Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-07-29
AlistElIoneous.
A Tale of Mid Air.
THE MoUNTAINEER's PERIL.

In cottage in the valley of Salanches, near
the loot of Mount Blanc, lived old Bernard and
his three sons. One morning he lay in bed sick
and burning with fever, watching anxiousy for
the return of his son Jehan. who had gone to
fetcha physician At length horse's tread
was heard, and soon afterwards the doctor en-
tered. He examined the patient closely, felt his
pulse, looked at his tongue, and then said, pat
ting the old mans cheek" it will be nothing,
my frend-nothing" But he made sign to
the three lads. who. open-mopthed and anxious
stood grorped around the bed All four with
drew to distant corner the doctor shook his
head, thrust out his lower lip, and said
"'Tis serious attack-very serious-of fe-
ver He is now in the height of the fit, and as
soon as it abates he must have the sulphate Of
quinine"
"What is that, doctor?"
"Quinine, my friend, is very expensive
medicine, but yon may procure it at Salanches.
Between the two fits, your father must take at
least three francs worth. will write the pre-
scrpton. You can read, Guillaume ?"
eyes, doctor"
"And you will see that he takes it?"
"Certainly."
When the physician was gone, Guillaume,
Pierre and Jehan looked at each other in silent
perplexity. Their whole stock of money con-
sisted of franc and half, and yet the medi-
cine must be procured Immediately.
Listen" said Pierre" know a method o.
gettiug from the mountain, before night, three
or four five franc pieces"
From the mountain?"
81 have discovered an eagl3's nest in clei
of frightful precpce. There is a gentleman
at Salanches who would gladly purchase the ca
glets; and nothing made me hesitate. but thu
terrible risk of taking them; but that is nothing
when our fathers life is concerned. We ma,
have them now in two hours"
81 will rob the nest," said Guaume.
"No, no, let me-" said Jehan, 81 am tn
youngest and ightest."
81 have the best right to venture" said Pierre
"as il was | who discovered it,"
"Come," SAID Pierre, " let US decide by draw
ing lots Write three numbers, Guillaume, pu
them into my hat, and whoever draws numbe
, one will try the venture"
5 GuiIlaume blackened the end Of woode
r splinter in the fire, tore an old card into thrc
= pieces wrote on them one, two, three, and thre,
them into the hat.
3 How the three hearts beat Old Bernard la
5 shvering in the cold ht, and each Of his son
? longed to risk his own life 10 save that of h
J father
t The lot fell on Pierre, who had discovere
f the nest. He embraced the sick man,
t ave shall not be long absent, father" h
r said, I" and it is needful for us to go together
r "What are you going to do? "
/. ave will tell you as soon as we come back
, Guillaume took down from the wall an O.
e sabre, which had belonged to Bernard when
served as soldier; Jehan sought thick col
:. ees; and Pierre went towards an old woodt
d cross, reared near the cottage, and knelt befo
n it some minutes in fervent prayer.
o They set out together, and soon reached Il
J. brink of tha precipco. The danger consist'
v not only in the possibility Of falling several hu
i dred feet but still more in the probable aggre
| sion of the birds of prey inhObiting the wi
S abyss.
8 Pierre, who was to brave these perils, was
G fine athletic young man Of twenty-five. HaviI
e measured with his eye the distance he wou
Il have to descend, his brothers fastened the CO
e around his waist, and began to let him dow
If Holding the sabre in his hand, he safely reach
o the nook that contained the nest. In it we
e four eaglets of light yellowish-brown COLI
5 His heart beat at the sight Of them. He grasp
the nest firmly in his hand, and shouted 10