The free South. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1863-1864, 1864-01-30
The PROFESSORS ADVENTURE.

occupy Professors Chair, and was en-
gagged in the collection of materials for
work ON the Flora of the higher Alps;
and, to this end travelled chiefly on foot
Nv route lay away from the beaten paths
and passes I often journeyed for days
through regions where there were neither
inns Eor villages. often wandered from
dawn till dusk among sterile sleeps nm
known even to the herdsmen of the upper
pasturaGe end Untr0dded save by the
chamois and the hunter | thought my
self fortunate at these times if, toward
evening. l succeeded Ill stearing my way
down to The nearest chalet, where, IL
company with half-savage mountaineer
and herd of milch goats. l might find
the shelter of arafter roof, and supper
ef b,,.ci; bread and whey.
On one particular evening | had gone
farther than usual, in pursuit OF the Sene-
clio unfiofis, !. rare plant which l had hith
erto @eved indigenous to the southern
ssascy ,Sof Monte Rose, but of which [
had succeeded in finding one or two diff
terent specimens 1t WAS wild and bar
ren district, difficult to distinguish with
any degree of precision on the map; Int
laying among the upper defles of the Fal
de Dagnes between the Mount Pleureur
and the Grand Combin. On the waste
of rock strewn mass to which / had climb
ed. there was no sign Of human habita-
tion. Above me, lay the great ice-tields
of Corbassiere, surmounted by the silver
aummits OF the Grafeniere and Combin
Sfo my left the sun was going down rapid
l. IL ,o1l l-, fhn
highest of which, as well as | could Judge
from Osterwali's map, was Mount Btauc
de Cheiion. IN ten minutes more, these
peaks would be crimson !; in one short
half hour, it would be night.
To be henighted on an Alpine plateau
towards the latter end OF September "
not Desirable position. | knew lit by
recent experience, and had no reason to
repeat the experiment therefore began
retracing my route as rapidly as l conid
descending in an north westerly direction
aud keeping a sharp lookout for any
chalet that might offer shelter for the
night. Pushing forward thus, l found
myself presently at the head OF little
yerdant rayine, channeled, rs it were, in
the face Of the plateau. 1 hesitated. 1t
seemed, through the gathering darkness,
as if l could descern vague traces of
path trampled here and there in the deep
grass 1t also seemed as if the ravine
trended down towards the upper pastures
which were my destination. BY follow
ing it I could scarcely go wrong. Where
there is grass, there are generally cattle
and chalet; and | might possibly find
u nearer resting place than had antici-
g''sd' F. At al events I resolved to try
The ravine proved shorter than I had
expected and, instead of leading immedi-
ately downward, opened upon a second
plateau, through q well worn footway
struck off abruptly to the left Pursuing
the footway with what speed I might, I
came, in the course of a few minutes, to
sudden slope at the bottom of which is a
basin almost surrounded by gigantic lime
stone cliffs, liy small dark lake, few
fields, and chalet. The rose tints had
10y this time come and gone; and the
snow had / ut on that ghostly grey which
precedes the dark. BeforeI could des-
rend the s,ope, skirt the lake, and mount
tire little emiMence on which the house
stood sheltered by is back grounds of
rocks it was already night, and the stars
were III the SKY.
went mp to the door and knocked no
one answered l opened the door all
WAS dark. / palised-held my breath
listened l-:&nc,ed coald distinguish Il
IoY sound. IS ~ some one breathing i
knocked a@;,;r. li;, second knock WIS
followed 1y quick noise, like the push
;ng ci :. c,ln;r, and a mans voice. said,
hoarscly:
>'WlIa j., there ?' =