The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-24


the bridge; and such enormous accumulatIons
OF snow overhung them from projecting masses
ofrock, that they might have been making their
way through stormy sky of white clouds.
Using his staff skiltuly, sounding as he went,
and looking upward, with bent shoulders, as it
were to resist the mere idea of fall from above,
Obenreizer softly led. Vendale closely followed.
They were yet in the midst OF their dangerous
way, when there came a mighty rush, followed
by sound as Of thunder. Obenreizer capped
his hand on Vendales mouth, and pointed to
the track behind them. It's aspect had been
wholly changed in a moment. An avalanche
had swept over it, and plunged into the current
at the bottom of the gulf below.
Their appearance at the solitary inn not far
beyond this terrible bridge elected many ex-
pressions OF astonlshment from the people shut
up in the house. I'VE stay but to rest said
Obenreizer, shaking the snow from his dress at
the fire. This gentleman has very pressing
occasion to get across; tell them, Vendale."
"Assuredly, have very pressing occasion.
''You hear, all OF you. My friend has very
pressing occasion TO get across, and we want no
advice and no help. am as good guide, my
fellow-countIymen, as any OF you. Now, give
us to eat and drink.n
In exactly the same way, and in nearly the
same words, when 1t was coming on dark aud
they had struggled through the greatly increased
difficulties of the road, and had at last reached
Their destination for the night, Obenreizer said
to the astonished people of the Hospice, gather
ing about them at the fire, while they were yet
In the act of getting their wet shoes of and
shaking the snow from their clothes,-
1T Is well to understand one another, friends
all. This gentleman"
-"Has !" said Vendale, readily taking him up
with smile, very pressing occasion ito get
across. Must cross.n
''You hear ?-has very pressing occasion to
get across, must cross. We want no advice and
no help. l am mountain-b born, and act as Guide.
Do not worry Us by talking about it, but let us
have supper and wine, and bed.n
All through the intense cold OF the night the
same awful stiffness. Again at sunrise, no sunny
q Tpddpn
interminable waste of deathly white; the same
immovable air; the same monotonous gloom in
"Travellers! !" a friendly voice called to them
from the door, after they were afoot, knapsack
on back and staff in hand, as yesterday; re
collect! There are five places OF shelter, near
together, on the dangerous road before you;
and there is the wooden cross, and there is the
next Hospice. Do not stray from the tracS'
If the I0Hmente comes on, take shelter IN
'The trade of these poor devils !" said .0ben.
reizer to his friend, with a contemptuous back
ward wave of his hand towards the voice. "HoW
they stick to their trade You Englishmcn say
we Swiss are mercenary. Truly, 1t does look
ike it.n
They had divided between the two knapsacks
such refreshments as they had been able to
obtain that morning, and as they deemed 1t pru-
dent to take. Obenreizer carried the wine as
his share of the burden; Vendae, the bread and
meat and cheese, and the flask of brandy,
They had for some time labored upwards and
onwards through the snow-which was now
above their knees in the track, and of unknown
depth elsewhere-and they were still laboring
upwards and onwards through the most fright
| full part of that tremendous desolation, when
snow began to fall. At first, but a few flakes
| descended slowly and steadily After little
| while the fall grew much denser, and suddenly
| it began, without apparent cause to whirl itself
into spiral shapes. Instantly ensuing upon this
last change, an icy blast came roaring at them,
and every sound and force imprisoned until now
was let loose.
One of the dismal galleries through which the
road is carried at that periious point, a cave
eked out by arches of great strength, was near
at hand. They struggled into it, and the storm
ragged wildly. The noise of the wind, the noise
of the water the laundering down of displaced
masses of rock and snow, the awful voices with
which not only that gorge, but every gorge in
the whole monstrous range, seemed to be sud E
denly endowed, the darkness as of night the
violent revolving OF the snow which beat and
broke it into spray and blinded them, the mad
ness of everything around insatiate for destruc-
tion, the rapid substitution OF furious violence
for unnatural calm, and hosts of appalling
sounds for silence; these were things, on the
edge OF deep abyss, to chill the blood, though
the fierce wiad, made actually solid by ice and
snow, had failed to chill ii.
Obenrezer walking to and fro in the gallery
without ceasing, signed to Yendale to help him
unbuckle his knapsack. They could see each
other, but could not have heard each other
speak. Vendale complying, Obenreizer pro-
duced his bottle of wine, and poured some out,
motiOning Vendale TO take that for warmth's
sake, and not brandy. Vendale again comply
ing, Obenreizer seemed to drink after him, and
the two walked backwards and forwards, side by
side, both well knowing that to rest or sleep
would be to die.
The snow came driving heavily into the gall
lery by the upper end, at which they would pass
out of it, If they ever passed out; for greater
dangers lay on the road behind them than be.
fore. The snow soon began to choke the arch.
An hour more, and 1t soon lay so high as to block
out half OF the returning daylight. But 1t froze
hard now as IL FELL and could be clambered
through or over. The violence of the mountain
storm was gradually yielding to steady snow
fall. The wind still ragged at intervals but not
necessarily; and when il paused, the snow fell in
heavy flakes.
They might have been two hours in their
trightful prison, when Obenrelzer, now crunch
ing into the mound, now creeping over il with
his head bowed down and his body touching the
Top OF the arch, made his way out. Vendale
followed close upon him, but followed without
clear motive or calculation. For the lethargy
OF Basle was creeping over him again, and mas
teIiDg Lis senses.
How far he had followed out of the gallery. or
with what obstacles he had since contended he
knew not. He became reused TO the knowledge
that Obenreizer had set upon him, and that tbev
were struggling desperately in the snow. He be
came reused to the remembrance of what his
assailant carried In girdle. He felt for it
drew 1t, struck at him, struggled again, struck
at him again, cast him of, and stood face to face
with him,
81 promised to guide you TO your iournev,s
end" said 0benrezer, "and ] have kept nv
promise. The journey OF your life ends here.
Nothing can prolong 1t. You are sleeping as
you stand.n
peYo 'VA' y
''You are fool have drugged you. You
are doubly fool, for drugged you once before
upon the journey to try you. You are trebly q
fool for am the thief and forger, and in few
ahall 10 tnan of5 A.