The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-23
we been able to find the way we call

we been able to find the way. We called
aloud we shouted at the top Of our voices,
but nothing but the dreary echo came back
to us. AT last we saw before us what seem.
ed to be an immense sheet of mist; but, after
some half hours decent, we found it to be
lake, which we afterwards supposed must
have been Loeb Trieg. Hope whispered
that here there must be human dwelling
of some sort, so we kept close around the
borders of the lake till We came to stream,
which we followed in its course over series
of waterfalls, the noise of which at thai
hour, in that vast solitude. and with our
nerves unstrung, was somewhat appalling
Around us all was mist and darkness below
us some hundred feet or more, We could hear
the stream surging and believing, although
we could only just discern the thin white
line which marked its course. We dared
not proceed, lest we should fall over into the
chasm beneath, and we determined to rest
where we were till morning again dawned
upon u.s. 1t was now approaching to mid.
night. We undid our knapsacks, divested
ourselves of our wet garments, and put on
dry ones, tied handkerchief about our loins
and heads, enveloped ourselves in our plaids,
and, thrusting our feet into our knapsacks,
| commended ourselves to that watchful Provi-
dence ir whom in this hour of distress and
difficulty we placed our hope. l do not
pretend to divulge the secrets of each of our
hearts through that long and awful night
but I know for myself that did indeed pray
for help and courage. I thought of home
and those had left full of hope and Joy a
! few days before-wondering if should ever
see that happy home and those dear friends
again. In the vgils of that long night-for
| could not sleep every incident of my past
life seemed to come up before me. Oh, such
a night! 1t seemed as ifi would never end.
My companions, more fortunate than myself
! slept for an hour or two. When the dreary
night had at length passed, and daylight
succeeded darkness, discovered that the
tree against which had supported myself
projected from the rock, and had slept and
swerved little either to the right hand or
to the left, must have been precipitated
into the abyss below, a hundred feet down
and most likely dashed to pieces.
About seven o'clock in the morning the
mist had sufficiently cleared to allow us tc
resume our wanderings. We divided on,
oaten cake into two portions; one half we
saved lest we should have to be out another
night, and the other half we divided into
three equal shares, and this-about two
ounces each-with some water, constituted
our mornings repast. We had read, at the
inn at Oban, Sir Benjamin Brodie's letter or
the influence of tobacco, and we thought
that even Sir Benjamin would forgive us the
indulgence of Whit on such an occasion
We had found its salace over night bu
now, when we attempted to light cigar, Jul
lucifers were too damp to ignite. Atlength
however, we coaxed one of then. to do it:
duty, and set offin hopeful spirit to try ant
trace our way back. After traversing The
stream we had followed on the previous night
we struck back into the m nm ans, and, af
ter wandering for about four h.1rs and :
half we again heard the sound of running
water, which we continued to follow, until
! joy of joys ! we came upon the hoof prints
of pony No red Indian ever tracked tn,
footsteps of his enemy with more intense
satisfaction than me followed this mark of
living animal along the side of the stream
and through most beautiful glen. w,
then came upon sheep pen, bridge o
poles, gate, and other indications of hu
manty ; and now the joyous feeling rushed
upon us that we were saved. We saw il
the distance the figures of three dogs, man
and boy. These last directed us to tn,
house Of Mr.. Campbell, of Monzie, High
land laird, and thorough Highland gen
tleman, who, on hearing our tale, received
us with the greatest kindness, feasted u.
right royalty, and did all he could to restor
| ""o os'S"StHSh uo, ioi Wy tuiS tinc \tNt
o'clock we were beginning to feel somewha
done-up. He heartily congratulated us OF
our escape '(or,' said he, If it had no
been one of the warnest nights we have ha,
for some time, you must all have perished
and had you done so your bodies might no
have been found for months, so utterly weir
and out of the way was your resting plac
of the night Having doEe all he could 70
our comfort, Mr.. Campbell kindly accompa
MED us part of the way to put us in tn
right path, and pointed out to us the cair
Of two Englshnier,, who were lost year @
two ago in the same way, and had been foun
dead in the morning, after having been ou
only nine hours. We had been, from tn
period ofour starting unit: we came into Nj
Campbelrs friendly dwelling, no less tina
thirty hours ! We had still twelve miles I
60 but, after sleep Of three hours, we re
sumed our journey, truly grateful that W
had escaped, as if by miracle, sudden an
awful death, in the full vigor of youth an
health. Mr.. CampbelPs caution to us, no
to leave the beaten track for an unknow
road in the Highlands again, will not, | thinl
be disregarded by any one ofus." r. E.
vi
!, Col. John w. Forney, in advocating th
passage Of certain resolutions before tn