The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
Che Ttgfr's Gaoe.
AN ADVENTURE AMONG TIE MOUNTAINS OF
QUITO, SOUTH AMERICA.
translated from the Danish Elmquisi.)

TRANSLATED from the Danish Elmqust.)
On leaving the Indian village, we con-
tinued to wind round Chimborazo's wide
base; but lis snow crowned head no lon
ger shone above US in clear brillIancy, for
a dense fog was gathering gradually around
it. Our guides looked anxiously towards
it, and announced their apprehension of a
violent storm. We soon found that their
fears were well founded. The fog rapidly
covered and obscured the whole of the
mountain ; the atmosphere was suflocatlng,
and yet so humid that the steel work OF our
watches was covered. with rust, and the
watches stopt. The river beside which we
were travelling rushed down with still grea-
ter impetuosity and from the cleft of our
path were suddenly precipitated small rlv-
ulets, that bore the roots of trees, and innu-
merable serpents along with them. These
rivulets often came down so suddenly and
so violently that we had great difficulty in
preserving our footing The thunder at
length began TO roll and resounded through
the mountainous passes with the most ter
rife grandeur. Then came the vivid light
ning.-hash followed fash-above, around,
beneath,-every where a sea of fire. We
sought a momentary shelter in cleft of
the rocks, whilst one of our guides hasten
ed forward to seek more secure asylum.
In short time he returned and Informed
US that he had discovered spacious cav
ern, which would afford us sufficient pro-
lection from the clements. We proceed
cd thither Immediately, and with great DIFF
ficulty, and not little danger, at last got
into it.
The noise and raging of the storm con-
tinued with so much violence, that we could
not hear the sound of our voices. | had
placed myself near the entrance of the
cave, and could observe through the OPEN
ing of the cave, which was straight and
narrow, the singular scene without. The
highest cedar trees were struck down, or
bent like reeds; monkeys and parrots lay
strewed upon the ground, killed by the fal.
ling branches; the water had collected in the
path we had Just passed and hurried along
If like mountain stream. From every
thing saw, thought it extremely proba-
ble that we should be obliged to pass some
davs in this cavern. When the storm.
however. had somewhat abated, our guides
yeptured out in order to ascertain If 1t were
possible to continue our journey. The
cave in which we had taken refuge was so
extremely dark, that if we moved few pa
ces from the entrance, we could not see an
inch before US; and we were debating as
to the propriety of leaving it even before
the Indians came back, when we suddenly
heard a singular groaning or growing at
the further end of the cavern, which instan-
tly fixed all Our attention. Wharton and
myself listened anxiously, but our daring
and inconsiderate young friend Lincoln,
together with my huntsman, crePt about
upon their hands and knees. and endeav-
CURED TO discover, by cropping, from whence
the sound proceeded. They had not ad.
vanced far into the cavern before we heard
them utter an exclamation of surprise and
they returned to US, each carrying in his
arms an animal singularly marked, and a.
bout the size of cat, seemingly of great