Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-12-18

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away in the thick ice-walls, closing up the
entrance, and thus obtaining partial shelter
from the chilling blasts. And once be heard
the firing Of guns, and his heart beat wildly
within him. He dropped his dulled hatchet,
crawled to the center Ofthe chasm, and shout
ed with all his remaining strenrth-rhOutcd
until his strained voice was reduced TO the
very GhostIof a hoarse whisper. He knew
that his friends were in search OF him ina
Slncd he could hear bis name called: could
do nothing to attract their attention; and, as
the firing grew fainter, and further and FUR
tAcr away, flung himself down. weeping and
wringing biz hands The last plank TO which
he had clung had been shiveTed, His neigh
bors and friends had c0me-and gone. They
would never search that Tart of the noun
tain again. None would ever know Of his
fate. lie was buried in an icy tomb until the
last trump should sound and hot flashes dis
solve the frOst-w0rk around him.
With his mind trembling upon the verge
OF madness, oyerpowered by sorrow, crushed
by bitter agony, he fell back insensihle, and
and lay tor long time upon the cold, damp
snow, that soon must be his winding sheet.
The black vulture tapped Its wings above
him, and he knew nothing Of it. But, after
% .-oIi'' ,''y hunter
'l','7N il' was i"i ''l ~ tI
~ ''us anu e5ui' 10 le9'l-, l-i9 l''.-'-
up my l1e .lue cavern nS ',@i 'A-'i' 'i'.'
N"o.Iu IL NOT De TO MN o '.'-h' 1''' -''1
passionate Neht 10 nus -il-s. Lo' many
weary hours nothing i-ssea ms Hls' ana
WI'A acAins lead ana ie' 'e-e' nIiih' "i'h
trembling limbs ana 'onFul7I'e s5os' ne pray
c- ior aellyeTanee' IL hy no otner haad' III
le-.st 10y the skeleton one OF ceaJh.
IL was Hyle,s, sunless, starless darkness
in the lee cavern, when the springs oi Alsli-e
acaln became capable OF action lie was ra-
Nen]u-Iy hungry ana arose 10 s---IE i.-
hunger With portion u' a." iHeS De -a- lct
rcmaining outside in tie cL-sla. Ile leij
around but could discover no outlet li-'
he been frozen ln-shut out trom D'- u.cs-
ei sunshine forever Nothing but smooth ice
met lbs burning anu hlsteltl fingers. iLtn.
alter an hour r search, he i.ana O. s,l spoil
and instantly solved the mystery. lie hhe"
there must have been 81 he4FE idH OF -ia" ih
the night, and that Do BAD urlite4 INTO ani
blocked up the ortnm-' and. with tie
strength OF despair. De soon dug -.oug9- DC
was still showing heavily, the flakes fell Ike
great feathers around and hc drew tlc REM
uant of the carcass of the hex mo the cave,
and made another rude meal. And thus ra-
ffe-hcd new hope was born within him
and arain the ice walls 1asoundsd with the
blows Of his little hatchet. Bat it was slow
work and much of the time w..- taken up ir
clearing the chips ir,m the little -r.rt).
4 week Ia-,ed-a week ol tue mos, revere
toll and terrible uzictr- lrt .t waa mot
d.-hertenei. Ills trust 10 Oad had returned
and love for III, wife and dslaultat ,a--olca
kept alive bis often -ukir. heart. ue U.-
YET in hopes of reaching tae upper air OBJ
seeing bis dear ones again. Lat even 9s ae
was thinking thus. with something ol ai, 0.e-
time chceriulne--, new anxiety took p'---
e-sion OF and nearly oyerp9wered him. The
. carcass OF the ibeX. that had been the lnno-
. cent cause of all his trouble, YVES picked all
most TO the bones.
Il