(toss Book COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT f'umiiiiiiiH / .YMB-5S CO SWAIN 4 TATE CO., PHINTEH3, MILWAUKEE. COPYBIGHTEO 8V H. H BENNETT, 1686. Hutoorapbs of Our fl>art\> auo tfncioente of Our Sta\> at tbc ©ells. TLhc Wisconsin £>clls. — © — ® — ®@- — ®- — ® — In calling the attention of the readers of this little 1 kin the rare beauty and wonders of the region il attempts to describe, we feel ! hat we arc. only performing a pleasant duty we owe every lover oi the picturesque and beautiful in nature. As it may come to the notice of some who have never visited the Dells of the Wisconsin, we be- lieve the first information given should be as to locality and hofl to best reach the place. In brief, then, the Dells are about one hundred and twenty-five miles above where the Wisconsin River empties into the Mississippi at Prairie du Chien, a little south and west of what would be considered the center of the state. Four daily passenger trains from Chicago and Milwaukee on the east and from Minneapolis andSt.Paulonthe northwest.over the direct route between these points of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, afford ready commit aication with all parts of the country with the little Village of Kil- bourn City, Wisconsin; and here, reader, you are invited to stop ami look about a little, and we leave the probability of your stay for the sunnier, or the repetition of your \isit, to he settled in your own mind, after a day in the Dells. Our hotel accommodations are excel- lent, and for such as prefer the quiet of a home, private hoarding houses offer all that can he desired. Safe, pleasant and commodious steamers, under the efficient management of the "Wisconsin Dells Ke- sort Company," ply the river subject to the order of tourists within such limits as to time as will best accommodate all their patrons. The Dells consist of a series of Potsdam sandstone cliffs extend- ing about seven miles along the banks of the Wisconsin River. By the action of the water these cliffs, soft and friable, have been cut into such grotesque, curious and beautiful forms, and of such endless vari- ety, that the eye never tires of looking at them. The. ride on the river is not, the hast among the attractions of a visit here. The stream at the head of the Dells isbroadand shallow and dotted with a bevy of lovely green islands, heavily timbered with oak, willow and a sprinkling of evergreens. As it enters the pass between the cliffs the river narrows and deepens, till midway down it is confined for a mile to less than a hundred feet, and in one place the rocky shores have bugged the stream into the space of fifty-two feet. The rocks on either side are covered with dowers and ferns anil mosses down to the water's edge, and these, under the bright sun, are most charmingly reproduced in the still waters below. Through this delightful passage by sunlightand by moonlight, the little steamer ploughs its way, and old and young, and everybody, tell us it. is passing beautiful. No little pains and expense have been taken to make the more remarkable glens and canons accessible for ladies and it. is possible to visit "Witches' Gulch," "Coldwater Canon," "E 1's (den," and a hun- dred other points of interest, with ease and comfort. All those ra- vines and caverns unnumbered abound in the curious, the wild and the weird. As to the best way to seethe Dells, those who have tried it will cer- tainly tell you to take the steamer for the. up-stream trip, but before leaving the lam ling to engage a guide, with his staunch and comfortable keel boat to bringyou back, thus giving an opportunityof seeing so much in detail that is not seen or realized from the steamer's deck, and where landing a steamboat is impossible. The guides here are strong, capable, courteous and obliging gentlemen, who have spent years in their work, thereby becoming expert with oars and the management of their boats, knowing where everything of interest is to be found, with certain knowledge of the location of every sand bar or reef of L ," fcf««y"«*myou ,-| w to be your own guide and oars- man .they will furnish you a boat to be token up bj the steamer; or the trip ran be made both ways on the steamer, which affords time to visit Coldwater Canon and Witches' Gulch. Two round trips are made each day, in both forenoon and afternoon, and, in addition, occasional moonlight excursions, which are particularly enjoyable ' "ccasionally Indians are to be met about the Dells now but no ar ago than the late 1850's there were great numbers of them here subsisting chiefly by hunting and fishing, (he river yielding large quanUties of sturgeon, catfish, pickerel, bass and many other varieties of fish to their expert use of spear and line. Then, and prior to that time, there were three tribes ben, Chippewas, Menomonees and Winnebagoes, easily distinguished by the color of blanket worn The ^g^ofthesetribesdifferedquitematerially.yetnotsomuchsothat they could not understand one another very well with the aid of signs . v ater fl '" y weTe amoved to reservations North and in the West rs it any wonder they did not wan., to go, leavinga region so beautiful and Perfectly adapted to their life, and that they should protest em- phatically against being com- pelled to go, even to the ex- tent of deciding in their coun- cils, as the Winnebagoes did, Who were the last to he taken' away (about 1S70), that they would fightif necessary rather than be removed to Nebraska? But their war spirit fled when a few troops came and they went peacefully, though many of them came hark on foot, reaching here sooner than the agents who took them away did by modern convey- ance. u .,.- '"" r "' "1 la«d and so could not be compelled 1 »as ellow thunder (Wah-kon-ja-z-gah), a warrior chief; homd, on J^red -d twenty years old at the time of the removal of u£Z his war spmtwas aroused to such ' an extent that he counseled re- sistance, even to the shedding the last drop of his pepole's blood. His farm, acquired under An- drew Jackson's administration, was located about five miles from the foot of the Dells and consisted of a forty-acre tract, quite well cultivated, and on which then was a log house, hut the old man preferred to live in a tent (Wouc- chig-ah-che-dah) close by, except at times when he was desirous of adopting (he customs of civiliza- tion, then he WOUld sleep in the house, inside the rails,, fan old bedstead, upon the ground, the house having no floor. A belief of the older ones of these people is that a part of their NAH-JU-ZE-GAH- -BROWN EYES. YELLOW THUNDER. life goes .into a picture taken of themselves, this superstition was a source of trouble, not to say danger, to an artist who mana-o.l I , ap.e.un.of fellow Thunder in the autumn preceding the'springln which he died, because many of his tribe believed that in some mys- terious way the process of making the picture had absorbed what should have been the remaining years of his life. They are an interesting people, full of tradition, superstition and beliefs that will ann.se, if n ,,i he instructive, t,, anv one « bo can gain their good w.ll and so persuade them I,, talk of themselves ■M _ "Any attempt at description of the l>ells would be incomplete without reference to the studio of II. H. I (en net t, located in Kilbourn, whose views of the Dells first broughl them to the notice of the out- Bide world, and which have attained a degree of photographic and artistic merit that has given him rank with the host landscape photo artists of the world. At his place you will finda largeand varied collection of pictures, ii, ,1 aloneofthe Dells, luil of the surround- ing scenic attractions. \,,t, the least of the pleasure of our visit t,i the Dells was the time spent in tin' Bennett Btudio." 