Lost in the Cañon

by Herbert Strang

  CHAPTER VI.--WHY THE PAPERS WERE NOT BROUGHT.

  Before awaking his companions, all of whom seemed to be sleepingheavily, Sam went out to see if the flood in the canyon had risen.

  He ventured but a few yards beyond the entrance to the cave, for thesight that met his eyes appalled him.

  The rain was still pouring down in torrents, and the flood had risentill it was nearly on a level with the plateau.

  "Three feet more and it will be into the cave," he said, speaking aloud.

  "Watel littee mole high up no cannee stay, mus' allee die if no canswimmee," said a voice behind Sam.

  There was no need to ask whose it was.

  Wah Shin, with thoughts of breakfast in his mind, had got up, but firsthe decided to satisfy himself of the condition of affairs outside.

  "Yes, Wah Shin," said Sam, without turning his head, "even as I look atthe flood it appears to be rising."

  "If it come mole up, wat we allee do?"

  "I don't know."

  "No cannee stop dis place?"

  "I fear not."

  "Way we go den, no can tink."

  "Nor can I think either, Wah."

  "If no can lib, den no coz wy die hungly," said Wah Shin, and with thisbelief strong in his mind, he re-entered the cave and set about gettingbreakfast with his usual indifference to the state of the weather.

  At any other time the sight of the flood and the danger of its cominghigher would have alarmed Sam greatly, but though he could not ignorethe danger that threatened him now, his own situation was lost sight ofas he thought of his father's position.

  He was still standing looking at the rushing flood, as if fascinated byits power and volume, when Ike and Ulna came out and joined him.

  "Foh massy's sake!" exclaimed Ike, when he caught sight of the water."Ain't she jest a bilein' up."

  "Do you think the water will rise higher?" asked Sam as he turned toUlna, and tried to find some comfort in his calm, impassive face.

  Before replying Ulna looked up at the sky for some seconds, then said:

  "The storm is not half over."

  "And while it lasts the water will go on rising?"

  "Yes, Sam, that is what we must expect."

  "Then it will flood the cave?"

  "It will surely do that."

  "And drive us out?"

  "Yes, Sam, if we don't want to drown there."

  "Then we must try to leave?"

  "Yes, we must try to leave," echoed Ulna.

  "But how can we get away?"

  "Ah," said Ulna, with something like a sigh, "I cannot now think of howthat's to be done."

  "If so be we was all birds, we could fly," said Ike, very solemnly,"it'd come in mighty handy-like jest 'bout dis time."

  Sam now realized that he must think and act for his companions as wellas for himself.

  His was a brave, sturdy, self-reliant nature, that grows stronger andstronger in the face of increasing trials and responsibilities.

  "Let us go in out of the rain and think," he said, while he turned andnervously stroked his forehead.

  When they went back to the cave they found that Wah Shin had a goodbreakfast ready, and was still busy cooking more food.

  When asked by Sam why he was doing this, he said, as if it were a matterof course.

  "Bime by, watel him come in, puttee out file; file him go out, no cancookee; no got tings cookee, no can eat; no eatee den allee mus' die."

  "Well, Wah Shin," said Sam with a grim smile, "if there is any hope incooking, keep at it while the food lasts."

  Despite their troubles and the dangers that cut them off from the worldand threatened their lives, all, Maj included, complimented Wah Shin'sefforts in their behalf by partaking of a hearty breakfast.

  During the meal Sam was unusually silent; it was evident he was thinkingvery hard, and the others did not attempt to disturb his deliberationstill he had risen from his seat, then Ulna asked:

  "Have you thought out a way to get across the canyon, Sam?"

  "I have thought out a way of trying it," he answered.

  "How?"

  "On a raft."

  "But we have no raft."

  "Then we must make one."

  "Where is the timber?"

  "There is some here in the form of slabs and firewood, and there isplenty whirling down with the flood. You can handle a lariat, Ulna?"

  "I think I can," was the response.

  "Then get a rope, we have a lot here in the cave; make a noose andsecure all the long pieces of timber you can. The water is nearly up tothe plateau, and Ike will help you pull them out."

  "An' watee can me do?" asked Wah Shin.

  "Keep right on cooking, for if we cannot cross the flood on the raft,we'll be swept into the great canyon of the Colorado, and there we shallneed all the food we can take along."

  The others set to work with a will, but even Ulna, who was born out inthat land, only faintly comprehended the import of what Sam said aboutthe great canyon.

  Indeed, Sam himself had only a vague notion of what was meant by the nowfamous geographical name.

  He knew the history and geography of his own country very well, as everywell-trained youth should, and he was, therefore, aware that the greatColorado of the West was formed by the junction of two important rivers,the Green and the Grand; he was further aware that the water roaringoutside entered the latter river about twenty-five miles below the camp.

  Had these been ordinary rivers there would be good reason to dreadventuring out on their currents at flood time, even in a good boat; butthe Green and the Grand for many score miles above their junction flowedthrough immense rocky defiles or canyons, and they united in one mightycanyon, through which flowed for fully four hundred miles the waters ofthe Colorado on their way to the Gulf of California.

  Sam had talked a great deal about this wonderful chasm with Hank Tims,and that most reliable authority had assured him that only two partieshad ever attempted to go through the great canyon and returned to tell oftheir perilous adventures and hair-breadth escapes.

  Hank claimed to have stood on a cliff that rose straight up from theedge of the Colorado at one point, and looked down a sheer perpendiculardepth of over seven thousand feet, the very thought of which is enoughto make an ordinary head giddy.

  But Sam helped to make a craft that would enable them to cross the twohundred feet that separated them from the opposite bank, and thisaccomplished in safety, they could make their way on foot to Hurley'sGulch, where he knew his father was eagerly awaiting his coming.

  He secured all the gold dust about his own person, and then made upbundles of blankets, provisions and ammunition that might be of use ifthey did not succeed in making a crossing.

  This done, he went out and found that Ike and Ulna had succeeded instaying and landing a great deal of drift-wood, just the thing for araft, and a number of stout poles that might be used in guiding it.

  By this time the flood had risen still higher and higher, and was nowankle deep on the plateau outside the cave opening, and there was not amoment to lose.

  With an energy that was all his own, and a skill that surprised himself,Sam set about building the raft.

  By means of ropes, the longer timbers were securely lashed side by side,and over these, like a deck, the lighter slabs taken from the cave werenailed.

  When this clumsy and insecure structure was completed, Sam saw that thefood, blankets, arms and ammunition were tied so that they could not beswept off by the wash of the waters.

  It comforted him somewhat to know that all his companions could swim,though the stoutest swimmer could not last long in the mad torrentsweeping past.

  Sam assigned each one a position, and gave him strict instructions as towhat he must do under certain circumstances; and Maj seemingly wellaware of what was up, crouched down in the center of the raft.

  "Now," said Sam, as he stood up, pole in hand, at one end of the raft,"we must wait for the current to float us off, and trust in
God."