Humberside Collegiate Institute - Hermes Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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T H E ri E Va M gf which twisted and wound its way over steep ascents and along the edge of dangerous precipices until at length they reached their destination. After enjoying a good lunch they spent a few pleasant hours in photographing the wild but beautiful scenery in that vicinity and then commenced their return to the valley. As their way led quite close to the enormous boulder from which the Frenchman had plunged to his death. they decided to stop for a few minutes to view the much-talked-of spot. I shouldn't like to fall down there,', remarked Helen, as they peered over the edge of the huge rock. Far below the rushing torrent cleft its way around the solid base of the mountain, and cruel teeth-like rocks protruded on all sides. Helen shivered and drew back. 'fCome away, she urged. Suddenly, without warning, the ground on which they stood began to move, and with a low, ominous rumble, the huge spur commenced to slide into the ravine below. Fortunately, Helen was able to spring to safety, but Sylvia, with a shriek of horror. realizing her terrible position. fell to the ground unconscious. By some strange caprice of fate. the ,descending boulder was impeded in its downward course and caught on a projecting ledge many feet below. On coming to her senses Sylvia looked around in bewildernient, then she glanced upwards as she heard her cousin's voice telling her to lie perfectly still until aid could be brought. After Helen had dis- appeared Sylvia collected her scattered thoughts and mentally reviewed her unfortunate predicament. As she dared not move closer to the edge of the rock or in any way attempt to discover exactly where she was, the hours seemed to creep slowly on, until the lengthening shadows indicated the approach of evening. 'lust when she was about to despair of ever being rescued, she heard Helen's welcome shout, and in a short time she saw her uncle lowering him- self over the face of the bluff. Then, with the aid of ropes, Sylvia was drawn back to safety and her friends. Mr. llrowne soon followed and as he came towards them. they were sur- prised at his delighted expression. Lookl he cried, pointing to the side of the cliff, my quest has ended. There is the hidden vein of ffoldf' 25 Sure enough, by a strange irony of fate, right beneath the spot from which the Frenchman had taken his fatal leap, there glittered the precious metal, exposed to view by the fortu- nate fall of the rock. -zllary Delzbeiglz, I-.-1. 104

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THE VIE!-2IVIEfi' my - . egy- T rearures of the Travel westward with me to Albertag take a train to Drumheller, and you will reach a spot, the fame of which has spread beyond the con- fines of our own country. The importance of the Red Deer River, a tributary of the South Saskatchewan, lies, not in its commercial value, but in its coal mines and its scientific products. As a waterway, it is of no value at all, for it is too shallow to fioat any but the smaller boats, although in some places it is three hundred yards wide. Near Morrin, Alberta, the cable ferry has sometimes to be poled across, but only in dry seasons. The river is quite swift, and in places, where the bottom has not yet been touched, there are dan- gerous under-currents. The cut-banks of the river are about two hundred feet high, and they abound in quicksands and soap- holesf, The-se are cave-like openings with wet soap at the bottom, and they are more treacherous and dan- gerous than the quicksands. Most of the Alberta coal which finds its way to Ontario comes from the Red Deer River Valley near Drum- heller. The coal is found quite near the surface--sometimes above the ground. The methods of mining are not so advanced as those in large mines, and up the river, where people dig their own coal, they use only the pick and shovel. Rarer than the coal, however, are the dinosaurs that have been found in this district by Professor Sternberg, locally known as the bone-diggerf' Near Morrin, he discovered two of his largest and best specimens, one of which is now in New York-the other Rea' ear River in Toronto Museum. These huge skeletons were almost complete-they were found just where the animals had lain down to die, on the sheltered side of the cut-banks. The bones were all well preserved, and compara- tively near the surface of the ground. Besides those of the dinosaurs, there are other petrified bones, some of which seem to belong to no known animals and which are scattered so widely that they cannot be collected. They are peculiar in their structure and colour, and hardly resemble bone-s. Even more fascinating is the petri- fied wood, almost covered with a glossy substance as hard as the wood itself. Some pieces are white or yellow and sparkling, with smooth milky blue or white material under- neath. Qthers have only the smooth covering of white and blue, making delicate twisted patterns. The wood itself is -striped with blue and green, but no two pieces are alike. lt is easily found along the banks, where it is loosely strewn on the ground. The dainty shells, white and heart- shaped, adhere so firmly to the rock that it is difficult to get them unbroken. Others, something like oyster shells, are found in the river itself. These open on a hinge at one side, but nothing has been found in them. They are white, grey, tan and black, in irregular stripes. They are not so common as the petrified shells and seem comparatively fresh and new. No tourist travelling in Alberta should pass by these interesting fossils which have brought fame to the Valley of the Red Deer River. -Zllary Jllills, I-B. 105