'I'lir accompany- ing illustrations an' half-tone reproduc- tions from a few of tin- many hundred excell e n t photo- graphic views em- braced in Mr. Bi'ii- nett's collection. Candor requires a n d inclinati o n principal points in tbc "Upper Bells. LOWES JAWS OF THE DELLS, Angel Rock is situated about one-half mile from the steamer landing, on the right hand side of the river as you go up the stream, and is a rugged pro- jeetion, curiously shaped. It is also called Marble Rock, from the peculiar, lit- tle, round lumps of sandstone found on the ledge and in the river below. Swallows' Rock, or \\ here t lie swallow a live, is a little further along on the same side. In early spring and summer, thou- sands of beautiful lit- tle swallows ma\ be Seen here filling the air and in the brown cliffs, occupying in- numerable holes ill the rock, sale from anywhere. pr pts the statement, that in the preparation of this book, liberal danger, and the happiest family to be foun use has been made of the contents of a "Guide for Tourists," published The Jaws op the Dells, or entrance to the hells proper, are some years ago by Mr. 1'. ( ). Wisner, and for which we cheerfully guarded by two immense rocks, standing like sentinels on duty and acknowledge obligation. sternly looking down in their stately grandeur, as if disputing the right of man I" explore the intricate passage beyond. The rock on the righl is called Hk;ii Rock, and rises seventy-five feet above the river. It pre- sents a rugged, rough aspect, with curiously shaped sides, and has a meagre growth of stunted pines, birch and oilier trees and foliage. On the left is Rom \m i: Cliff, which is a grand old pile of stately rocks covered with a growth of trees and shrubbery. It is somewhat higher and more stalely than its vis-a-vis, High Rock, and has more of the curious and wonderful in its make-up a nd general appear- ance. It is suggestive of the stately crags and beetling cliffs of the weird and grand scen- ery of the Rocky .Mountains. rids and Indian romances are told of t his wonderful cliff. Chimney Rock. — This is one of Nature's singular freaks. left standing for innumerable ages, formed by the action of the w ilil waters, looking like the old-fashioned stick-and- mortar chimney of the days of the forefathers. It stands just hey. .ml 1 [igh Rock. Echo < !ove. — A most pleas- ing echo can be had bere, and it is a beautiful place for bath- ingand enjoying a quiet hour chimney rock and HIGH roi k. in a cool, pleasant ret feat. The Oi d I ni i. I ha sEat Allen's Landing, on the left, is one of the oldest lenses in this part of the country. It is a block house, made of ^^^T ~\ S^^BET /^jf ^•t ^^^ZCj-^»gy jgfXii */Sbs§l" v ' ly v B^SjSfc^ - 91 ■ . square timber originally, but in later years covered with siding, built by Robert V. Allen in 1S37-8, who kept it as a tavern for many years, he also established a ferry across the river at this point, it being one of the principal lines of travel for the pioneers from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi ami the Pineries of Wisconsin. Then came the develop- ment of the pine lumber industries of the upper Wisconsin and its tributaries and the manufacture of vast quantities oflumber, which could only be got to market by rafting and floating it down the river to points on the Mississippi, where it could be used or from whence it could be conveyed inland for consumption. So, in time, this river became one of the greatest bighways for the conveying of lumber of any of the tributaries of the Mississippi. These were 1 ming clays for the old place, a point where the raftsmen could obtain supplies of food and liquid refreshment, for which they had various names. In extreme high water all the rafts that came from above had to he tied up at the head of the Hells, three miles farther up the stream, to await the fallng of the water to such a stage as would make the run- ning of the Narrows less dangerous; at such times great numbers of rafts, covering many acres, would accumulate around the mouth of Witches' < iulch and among the islands beyond, if the river remained very high, as it did many days almosl every spring Heed. As seen as the II 1 subsided enough to make the passage of the Narrows possi- ble by having several men on an oar, there was a busy time, each pilot striving to get his fleet through to the quiet water in the eddj at the Dell Housefirst. This having to put several men onto an oar through the Narrows necessitated a iber of trips for each crew to bring their respective fleets through this part of the Dells, and" giging bad " (walking) from the Hell House to the head of the Hells. By far the larger part of the raft sine ii in those days were net prominent as " Sens of Temperance " or kindred organizations, at least net con- sistetit members, and would, en landing safely al the Dell I louse, par- take free I \ of the ee nee nt rat I'd ri \ er water kept there for emergencies; if (he trip had net been successful and the raft had been broken up. ill'" something must be taken to the success of the next trip ; if one of the crew had been lost in the mad waters, partaking of some- thing in token of good wishes for his hereafter was uoi to be neg- lected by any means, and some- times like token was deemed necessary for the welfare of rath of his surviving relatives, anus time, which may be all the foundation there is for the stories of the horrible crimes committed in and about the place in the early days. To- day no " Yellow River howl" announces the arrival of a fleet from that tributary, and we need net expect to meet lum- ber from < irand Rapids, or any of i be hig mills above; the rail- reads have got into the Pine- ries, and all the lumber goes to market in that, way; the rafts- men are gone, but the old house ta ads there, windowless ami deserted, open to everyone who may choose to visit its tenantless r< s. Chapel Gorge.— This is the next interesting place, is above the Dell House and on the right. It is named from the peculiarly shaped rock at its entrance, resembling a pulpit in a place of worship. The Gorge is pleasant and shady. Boat Cave is just, beyond the Gorge and may he explored with small boats. It should always be visited to be appreciated, although BOAT nil . a general idea may he had from the steamer's deck. It is one of the most peculiar formations, showing the action of the water upon the soft sandstone, ami is one of the places where the guides can get fire out of the water. Circle Bend, where the river and rocks form a half circle. The rocks are high and bold, presenting a cliff of solid masonry, formed and carved and hewn and worn into a wall of adamant by the action id' the whirling waters. Its top is covered with a dense growth of cedar, hemlock, pine, lurch, oak and all the many varieties of ferns and shrubbery that so abundantly abound throughout the I tells. Sturgeon Rock, on left, is a hold, projecting point. Here we enter upon the looked-for wild grandeur of the Dells. On the right is the Navy Yard.— To our mind this is the most picturesque and won- derful formation on the river. Here we have one of the most striking anil natural "Navies" to be found in the world. Neither perishable wooden or iron ships, formed and modeled by man, but those built by the hands of Him who hath formed all the wonders of nature. Huge stone vessels of war, these, with prows and sides and ribs so solid and staunch that for ages they have withstood the battlesand warring of the waters, and as time has rolled on they have become more complete and shapely in form and build. Bold guardians are they of the Narrows. 3IANT s HAND. '" ,: GlAXT '» Hand is in a grotto between two of the hulks '" : "' ""' 1 "»<''' end of the Navy Yard. About two feet of the sleeve : ""' <"" feet ° f » lefl hand of stone is seen above the water and laid palm against the hulk in the right, as you view it from a row boat, so perfect in form that you wonder if to drain the water away fifty or more feet deep here would not disclose the Giant to "horn it belongs; leastways it is quite perfect enough to prove the '™th of an Indian legend, the substance of which is, thai the vessels »» the Navy Yard are some of Cortez' ships that came exploring in this northern country and the explorers treated the Indians so badly as to anger their God, who in his wrath laid Ins hand on the ships and turn,-.! them to stone. Eato.n Gkotto is a long, deep opening extending far into the rugged wall of rock, on the opposite side from the Navy Yard. Skylight Cave is a very similar opening to that of Eaton Grotto and is just at the head of the Navy Yard. Here, with a small hoat vou can seek the deep recess of the rock, lighted by a little riftin the rod overhead, [t is a delightful place to visit. Glen Eykie is on the right, and extends back from the river nearly a mile. It is a delightful place for a ramble, and is filled with '"'""""'I ferns and flowers. Across it, near the river, there is a fool b ndge r " r ""' convenience of those who love to ramble along the llverb ank, one of the many improvements made by the "Dells Resort < 'ompany." 'I'm: Narrows oh I:, , K Hawk's L-EAP.-Here the river suddenly narrows to the width of only Jift,,-tu:o feet, and the water is tight,, fee', "' depth. 1 1.,- river is now running upon its edge, he ted in on ether side by ponderous rocks. In low water tin- current is nearlyas ", mand P Iacidas at any point on the Delb, but when the river is up t-ic raging waters come pouring through this narrow gorge with ter- I 111.' Imcr. riiE Old B E m G E.