The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-04-27


iott tor their rescue, even at the peril of
my own life. it would have Sottened the
intensity OF my regret. But was entire
" p"werleSS, and when Il thrilling cry of
dl>l.;'v and terror rose in my poor kru-
boy voice, could only echo it in an un-
awaiting SORROW and when scaling the
clIt, | gained the hight above and. look
mo tar along the course of that iron bound
river, could see neither bend nor break in
ITS trownng tamparts, nor slackenlng in
ITS own impetuous current, my heart sank
lower than ever.
Still | slrovc to keep up with the hap
less voyagcrS, leaping from rock TO rock.
and hl!ock to hillock. along the brow OF
the cliff. while ever and anon waved my
hat. and tried 10 inspire them with a hope
| could scared share. But the sole re-
sponSe was a sad and negative gesture.
gradually deepening into despair, a>. toss
el wildly anon" the Surges OF that fear
iul river race, the almost oarlcSS boat sped
swltter and more helple~SIv than ever on
her fatal course and when at length night
closed between ne and the little bark,
felt with an ineXprc>Siblc pane that had
looked my last on those kindly faces. and
that darkness; would be added to the hor-
rorS Of the unknown vet terrible way by
which my poor friends must pass ont OF
the world.
But as L ~at croucIcd upon the brink.
my fancy pictured vivi,llv it~ rushing
rapids, It's seething e,dicS. AMI it> final
and fatal leap; and it WAS not until day
broke on that loa@ miserable night, that.
looking round on the vast tropic wilder
ness in which stood alone. and without
any appliance either OF civilized or savage
lie. remembered how great was my own
dc~oation. and that nv ultimate chance
of life was little better than that OF those
| mourncd.
To the westward. some hundred and
twenty miles distant, lay the coast alone
which my slip and squadron continually
crui>cd. and that | must endcavor 10 reach :
;inI turning SorrowtllIv away from the
GRAND and pictureSqu" river. which had
been the scene OF 50 terrible a disaster. and
whose course towards the >oa appeared too
devious for lie to follow. addressed nv
II to my new undertaking Of travelling
overland though all knew OF my iourncv
WAS is direction. and that it must be- be
SET with innrmerablc difficulties and at
tended with many hard~hip,. Thus set
forth, climbing lone ran@c> of rrumblin.
sand hills. whvr" half my toll WAS labor
lost: forcing my way through ru.4cl
ra>inc-. filled with dense. thorny jungle.
and infested by pu!f-al,lcr> and cohra- :
and it.lycllin- Over VAST .IctieSs piaicuuN,
where In" tropr sun flashed HnWn on my
un~he:rrel hyad like living fire. anI the
FURNISHED silver Of the equatorial! noon
beam, Threatened me with ni.ht blindness: ::
my sole provision a tcw scarce edible lopt-
pnl berries such as | hal seen the klr-
men GATHER and | wa> truly thankful
when could wash them down bv 4
/ irau@h from a ~ta@nant w;t:cr-holc.
y. worst of all Wa the unbrnhen Spi-
;1uda. the intNpr>~ihly weary. drcary
>,.n-, ot loneliness which each hour SEEM
rl to augment. and beneath which the rr-
mcinhr&ncc OF my lost comrades Grew
daily into deeper sorrow. Nevertheless.
| progressed steadily. travcIIin" early and
late. and resting in the burning noontidr.
until. en- the fifth evening (ancicd hail
my journey must be achieved But oi
the sixth morning. the i;iint Southrrlv ar.
which had alone rendered the heat cnIur-
able died utterly away, AMI WAS ~'iccrr,i-
gd hr the fierce. >ror".ing breath oi tn,
Great Desert. which. tir>t III feeble putl>
and then iii the strong respiration OF /;
eial;. came rushing over hill nnd plain oi
the WINS OF the North wind.
In that low latitude Oh the land. tn,
-iirocco i, Il word OF dread and peril. al,
Tor moment stood appalled, but lii.
next. remembered thatit' would live
. no time must be lost in >rebing refuge from
: its violence looked eagerly around tn
. broad Sea-li!lc cXpanSc for some rock. o
: shrub. or even mound. which might Scry
: 10 shelter ne: but none was visible
: .>e;;in and again | Strained my eyes II,
+ hastcncd over the drearv waste: bat II
| spot even 80 i;trgc Is Il mans iiaud Stop
. up against the lurld sky; and is the fur
t nacc-Iike gust swept hotter ant hotter b
/ me. and nv strength failed rapidly h.
Meath their banci,i influence. ii was i'm
/: possible to resist the diSpiriting conyicto
; that ere long | must sink down upon ilr
c sand and yield passiveIv to my fate i
n length. when my iaggin" limbs and taltel
Il inc f,ct could proceed 10 further. til
h smallest Of dwarf paim-trees showed iiSe
Y above a small depression OF ground AZ,
: in the excitement OF that new hope.
) made a Great and final effort, and rcacI
l. ing the spot, crept thankfully into its We
l. come covert.
V Then almost Immediately the desc
Ie storm burst over the plain with terrific fl
r ". howling and Shrieking as it rush,
It wildly on like a torrent of vicwIcSS tir
l. filling the air with great whirlns sal
: clouds, drying up the pools, withciing II
n heritage, and proStrating the few livir
e. denizcn> OF that torrid wilderness taintil
q and breatheSs on the ground.
.c Never at SEA have | witnessed Wild
!y tempest, and as lay crouched helpless
Is beneath my narrow palm shade, half bu
H. led in the loose rolling sand wreaths, al
'ir laborin. for every breath in that burdcn
re atmosphere, while those fiery blasts da
" ted throuoh me Ike burning alrows. al