Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1844-11-02


THERE WE'RE FAULTS ON ROTH SIDES"
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AN ADVENTURE AMONG THE HILLS.
1t was a weary ride: The white
wreaths we're increasing in size and
number, and the escape Of man and
horse were oftener than they knew
Even the hounds became nearly OK
hausted, and whimpered as they strug-
gled through the snow.
A long sharp ridge rose before him.
He made his horse Chamber to its summit,
and looked anXiously around him, in
tho hope of seeing light but he saw
nothing but the white hills and whirling
storm. Heheard the gurgleo of stream
below the sounds were faint and hol-
low, as if the banks were deep and
PERCEPTIONS. He kept this sonnd for
a guide, and why, he hardly knew, but
proceeded in what seemed to be the di-
rection Of the stream. The ground
continued to rise the sound of the wa
ter, except now and then, became
fainter, when the noise the stream made
gushed over broken rocks, rendering
it audable, in spite of the depth OF the
narrow ravine, through which it ran.
After proceeding for some time thus,
in one of the temporary pauses
of the severe and driving storm, he
caught the glimpse of faint light,
winking some milcsin the distance, on
the other side Of the stream. BY this
time, the atmosphere, dim and stormy
as it was, began to be partially illumi-
mated by the rising moon.
His bjcct was, if possible, to cross the
stream and reach the light. Urging
his toiI-worn horse along the edge Of
the ravinc, he sought for place where
he might descend the bank: but the
chasm became gradually wider, and
its sides even more prccipitous. The
partial cessation Of the storm, contin,
ued, though the clouds now partially
revealed, looked threatening.
At length he say narrow ledge,
running like spur from the prccipice,
and seemed to cross over to the other
side. 1t appeared to form kind OF
natural bridge &C loss the hidden liver,
although the masses offs snow piled about
it, made its real character indistinct. t.
At the best, it ST cmed dcspratc cross
ing place, but not more desperate than
his condition was. Hepattcd his horses
neck with his frozen glove, he felt its
mouth with the bride, and touching
him with his spurs, was resolved TO
make the passage in the saddle.
The animal snorted, and advanced
reluctantly. The sides of the ridge
were Of giddy depth some of the
snow that hung on the rocks fell, and
revealed to him narrower footing
than he had before dreamed of.-At
some places, it seemed not to exceed
foot and half in width, and was APP
parently, twenty-five feet in length
Its junction with the opposite bank,
was hidden by masses of snow, but it
seemed to be wider there. He now
repented having tried TO cross such a
place on horseback but it was now
too late to repent; one false step. far
less an attempt to turn, would have pre-
cipitated horse and rider down the
abyss.
Just as he reached the middle OF
the ledge, the moon shone forth. The
clear light revealed a terrific view
to man and horse. The animal pau.
sed, and its startled rider looked around
him. Far down the precipice, the light
shone on the black narrow stream
tufts of furs loaded with snow, trees
hanging forward on theirstraincd roots
and lower down, sharp points Of rock
which the river mists had prevented
the snow from lying on, chcquered the
sides on the right and left. The long
yawnihg abyss seemed in the distance
to join the irregular gradations Of the
lonely hills, now white and glancing
coldly in the moon-beams.
Gerald hastily removed bis eyes from
the depths Immediately beneath him,