-Aboui the year l;> is, Mr . Schuyler S Gates erectedasubstantial bridge across the Narrows. This wasthefirst bridge ever built across the Wisconsin, and was used for a number of years "l' until ih,. railroad bridge was built at Kilbourn. Thou- sands .if teams and passengers paid toll here. It vvascarried away by the high water of 1806. The Devil's El- bow is t I, ,. p i Mt w here t u e ri v e r makes an almost square I urn just at the entrance .if the Narrow 8. Black Hawk's ( !ave can now lie see ii on th e left hand. It was here, the legend hath it. where tie- ..I.I chief Iiid sale and secure in the .lays of the Black Hawk war; and there is another story, that he leaped his pony from bank to bank to elude his pursuers. Of course we would net dispute the romance b) questioning the authenticity of this won- derful feat. Notch Rock.— This was the raft. nan's dread ..f the Narrows It is a square, boulder-looking rock on the left, and is known as Raftman's THE OLD BKIDGE. Terror, on which, in high water, rafts were often broken and lives lost. You can see ii < lose down to the water's edge. I; si ii i>\ vke Roi k is the high crag or solitary looking rock on the left, just back of Notch Rock. It is covered -with shrubbery. Sliding Rocks are here upon either side of the stream, and are so called from their peculiar formation — the sides being oval shaped and sliding inward, throwing the water to the center of the stream. Artist's Glen. — This is one of the most beautiful ravines on the river. It is on the right, nearly opposite Rattlesnake Rock. This glen is delightful for picnic grounds, and has a large number of fine butternut and other tn es, affording an elegant retreat. Just beyond, ug the trees, high up from the river, is The Laeks — neither birds, nor a lot of young men out for a time, but a cozy building erected by the "hells Resort Company" for a restuarant ami dancing hall, with wide verandas, from which fine views, both down into the Narrows ami up the river, are afforded, while across the river you can see lor some distance down the Old Channel o? the River, now choked by a high sandbank, which is en the left in going up the liver; but, high as it is in low water, some seasons the spring floods raise the river high enough so that a part of t lie stream runs ever it ami around a large tract of land, coming out and uniting again with the main river, near the old Dell Mouse, forming an island. About half a mile back from the old Dell [louse there is another branch, without water now, except a small creek part eft lie way, leading south and then east, joining the present river again a short distance below the railroad bridge at Kilbourn. Much of the way this old channel is as well defined as the present river, ami as interesting, several isolated rocks of strange shapes, that were islands, many caves ami grottoes in the high cliffs, along either side, much of the distance. If you are strong take a tramp through the old channel some time in the autumn, when the day is not too warm, ami you will enjoy it; but if you are feeble or indolent don't try it, for there is no boule- vard or sidewalk there, not even a country road or path that you tan use, hut a go-as-you-please route in the woods, over old sand bars, through the bushes and some of the way in the swamp, with an occa- sional climb to the top of a high cliff that will he rewarded by magni- lieent views and more extended than can be had from the low land. A few rods up the stream from "The Larks" and on the same side of the river is the mouth of ( 'oldwater < ' a no n .—This canon is one of the grand features of the Dells. Land from the steamer, when a substantial plank walk takes you safely over the slack water. You proceed through the rocky defile and under the frowning crags, to the restaurant kept by Capt. C. D. Van Wie, who can satisfy your hunger for food and thirst for knowledge of the Dells, he having been for years a raftsman on the river, and at onetime captain of one of the steamers plying on the Dells. But a little further along up the canon, you come to that wonderful Devil's Jug. — The entrance is but a short distance from Captain Van Wie' s, and in a moment you reach a deep, wild, narrow gorge, walled in with rocks, which are, in some places, almost vertical, and in others overhanging the pathway. The gorge is so narrow that we do not see the jug until we step inside of it, and look around with wondering curiosity upon its splendid curves and magnificent pro- portions. It is, of course, a broken jug, the ravine extending through andbeyondil for a considerable distance, and on one side the lines are imperfect, owing, doubtless, to the unusual hardness of the rocks, but the other side is hollowed into a perfect resemblance of the inside of an immense jug, as smoothly fashioned as if turned upon a potter's wheel. The entire width of the Jug is about thirty-five feet at the bottom, and its height is not far from seventy feet. The rift at the top is quite narrow, admitting light enough to see with tolerable dis- tinctness, but leaving the upper part of the cavern in twilight gloom. The gorge beyond the Jug is passable for some distance. A ramble through this vast canon and a visit to the Jug will afford a world of pleasure. All the many varieties of ferns and mosses may be gath- ered here. Riffle Rocks are upon the left side of the stream, and would look well uu the Bhirt-fronts of the giants of olden days. They adorn with becoming grace the river's Bide. The Devil's Arm Chair. — You will wonder why the d — 1 he should perch his chair in such a place, unless, he, too, is an admirer of the wonders of nature. It is on the left and but a short distance from Coldwater Canon. Clam Banks, on the right, is so called because of the shape and stratification of the rocks, bearing close resemblance to gigantic clam- shells. Leland's Point is a striking feature of the scenery on the right and a little further up the river than the Clam Banks. A few rods beyond is The Pines, a name Mr. Robinson has given his new and exceed- ingly pretty and attractive resort. It is situated high above and com- mands a fine view of the river from both the house and ground.-. Cameleox ( avf. is a seam in the bank, and can only he visited by climbing a ladder, going to the high bank, and then down into the earth. You will need a guide ami the light of a lantern to reach the bottom. It contains beautiful, changing mosses. It is on the right, just below' Steamboat Rock. Steamboat Bock will challenge especial attention. It stands, an island, in a curious, circular cove, and vastly resembles, from some points, a huge ocean steamer, minus smokestack and wheel-house. It is probably about 250 feet long by 100 feet wide and Bome 40 to 50 feel in height, witli perpendicular, rugged sides and covered with pine, oak and shrubbery. Rood's Glen. — This is just beyond Steamboat Rock, on the right, its entrance marked by a little sand liar, ami extending back from the river about six hundred feet. .Similar to Coldwater Canon, or almost a cavern, it is a place all admire who visit it while on the down-stream trip in a row boat. Akch Cove or Paradise is a delightful place for picnic parties. It is from here you will get the best view of the many islands at the head of the Dells, and a magnificent view of the river for a long dis- tance. The cove is a beautiful, shady recess, and contains an elegant spring of pure, fresh water. It is on the left hand side of the river, nearly opposite the mouth of "Witches' Gulch. — At the head of the Dells, on the right, extend- ing three-quarters of a mile from the shore, will be found this re- markable Gulch. The precipitous rocks tower aloft on either side to the height of perhaps a hundred feet, their sides being worn smooth and their ragged edges rounded off by the long-continued action of the water. One can almost touch with outstretched arms both sidi - i ! this gloomy gorge, which surpasses in grandeur anything hitherto Seen in the Dells. The rocks overhead are in many places shelving and rounded into immense scollops. The stream through this wild pass is in many places waist-deep. It contains many curious points — a miniature waterfall, Phantom Chamber, Diamond Grotto, and hun- dreds of other remarkable features, that to describe justly would take more room than our space affords. No one visiting the Dells should fail to see this wild, weird and tortuous Gulch. It challenges the admiration of all who see it, with its strange, marvelous, startling grandeur. The Islands. — From the entrance to the Dells, or "upper jaws," we have an elegant view of the river, bluffs ami islands for a long dis- tance. This view is often compared to a similar scene on Lake George- Here the river "spreads itself all over the country, as it were-, and i> full one-half mile in width and very shallow, the water in summer being not over one or two feet in depth. About three-fourths of a mile from Witches' Gulch we find, on the left bank, a number of inter- esting points, which can be reached with small boats, except in very low water, by ascending Blazier's Creek, emptying into the river at the foot of Blazier's Bock. A narrow but easily accessible pathway, amid ferns and shrubbery, leads up along the side of the hill to that curious natural phenomenon, Hornets' Nkst, which has the shape and, at a short distance, the genet al appearance of an immense hornets' nest. It serves as a pillar in front of a natural portico, the rock having in the course of time been washed out, leaving a flat roof overhead, with the Hornets' Nesl as its principal support. Passing through the archway formed by this singular rock, we ascend and follow the hill- side for a few rods, and pres- ently stand in Luncheojj Hall. — The waters have at some remote period sweptthrough here with great force, wearing a passage through and under the rocks, and leaving the flat rocks which formerly stood at the " top of the heap " asa natural roof for the hall, which is of considerable extent, and a favorite place for picnic parties. I'll.