
"I can see nothing to stop us!" said Sam, as with the activity of a
mountain lion he sprang up the defile.
But it was three thousand feet to the top of the rift, and from their
position they could not see all the obstacles that lay in their way.
But like the poet's Alpine climber, the motto was Excelsior!--higher
up--and with stout hearts they faced the unknown path that promised
access to the upper world and then to Hurley's Gulch.
They clambered up and on, the way becoming narrower and steeper at each
step, while here and there their course was made difficult by huge
bowlders that had fallen in from above.
After fully three hours hard work, and just when it seemed that a little
more exertion would take them to the summit, the cleft came to an end in
a precipice fully a hundred feet in height, though from the bottom it
looked only like a step that a child might overcome.
Sam was so cast down by his discovery that he leaned against the side of
the cliff and pressing his hands to his eyes, he groaned:
"Oh, my poor father, what will become of him! What will he think of my
absence?"
"He will know that if you could you would come to him; and those who
keep him and Hank Tims prisoners need not to be told about the flood.
They will give us time to get back, I am sure they will give us time,"
said Ulna, and he took Sam's hand and pressed it affectionately.
They had made a bold attempt and failed, and now there was nothing left
but to make their way back to the place where they had left the raft
tied, and Ike and Wah Shin were sleeping on the rocks.