Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-21

of the Alps thrus, forth its tough sinway BRAN
ches. blooming in purple beauty. His compa-
mons were, an Alpine hunter-beside whom
Law beautiful chamois, which had fallen VIC
tim that morning 10 the fatal precision oil MS RI
He-and young peasant named Basiie, from
the little village of Berisaal. They had walked
far that day, though il was butsthe grim ana
suliry hour Of noon;' but when their light ano :,
exhiliratpg repast was ended, their you'n,ul
spirits suffered them not 10 rest idly I'll Inc
clouds should pass away which covered the
distant summit Of Mount Rose. The English
man amusing himself by setting stones in mo-
! ton and watching their progress down the
mountain side, and Basle entered warmly into
the sport, exclaim ing ever and anon, as ne saw
the strangers emotion, that there was no coun'
I,ry like Switzerland. The hunter, who had at
! first looked on with contempt, joined in the
sport, when. he found that some small bets Of
! fcred by Basile had been good humoredly taken
Fby the Englishman-and three more thought
! less, noisy gamblers never played at SO foolish
4 and misc hievous a game. Their emulation was
| at length excited by vain endeavors TO reach
certain point With their ponderous missiles,
which all lodged calmly on approaching table
torthe mountain, considerably short Of the marx
Though many hundred feet below them. Here,
/ BasiIe!" cried the hunter, "help me TO move
this stone" Basie, eager in the sport, ran 10
his assistance; and with their poles as levers,
and by cutting away the claspng vegetation
with their knives, they soon Embedded the wish
ed for prize, which lay on the uppcr side OF the
rock under the shadow IF which they had rest
ed. This rock was an irregular mass OF gra-
mite, about twenty feet in height, where IL hung
over towards the valley, and was known among
the mountainers by the name Of LIE Pavilion, or
! the Tent-on account OF the shelter 1t afforded
! from the sun anl the storm. For more centu-
ries than il is permitted TO man 10 trace back
( the operations of nature, il had lain there, gra
duay sinking deeper on the lower side. "Moh
! Dieun' cried the huntsman, "what roise is
that" Basie looked aghast, and with pale,
trembling lips, multered, cit moves" "Wh hat
moves?" asked the hunter. "Le Pavilion, re-
piled. the other, "and the Englishman is be-
meath it," "NIonseur! monsieur shouted
the hunter with admirable presence OF mind,
and the traveller ran towards them. AT that
moment, in compliance with the laws of gravi-
:ation, TO obey,which il was now al liberty, the
huge mass ben, forward its hoary front, snap
ping like threads the complicated roots and
the vegetation of ages which had matted
/ around. and, as it were, chained it to the noun
tain side The young men wera standing near
the upper side, when (overbalanced by the i'm
pending weigh, beneath which they had been
reposinr) il seemed TO rise from out Of the
earth like ca thing Of life." The Englishman
eazed in silent awe, a, the ponderou' fragment
a, first reeled slowly forward, as though mere
dulous Of its release, and anon leapt down the
ysleep resistless. I,had reached the projecting
table which had been the boundary OF their a.
| musement-a crash like thunder was heard
and chasm was seen at the brink OF the ledge
1 through which it had forced its way into aio
i rest Of Zines below, where, for few seconds,
sprang forward The hunter had been looking
on hitherto with feeling Of pride--it was his
native mountain; his native valley; the grandeur
Of the whole scene around was all his own, and
he smiled in triumph. But his eye was from
habit quicker than those Of his companions:
his countenance changed-he snatched the
Engishman's eescope-lepellcd 1t in an in
stan. TO The valleys, and exclaimed, ooh INSERT
cordep' sWhst do you see?" cried his com
/ panions. "Oh! mercy, mercy, Santa Maran'
! calculated the hunter; falling on his knees.
/ "Speak!" shouted Basile, "what is IL" Save
her, save her! Oh, God' cried the huntsman,
81 is woman with child The English
man had taken the glass, and saw the poor crca.
ture in the valley far below: "She looks round"
he exclaimed; "she sees her danger: now
now--Oh, heavens! l cannot breathe:"-the
glass dropped from his hand. and he threw
himself on the ground. When they looked a.
gain, there was no human being in that direc-
! ton. The Pavilion rock stood alone in the
| midst Of an impetuous mouHtain torrent, stem
ming its angry waters What sort of wo-
MANI" asked Basle; "could you guess who?
And child, said you?" The hunter replied on
ly bv a look too expressive OF friendly commits
Grafton TO be misunderstood by poor Basile,
who exclaimed, ooh! Louise!" with that wild
power Of voice which indicates intense mental
agony, rushed, like mailman, headIong down
the steep. "Follow him, for Heaven sake'
cried the traveller "Nor man nor beast may
reach the valley in safety at the rate he goes"
replied the hunter; and the next moment he was
in pursuit Of Basie, far below the Englishman,
who unused 10 such descents, vainly endeavor.
ed to follow.
Louise was the daughter of an honest Savoy
ard, who had been induced by alluring prom
Uses to add himself to the thousand of able arti-
ficers employed to complete the well known
military road over the Simplon, which forms a
communication between France and Italy He
| II