- roof has a single break, a few inches wide; otherwise it is perfect; and the rocks which support it furnish convenient seats and tables. Located on the top of a ridge, the hall [.resents a grand appear- ance to the spectator at a distance, and commands a tine view of the river. Once within its massive portals, awe gives place to curiosity, and the visitor finds pleasure in observing the odd shapes which the rocks have assumed under the slow but persistent action of the cur- rent which once swept the Wisconsin Valley, leaving its impress on Fw y. *■■ ST A Mi R< every hill, and cutting its way through the rocks until it formed the romantic channel through which the river now runs. A short dis- tance from Luncheon Hall, we find the wonderful St\xi> Rock. — To reach this, we ascend the hank a short distance ami follow along the edge of the ridge, coming to the rock upon the upper side. People with sufficient nerve, and not ha\ ing an immedi- ate fear of the hereafter, can reach the top of the Stand by a leap of some eight feet. If you miss your footing you will probably fetch up forty f,t below. The top of the rock— a large sandstone slab— is nearly as level as a floor, and its superficial area is about eighteen by twenty-four feet. A pathway leads to the foot of it, and the view from below is more interesting than that from above. The water-rounded column which supports the superpoised tablet is of rather irregular shape and is forty-six feet high. With tin- neighboring rock a sort of arch is formed, somewhat resemblingthe cavernous opening at Lunch- eon Hall. All around is a scene of beauty. The hills are covered with trees clothed with magnificent summer foliage; a tine farm, trees and shurbe spread out up-riverward, and the glen is full of ferns and flow- ers, in gorgeous profusion. A part of a day devoted to this locality is time well spent. This ends this brief and imperfect description of the principal points in the Upper Dells. But the tourist will find along the entire way, from the steamer's landing to Stand Rock, hundreds of other cut ions and interesting points that are not named or laid down on the map. In the vicinity of Stand Rock is the Squaw's Bed Chamber, a curious cave in the hillside, Vizor Ledge, ami many others, all of which should he visited. To reach the interesting objects at the head of the Dells, such as Stand Rock, Luncheon Hall, etc, that are not easily reached by steamer, the tourist can employ a carriage and enjoy a few miles' ride through the woods. It is a most pleasant feature for a clay's en- joyment. 11 Zbc lower ©ells. Your stay at the Dolls will not be complete unless you visit the i Dells, which extend for three miles belov the village. The river here is broader and the banks present a greatei diversity of bluff and 1 nit ton i : but the character of the rocks composing the banks is the same, and a similar though varied succession of curious and pleasing forms is presented. The rocks, as in the Upper Dells, have been worn and hollowed and rounded into every imaginable shape except that of " Rock Me to Sleep;" we are almost sure that some close ob- server will yel discover " Rock the Cradle " somewhere in this vicin- ity. In some placee greal shelves, with stalwart young pines grow ing upon their very edges, overhang the dark waters; elsewhere perpen- dicular walls loom up like the front of some vast fortification, and a little further on a similar wall is supplanted with coigns, bastions, projecting towers and covered archways; again the rocks are rounded at their bases so as to resemble the sterns of small vessel — much in- ferior in 6ize and appearance to the ponderous hulks at the Navy Yard in the Dells above. Then the rocks slope gently downward 1 grassy vale, where a pretty farm gives charming variety to the panorama, and on the opposite side broad bottom, where Newport once stood in her pride, now interesting in her remarkable decay Farther down the river are the more noted objects which claim the attention of tourists, and which we will attempt in our way to de- scribe when we gel to them. The lofty banks here, as in the Upper Dells, are crowned with a luxuriant growth of trees, shrub, plants and grass. The first attrac- tion after leaving the landing is Echo Poixt. —Standing upon the rocky cliff where the tunnel from Taylor's Glen comes out from under the railroad, any unusual eleva- tion of the voice brings a prompt and distinct response from the massive, smooth-faced cliff opposite, every word and tonebeingre- peated with surprising clearness and accuracy. A little farther down and on the same side ,.f the river, is Bear's Cave. — It is a hole in the rock with a cleft extending out to the edge of the cliff, and thence downward t,, the water'- edge, the cave forming a recess near the top, into which you may descend if you choose; but you will find it bare, the- bear having moved away some time ago. From the rift grows a large pine, which does not seem to pine much for Bruin's company. A little further down on the same side, is Chimney Rock. — A little less in size than the one up the river, but greatly resembling it in situation and appear- ance. Then comes the Pulpit, standing near the water's edge and shaped like the sacred desk in some sanctuaries. Below this on the river, hut above it in t, is Observation Poixt, standing which you obtain a magnificent view. both up and down the river and ai the country for miles toward the sou i. On the opposite side ia Stvltz Bock, once a tei i raftsmen, and so named for one of them whose raft struck it and went to pieces, leaving him clinging to one of the crags of the rock all night in a terrible storm. Here, to,,, i- Tiie Hawk's Bill, showing against the sky at the top "f the cliff as you approach it from either up or ,1 ,wn the stream, very lil wide-open beak of a bird of gigantic proportions. This spot, too, was a .HAWK S BU.L. SiGxal Peak, upon which the red men used to light their signal fires to warn their people up and down the river of the approach of enemies or the coming of a friendly tribe. A little way back from SUGAR BOWL. here is the summer home ufMi;. S. II. Keefoot and family. Mr. Ker- foot is .>ne of Chicago's most respected and well-known citizens, who here finds health and recreation in making the desert bloom as a gar- den. His premises have a river frontage of quite a mile down tin- stream from a short distance above Stultz Rock, embracing much of the finest of the scenery in the Lower Dells and which afford him and his friends great pleasure, not, however, to the exclusion from its beauties of anyone who would not mar or injure its attractions. Proceeding on on our way past the old Town of New port, on the right, we come to Si o m: Bowl, which stands out in the stream, as cleverly moulded as one could wish. The shape of this singular freak of nature is very true to its name. We pull around it, but despair of getting at the inside of it. because the lid is on tight, and held down by a miniature forest of pine-. Cave or the Dark Waters is in Grotto Rock, just to the right of Sugar Bowl, a cavern which you can go into and through with a row boat an.l see other openings or passageways that are too small and crooked to get a boat through. The cave was sometimes called by the Indians "Place of the Nah-hu-nah," (sturgeon). A few rods down a channel of tic river, that is dry during the low water in summer, is another and smaller cave, which is easily reached by a short walk and well repays the trouble. We have seen nothing in this vicinity more curious and wonderful than this rock, the outer walls and internal caverns of which show the shaping effects of different currents and eddies of water. Mr. Bennett has secured fine stereoscopic views of the rock and it i i ecesses. Tin: Inkstaxd next claims our attention. At first view it seems a counterpart of the Sugar Bowl, bu1 wesoonpi i lifiference. The rock, entire at the top, partsa little way down, and the passage tap- ering gradually is, at the water, wide enough to admit a small ca Tt is. you perceive, a counting-house inkstand, with two compartments, the larger for black and thesmaller for red ink. It bristles on top with small pines, which, with the aid of an india rubber imagination, may be taken for quill pens, wherewith in the golden age, when the gods practiced the ways of men. Mercury wrote- heavj leaders, and Minerva love stories, poetry and paragraphs for the Olympian Thunderer. Per- haps some classical e-codger may laugh at us for assigning such literary trifling to the Goddess of Wisdom. Laugh, then, and gather fatness on the ribs! Did not Solomon indite to his Ethiopian Queen a love- song 80 sweet and suggestive that the church accepts it as inspired from on high? Did he not deal in witty sayings and pungent para- graphs which the itemizer of to-day, with the aid of the medical almanacs, vainly attempts 1" imitate? Did not St. Peter strike the liar — dead? Have not wise men in all ages turned to light literary work as a relaxation? Very well, then, ('ease digression! We cannot carry away this inkstand, it is too firmly fixed and heavy to be remove. 1; so we again turn our prow down stream to Lone Rock, which stands in massive majesty mid-river, smiling with its summer chaplet of verdure up.ui the tawny flood that washes its feet. It is a broad oval in shape. We cannot give its exact dimensions. As we ap- proach we find that its - are perforated with caverns. into the largest of which you can go to the center and through the rock. There i- much else of in- terest in a trip to the Lower 1'ells, in fact, every rod ..f the river and its shores are so, though in no place so narrow as the Narrows, and without any Witches' Gulch or Cold- water Canon of the Upper Dells, unless you are willing to take a walk of a mile from the river at one place t. Congress Hall, a very re- markable and curious rock glen similar to the Canon ami Gulch. Thebestway t< ■ reach it, however, is by carriage and return through the pretty Village of Delton, which is near by. Here, too, is Mikrob Lake, celebrated for its scenic beauty in rock formations and bewildering reflections. The stories of truthful parties of the ex- cellent bass and pickerel fishing there, are often fully proven by the tine strings offish they show. Taylor's Glex. — Just a pleasant walk at the southern limits of Kilbourn, is a choice hit of the beautiful which no tourist should fail to visit. You can do the Glen in a before-breakfast walk, and so while j on enjoya half-hour of the rarest scenery hereabouts, you can at the same time cultivate an appetite for steak and coffee, which will make breakfast a delight. While down there don't fail to go through the tunnel to the riverside, and challenge the saucy echo which shouts at evervho.lv who savs a word there. LOOKIN.i OCT OK CAVE IN ION > LONE ROCK I i Riosn ii:s of Adams .i\n Juneau Counties. — Northwest from llie Dells for thirty or thirty-five miles, and along the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee c«c St. Paul Railroad, plainly seen from the car windows, are many strange rock formations to interest the traveler, varying in height from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet, ri s i n g perpendicular from the level country like castles or f irt- r e s e e s . made up of towers, columns and pillars so like the work of man as to almost bring the belief that they were built by some am ient race of people. You can take a morning train at Kil- boui-n and go to ' 'amp Douglass, mar where are situated some of the must interesting of PILLAR ROCK. tllc-e fo 1' HI a t i (i 11 s , among which are the " Giant's Castle." " Phantom Cathedral," "Bee Blun"," "Giant's Tomb," "Pillar Rock" and "Target BlufT,"and return in the evening, if you desire. If your visit should be in June or July yen would likely find s e one of Wisconsin's four Infantry Regi- ments of National Guard in earn p. learning all the arts of war possible without the actual thing, in which they are sometimes joined by a troop of " regulars." The rifle range at this camp is said to be the best in this country, ami our Badger Boldiers have become very proficient in target practice; dies- parade each evening attracts crowds from all directions and c|iiite long distances, both by railroad and teams. North from the Dells, through a good part of Adams County, there are a great many quite as remarkable rocks as those northwest, but not as easy of access. Without doubt all the region above men- tioned has been a lake that has been drained away by the Wisconsin 1 liver in cutting its way through the Units once constituting its south- ern shore and thence to the Mississippi, and what an interesting lake it must have been, dotted at frequent intervals with these castles and towers standing high and imposingly above its Burface. The student of geology will certainly find the whole region worthy of investigation, and particularly in the fossil markings found in the rock near New Lisbon. giant's castle. 16 ©evil's TLaltc. Xaftc flDason. This remarkable sheet of water has been so often described that it will be alums) unnecessary to refer to it in these pages. It is situ- ated about seventeen miles from Kilbout n and three from Bara- boo, Sauk County. It, is peculiar to itself, and is unrivalled in pictur- esque grandeur, and next to the Dells is the most charming re- sort in Wisconsin. There is an elegant hotel over there at the uorth end of the lake, the Clif! House, \\ hen tourists will find every comfort, while, at the south cod of the lake is situated Kirkland, with its wine cellar, and row of pretty little cotta ges near the beach, for the use of DEVIL'S DOOR WAY. those who may wish to spend their vacation at this most delightful resort, and which is under the direction of the owner, Mr. N. C. Kirk, a genial, courte- ous gentleman. A tine little steamer, row boats, picnic grounds and many facilities for enjoyment can be had there. A carriage ride from Kilbourn to the lake is very enjoyable. About seven miles from Kilbourn is Briggsville, in Marquette ( '011 ni y — a quiet, prettj village, having a store or two and an excellent hotel. Here, also, is the celebrated Lake .Mason, where the disciples of Izaak Walton can spend a. most delightful day in fishing or troll- ing for pickerel and black bass. The pond is two miles in length by one noli' in width. The water is pure and cool. Jordan Lake is some fourteen miles from Kilbourn, in a uorth easterly direction, and is represented as being excellent fishing grounds. Goose Lake is a fine sheet of water in the same neighbor- 1 d. Crooked Lake is some miles further along, and both contain excellent lish. Duckel's Lake is s e seventeen miles from Kil- bourn, and abounds in lish. These lakes are all in Adams Countv. XCbrouob tbe Bells. BY PERMISSION OF F. 0. WI5NER. BY JOHN CLERKE. I. Summer Bunlight, warm and tender, glowed wilh splendor on the wave An tin- crowded Bteamer plowed it, with a fare of fair and brave; Freighted with a wealth of beauty, weighted with a world of love, Bosoms lighter, faces brighter, ne'er were smiled on from above. Joyously our hearts were beating, as the fleeting waters Bed Swiftly past her, as yet faster toward the .laws the Dell Qua n sped. From ner splashing paddles rolled the flashing waves in seething swells, As she bore us where bet'.. re us lay the wild Wisconsin Hells. And a beautiful maiden from Baral , "Willi eyes like voilets bathed in dew, Close I" her Kilbourn lover drew, And gazed in silent wonder. II. Weird and strange all! Here the Angel once displayed her carven form ; — She has vanished -rudely banished by the angry flood and storm. All an mi in I there, w here a I id their homes within the brown cliff's breast, Iter as they Mil, or circling sock the rock-hewn nest. .1 Dreast, Swallow's twitter as they flitj or circling seek the rock-hewn nest. High Rock, towering, lilts his lowering front o'ergrown with firs am fern; Opposite, Romance Cliff, frow uing grim, looks down in aspect stern. ( Ihimney Rock, a shape fantastic, formed by plastic Nature's hands, On a jutting rock abutting, quaint and solitary stands. Vlll I lii> I ii i I M t I I I 1 I tii'liiliitl {*>-..tii I ' ■! >'■■ ] i. .. . i i m k iiiiii^, 1 1 u.i i ii i a no son ia i \ si a I mis Ami the beautiful maiden from Baraboo, With cheeks likeadelicate peach in hue, Was charmed at once by the singular view, Anil exclaimed, Well, now, 1 never!'' ■ hi; fold, bund, round! .' .h.W II, w, go. III. Standlnghere by Allen's Landing is the Dell House gray ami . Trees above it — sure they love it — graciously their green arms < bray and lonely ! Once the only inn throughout this region i 1 low its rafters rung with laughters when the raftsmen w ere a i hi war. I steering, we are nearing Chapel < forge, where looking As inviting to unite in worship, stands the Chapel brown. Pause and wonder now, where under rocky arches dim and lo slowly floating a small boat in, through the Boat Cave we may A ml the Kilbourn youth, whose heart was true, To the beautiful maiden from Baral , Said to her — " 1 larling, let's 1 and you — " Said she — "( > dear, you're so sudden !" Swiftly swerving round the curving channel here in Circle Bend, Navy Yard's stout fleet is prompt to meet us, whether foe or friend, Eaton's Grotto pleases all (or ought to) who upon it look, but their time they idly squander who long ponder Sturgeon Rock. Here the twilight gloom of Skylight Cave is lighted through a rift— We may view it well as through it in a little boat we drift. We shall miss it if we visit not the famous Gates' Ha vine, Where a hundred curious objects to be wondered at are seen. And the Kilbourn lover, so fond and true, I lis li|is to the ear of t he maiden drew, And whispered— "Dear, it's as pretty as — you, And one day we will go there." 1« V. Hasten by it! Go not nigh it ! 'Tis the Devil's Elbow named; Those strong sinews once brought in use, e'en the boldest would be Here oldBlack Hawk on his pony leaped from stony bank to bank, \nd eluded his pursuers, in secluded cavern dank. This strange tower, with tree and flower upsprmging from its topmost Rattlesnake Rock— now no rattle warns that battle must he .lone. Notch Kock here, the raftsmen's terror-slightest error causes wreck, When from Sliding Bock swift gliding scarce their mad career they And the beautiful maiden from Baraboo, Was somewhat startled, and puzzle. 1, too, \s the Dell Qua n steadily pushed on through The rapid and intricate Narrows. VI. Artists' Glen is full of grandeur, could we land here to explore, Bufwe're brought to tie Coldw'ater Canyon, further up the shore. Much admire we, never tire we, of the scenery new and strange, Deep glens charming vet alarming, beyond fancy's wildest range. . la , the rugged path we tread in rocks o'erhead in threat mng guise, Fr wnim oldU l..o.d do* Q boldly, till we half avert our eves; ;™M(„o 1S trOUS Devil's Jug. (What revels w,d were held When this vessel was the wassail pitcher oi the Sends Id. ) But the beautiful maiden from Baraboo, With a confident look in her eyes so blue, Clung to her lover the whole way through, Nor showed a siun of terror. VII. Jug stupendous! what tremendous power hath formed and placed thee Was't some Titan who of old time took delight in wine or beer? Or with whiskj were they frisky « ho were wont their cares to float , V, !', 'eious liquor poured from thj capacious, gurgling throat . Did thev guszle from tfie nozzle? or did each one have a mug As they quaffed full many a draught, and laughed and frolicked round Did they drink it then with "sweetW in." and think it "powerful In th, 'winter with hot water, and in hotter days with ice? But what cared the maiden from l.aral What those old tipplers used to do, So long as she had her lover true VIII. Mighty pitcher! were we richer- hut we stifle the fond thought; The crusaders would invade us, kepi we such a Jug-o'-naught; So we sever Up the river other marvels on US wail : I "evil's Vrnr Chair, late in which old Satan sat in solemn state ; lam Hank, which no clams are found in, not abounding in the VS est; •utile a , whose ruffles would of kissing scuffles stand the test ; Steamboat Sock, a packet, stat.lv, though not lately in the trade; RoodVsGlen oval-shaped, and novel in the quaintnesses displayed. And the Kilhoitrn lover, so honest and true, Whispered the maiden from Baraboo, "If vim love meas I love you We'll be married in I! 1 S Glen some day. Ho B IX. Hone-s Bee Spring, which on sunny days the honey-makers seek; Eagle Point, a feature striking, shapen like an eagle sbeak; \ ™h < V.ve fairv bower airy, famed tor Petnaqua well, Witches' * Gulch, wM and enchanting-weird folk haunting herein Horne^Nist, from Cliff suspended, semblance splendid, grand and 1 uncheon Hall, an n cavern-basket tavern, free to all; _ St, el or the De'il's Tea Table-if you're able, (mil spring ! Many ore surprising features of Dameftature s might we sue,. But the beautiful maiden from Baraboo And her Kilboiirn lover, so fond and true, Have sat them down to bill and coo, lake a pair of turtle doves ! X. How were all those wondrous objects formed among the pond'rous Some primeval -rand upheaval shook the land with frequent shocks ; Cav^rnsv^wne^andfissures widened; tempests strident filled the air; M^dlvuS foaming surges through the gorges opened there; ssM^a^ss^ssrssf^^^ Dells! From Kilbournc ose beside her'.' () beautiful maiden from Baraboo, And Kilboiirn lover, so lender and true, We must bid vou now a tearful adieu; But we hope to be there With the pan- 19 Zhc Xcocnb of tbe IRontancc Cliff. BY PERMISSION OF F. O. WISNER. It is matter of historj that something less than a hundred years ago tin- lair John .lar.. I. Astor, in the prosecution of his gigantic scheme to control tin- Cur trade of the world, established a line of trading posts along tin- western shore of Lake Michigan, with sub- stations at convenient distances from the main line, on the principal rivers of the region then known as "Ouisconsin Among these outposts, was an important one at Fort Winnebago, near the site of the now thriving City of Portage. At the time of which we write, Astor had in his employ at this point about twenty men trappers, traders, interpreters, packmen, etc. It was customarj 1 1 certain seasons of the year to send out a part) "I' six or eight men from iti'- rmi, in visit the various Indian camps within reach, for the purpose of encouraging the chiefs to exert themselves to collect as many fiii-s as possible during the season, and to promise them good , upon delivery at the fort. Some one of the more intelligent of the employes was ordinarily placed in charge of such detachment, with the tempi irary rank and title of captain. [n the summer of 17 -, a party of this sort sot out from the fort, under command of a new recruit, named .loan Baptiste De Riviere, who passed for a Canadian half-br 1. This man, familiarly known among his comrades as "Handsome John," was a very intelligent young man. was well educated in French and English, and possessed all the shrewdness of an Indian, combined with not a little French sauvity of manners. He wasa pleasant, companionable fellow, full of chat concerning all else save himself, but on this subject he was reticent. The destination of the party under De Riviere was the portion of Wisconsin now included w it bin the bounds of the Towns of Newport an. I Delton, and ils special mission to visit Wau-hat-tan, an influential Li ' of the Winnebago Indians. During a portion of each year, and especially during the fishing season, Wau-hat-tan with a part of his tribe occupied the low ground on the right bank of the Wisconsin River, opposite the site of the present Village of Kill. ..urn City. The spot is know n among people in this region now as " Hurlburt Mats." and is still annually occupied for a season by the degenerate posterity of the old chief. A ft or a leisurely tram), along the beautiful shores of the Wisconsin, I>o Riviere's party reached the camp of Wau-hat-tan early in the after- noon of the second day. Most of the party were old trappers and had made frequent visits to the Winnebago ram]., but the ( 'aptain, being a now hand, had never met with ^iis tribe before. After the customary salutations, the old chief, attired in his host, beckon oil the Captain to a seat on the mat covered ground, inside his wigwam. Here, through the 1 Hum of an interpreter, they held a long conversation, chiefly i :erning the power and wealth of the " Great paleface, Astor," and of the wonderful things he had done and promised to do for his brother, " the great Wau-hat-tan." De Riviere .li.l liis best to impress the old chief with the importance of gathering much fur for his employer, and by his skillful address so won the confidence of bis host that he was nil the best quarters the camp afforded, with a squaw special!; selected to wait upon him. The talk being over, De Riviere was con- ducted to his quarters, and the comely, gaudily dressed Lo-wel-li-ta (familiarly called " Lo '" i followed to pro pan- his supper. Stretched at his ease on a couch of ferns covered with boar-skin, the (aptain rested from his tramp, w bile his attendant busied herself at the camp fire over a mysterious stew, the savory odor of which already began to sharpen the appetite of the hungry man. His increasing desire to tost the flavor of the viands, call oil his attention to the process of prep- aration, and, with the eye of a Frenchman, he began to note the pecu- * It is a remarkable coincidence thai I'opi has adopted this ni fui his Indian hill."' liarly graceful figure which stooped over the fire. Directly, as she turned toward the wigwam, lie caught a glimpse of the features of the maiden, and was so impressed with the marked refinement and beauty of the face, that his interest in the cuisine gave place to a new interest in the c k. A few more stirrings and seasonings of the broth, and supper was ready. Willi flic graceful air of a lady, the girl -for such she evidently was, and thai not beyond her twenty-second year- beckoned our captain to the rare .ami, table, being nothing less than t, i own hands. As she passed him a rude dish of steaming pottage, John admired the finely moulded arm and the delicate taper fii His natural politeness suggested an English "thank you," and he thought,as be caughl ber eye, that it was not an Indian eye, and he was sure that beneath all her paint the maiden blushed. Our captain himself i ed an attractive, manly face and figure, and bad a right to his camp sobriquet, though the name Beemed little to bis taste, and its general adoption among his companions evidently annoyed him. As he sat there vis-a vis with the waiting damsel, the suspicion became so strong that she was something more than her surroundings indicated that he grew embarrassed in her presence, and despite his appetite be made but an uncomfortable supper. He wanted to speak to her, but he knew nothing of the Indian languag* , nor could he be at all certain that she kne* French or English. After supper how- ever, and while the simple table furniture was cleared away, he had a little time to think, and he determined to ascertain, if possible, if there W aeany ground for hissuspicion. it occurred to him thai it might not be prudent to address the girl in the presence or in the hearing of the Indians, and, as they were so near by, deferred his attempt at conver- sation until a more favorable opportunity. An hour later, the dwell ,,s in the wigwam nearesl the one he occupied being out, he ven- tured to speak. The girl was just returning from the creek where she had been for water, and as she passed his door the Captain ad- dressed her in a low voice, in English: ^ ■• Maiden!" he said, "are you really what you seem? With a frightened glance toward the other wigwams, she placed her finger on her lips and gave him one pleading look, which was a sufficient answer to his question, with an added caution, by which he profited. The maiden hurried on about her work, and John ejaculated under his breath: " English, by Jove, and blue eyed! I'll take her hint of silence just now, but I'll know more about this." So saying, he laid down, to bide his time. Night was c ing on, and there was an early mdon. There was an opening under the side of the wigwam, and through this he watched for Lo-wel-li-ta, watched with the eagerness of a lover, and truth to tell, the heart of the man had experienced within the last hour what was, to him, a new sensation. I, i me tell the reader a little more about Handsome John. He was a native of France, but his family moved to Canada in his child- hood. There was a quiet home by the river side, not far from Quebec a home not of luxury, but of refinement and culture-and an anxious household waited there for tidings of a wanderer. The only son of the family, kind and gentle, talented and amiable, was a restless adven- turer ; and, while the mother prayed that night, the boy for whom she prayed lay watching for the form of an Indian girl among these far-off Western wilds. Eager for excitement, the young man had pushed his way into the employ of the great fur dealer in New York, asking to be sent to the frontier ; and, with a hasty letter ofg l-bye to 1 le and friends, he set out on the first expedition, and here we find him, peeping out into the moonlight from an Indian wigwam, and eagerly listening for a footfall which, nothing to him three hours ago, was yet so much to him now that his anxiety I'm ils approach grew to wearisome impa- tience long before bis ear caught the rustle of leaves from the grove just behind his couch. He started at the sound, but, remembering the warning of the maiden, he moved cautiously toward the openu attract her attention, and, as she passed, quietly placed in her hand a leaf from his note-book, on which he had written : "I am your friend. Can 1 serve you? [fS0, conn,, a. id me. " Your servant, ■■ John B. De Rivikke." 21 He thought thai the girl was deeply agitated, and that she trem- bled as she passed; but? renewing the sign of silence, she passed on, and he lay tossing and thinking till late in the night, but at last he fell asleep, and only woke when the nun came pouring full in hi* face and everybody about camp was astir. He rose hastily, and, seeing some of his men on their way to the creek, followed them, and, having re- freshed himself with a bath, returned for his breakfast. Lo-wel-li-ta again attended him, but he could not catch her eye, and dared not speak, so his breakfast, though excellent, was only half enjoyed. A fter eating, he paid a visit t<> the old chief, smoked a pipe with him, but made- little com creation. Wau-hat-tan made all the promises concern- ing business that could be asked for, and, having distributed a few ti inkers among the Indians, the Captain began his preparations for a visit to another camp, a mile away. In giving directions to his men In' took care to speak loud enough to be heard through all tin warns, Bhouting: " Peter ! you and Louis go on ahead and find a place close by the river to camp, and we'll use our own tent to-night." The quick ear id' Lo-wel-li-ta caught the words of command, and she suspected that they were intended, in pan, tnr In i benefit. The Captain and Ids party wen- soon off, and a half In mi's stroll brought them tn the bank nl' the river, just where the huge cliffs IVi i w n a I i .11 1 1 nihil- across the narrow passage at the foot of the rapids. The two men Who had been sent on ahead had selected a camp near I he foot of the clitC. The tent was soon pitched, and all hands set to work to make themselves comfortable. A tire was lighted directly, and their pork and bread, kettle and frying-pan were unpacked for use. line or t wo started off down the st ream with fishing tackle, while the I lap- tain, with an interpreter, visited the Indian lodge near by. The day passed pleasantly, and when night set in the party, surrounding a huge camp- lire, made themselves merry for an hour or two with song and story, and then all but the * 'a plain lay down in their blankets and were Soon asleep. De Riviere was busy with his own thoughts and hopes and expec- tations, and they all clustered just then around the mysterious maiden, I ,o w cl-1 i -la. It was near midnight, and the bright moon was pouring all its glory across the beautiful stream at his feet. A little wearied by watching, he lay, half reclining, by the fire, enjoying the charming pros]. ect. when suddenly a quick shadow passed close behind the tent, and a low voice reached his ear, with the brief su ons, " C De Eiviere rose quickly to his feet. The shadow was gone, but a stealth) foot si ep rustling over the leaves guided him, and he followed till he reached the sum mil of the cliff. All was black and still. Then he caught the glimpse of a ha ml beckoning him in the moonlight. He stepped forward a few feel toward the edge of the cliff, when suddenly a strong I land seized hi in by the throat, ami, before he could oiler any resistance, he found himself bound hand and foot and thrust, into a crevice of the rock in such a way thai he could scarcely move a limb. A rough band bound a belt of wampum about his face, which effect- ually prevented bis seeing or speaking above a whisper. "Ugh! stealee squaw me," said a voice close t" his ear, and, after some further precautions to prevent his escape, the owner of the voice added: "Heap good place slay. Cine again," with which comforting assur- ance old Wau-hat-tan, for be it was, stole stealthily away down the el ill'. " "Well, well," thought the Captain, "this is a predicament, sure enough," and be began to struggle to free his hands. But the old chief had done his work very thoroughly, and, after a severe effort, De Riviere gave up for the present ami began to think. Let us leave him thinking, reader, while we go back a moment to the camp of Wau-hat-tan. It seems that w ith true I udian precaution the chief had set an old sipiaw to watch the Captain and bis attendant the night before, and she, understanding a little English, had caught the words lie Riviere had Spoken, noticed the scared look of the girl, and it was she, instead of Lo-wel-li-ta, who passed by in the moonlight and re- ceived the note, repeating the sign she had seen the girl use, so that De Riviere was completely deceived. All this was duly revealed I" the chief, anil the note passed over to hi in. TMb note was, of course, no use as proof, for no one there could read, but the old fellow's bus- picions were aroused, and directly the fort party had left the camp Lo- W el-li-ta was placed under strict surveillance. At night,as we have seen, Wan-hat-tan sought his revenge for what he evidently considered an attemptto steal his squaw. After securing De Riviere the chief returned to his camp. 1'unng hi8 ab8 ence a party who had been out on a hunting expedition had come in. They had called at the fort on their way in, and had ob- tained among their purchases, a to,, plentiful supply of fire-water. The Winnebagoes loved whisky then as well as they do now, and before ,,„„ aing old Wau-hat-tan and his whole camp were sound and last in a drunken sleep. Lo-wel-li-ta was on the look-out, and watched with ,.,,„.,. anxietv the effect of the spirits till satisfied that all was safe she stole softly away, and in a fe« moments stood beside the tent on the river hank, she suspected thai th,re had been foul play, for B he had lean! Wau-hat-tan go away in the night and return. By a cau ti us survey of the camp she became satisfied that De Riviere was gone but where? that was the question. She dare not wake the men to inquire, and, as it was growing light, she was about to return, when her quick eve caught sight of a hit. of paper Boating past, just at the edge of the stream. She hastily descended the hank and picked .1 up. On it was written: " On the cliff. Comequick. Lei;.- And s ler than I can tell the story. the daring girl had scaled tie- rock and stood listening A -roan attracted her attention, and she hastened to the e d g e of the precipice, and there, in a crevice just below her, lay De Riviere Wter a most painful exertion he had succeeded ... freeing ,„„, h and, and had torn the wampum oil' his face, hut his body was so wedged in between the rocks, and his feet so bound together, that he ,,„,!,! ,,„, help himself. With his free hand he had taken out his note book and, having written a message on each of a score oi leaves, he t ;,„.,„ „„, a nd throw the... out upon the river with the hope ^ S on,e of them might he noticed and picked up by his party; and. witb this forlorn hope to cheer him, he had struggled to free himself but in vain, and he had just given up exhausted when Lo-wel-ll-ta dropped down beside him. Without stopping for a word or even an exclamation, she rut the thongs which held his feet and dragged him, almost lifeless, to the brow of the cliff, lie fell heavily as he reached the top, and lay insensible. The poor girl was in agony, hut she was enough to know what was the matter, and what to do. She quickly loosened his clothing about the throat, and with he* hands dipped water from a pool on the rock near her and sprinkled it in his face. Directly he opened his eyes with a start, and, seeming to take in the whole state of the ease at a glance, he cried out: " Thank ( tod," and then ad.led, as his eve fell upon his brave deliverer: " Surely He has sent His angel to save my life." "No, not an angel, sir, at all, hut only me," replied the girl in such pure English as revealed the fact that she was, as De Riviere had suspected, not a Winne- 1,,.,, squaw, hut an English lady. " Is it possible that, you found one of the hits of paper in the river?" asked De Riviere. " Yes here it is." she replied, producing it, "And it is a miracle that 1 discovered it, hut there is no time for explanations now, for Wau- hat-tan will show you no mercy if he finds you again. I know this country you do not; follow me." So saying, she helped him to rise, and then led off down the cliff, DeRiviere following as fast as he could, but slowly and painfully at best. Lo-wel-li-ta understood the habits of Wau-hat-tan and Ids hand, and knew that none of them would dis- cover her absence or give her a thought, until the lire-water was all „ ne and she remembered with such pleasure as the remembrance of whisky never gave before or since, that a larger supply than usual had been brought in. As they reached the foot of the cliff, the girl led the way by a circuitous path, so avoiding both .amps, down to the mouth Of the little creek, reaching there just as the sun was rising. Here hid among the bushes, was a canoe, which was quickly launched, and DeRiviere unwillingly submitted'to kneel amidships and permit his fair companion to do the work. She dropped lightly into the stern, and with a few vigorous strokes of the paddle sent the light cr aft swiftly Past the low ground and under the shadow of the chff below "There," said the maiden, as she blushmgly yielded the pad ,11, to De Riviere, " now we can afford an introduction. You are the 2S o captain of the fort party,] believe, sir, ant] [ am— well, no1 exactly whal [seem, and my nam.' is Margaret Stanhope. I am bere and bave thrust myself upon you, sir, in sheer desperation, as my first and only chance of escape from bondage—] pray your pardon, and now I : "" '" your power. I believe I can trust you, but I begyou, as you feai i lod, belp me ou1 of my distress." During this spirited speech, there was a look in her deep blue eyes which said as plainly as words could say it, " I am afraid I have forfeited your g I opinion, sir, bul I appeal to your bonor as a gentleman, and I trust you, because I must." De Riviere kept his eyes fixed upon ber face until she had finished, and then replied, more like a civilized Lover than a frontiers- man: '■ My dear lady, I believe I owe you my life; but were it not so, a lady in distress lias a claim upon me, v, hi, I,, God helping me, I will fail to honor. My nam,- is De Riviere, and my business bere you already know, but," added be, "may I be permitted to know something more of Miss Stanhope's history?" "Certainly," she re- plied, coloring a little, the name was so new to ber, " but first, what : " , ■ . vom ' I' L|,IS ' To go directly to tin- fort," be replied, "and it is probably safest and best to follow the river." " Verj well," she re- plied, " as yoii think best, and now for my storj in brief. My father wasa New Orleans reliant. Five years ago be visited the upper waters of the Mississippi, and with a foolish love of adventure, and notalittle determined obstinacy, ] fear, I earnestly begged to accom- l';" ,v uim - "'•■" fl re1 objected, but at length yielded to my importu- "''_>'■ '"'' IIIV mother die] in my infancy and I wasa petted, spoiled rllil,L Bu1 lef ""' make my story very short. I went with raj father ; ""' Baw lllm brutally murdered by the Sioux Indians, r fell into their hands a prisoner and lived with thorn until about a yean In a battle between the Sioux and Winnebagoes, the latter'were victori- " lls ' 1 "" 1 1. with other prisoners, was brought awaj to this region, reaching the present camp of Wau-hat-tan a little' loss than three l """ ,ll> sil "'''- ' uave been generally treated with kindness bj the Indians; have never met with a serious insult, nor anv gross rudi whatever. Why, God knows. It is lie who has protected me while 1 c many poor creatures of mj own sex have been most cruelly beaten and overtasked. On inv arrival here I soon learned that there was a trading station near by, and I have been watching every day foran opportunity to escape, and here I am." The thought of what this brave girl hail endured, brought tears t,, the Captain's eyes, and in a voice full of sympathy he thanked her tor her story ami her confidence. The sun was now well up, ami hot, lint they dare not stop. Keep- in- the boat under the shadow of the shore as much as possible, they burried on, and a little past noon they reached the fort landing and proceeded at once to the quarters of the commandant. There was not a little rude staring ami s -oarse jesting among the men who were lounging about when he Riviere passed in with a Winnebago squaw, as she appeared to he, and Miss Stanhope felt it SO keenly that she said to DeRiviere, "I have been nearly five years with the In- dians, but never have I been so ill treated in my life before as by these. '"> """ countrymen." A m mt's conversation with Colonel Stim- son, the commandant, explained all, ami i„ the hospitable home, of Mrs. Stimson, our heroine doffed the habiliments of the forest for more fitting attire, and though some traces of paint remained a long time to remind tier ami others ,,f the past, yet her new-found friends s l '"'-" t iU <- comely Lo-wel-li-ta in the beautiful form ami face, ami the yet i e beautiful character,..!' sweet Maggie Stanhope. Here she lived till the alllnmn expedition to the lake, when she, longing for civilization, ami Captain He Riviere longing for her, found their waj to \V» York. Thence they journeyed to that quiet home on the Canadian river, and there in after days grandfather John told t,. Maggiesof the third ami fourth generations, the strange story of grandma Lo-wel-li-ta. This, reader, is the romance of tl |iff over yonder, on your left as you enter the Hells from below. The story must be true, lot it i,- vouched for by a number of very respectable descendants of the great W u'-ii vt-t \ \. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS illi In 016 098 160 A *