Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-04-07

hold would be torn away, ard his
body dashed hither and .hither
against the sharp points OF the ice.
70 God Save me! Save me ?n
burst from him in the terrible agony
of the instant-the moment of time
that lay between him and death.
A noise like tfunder-a shiver-
ing crash-resounded through the
chashi. 1t appeared as if the very
foundation of the world was totter-
ing beneath him. Now, indeed he felt
that his end had come. No Terror
was instantly changed to rapture.
The water rushed out of the cavern
with the most amazing velocity he
could descend and stand upon the
bottom without fear. How this had
been accomplished, he was forced to
wait until the morning light to deter
mine; and with the first beams he
saw great fissure had been opened,
| through which the imprisoned
waters had found their way to the
valley below. This unlocked for
preservation again inspired him with
onfidence-rendered more firm his
| trust in God. Through the tunnel
he saw a way to freedom. 1t was
small to be sure, but he could enlarge
it and he worked diligently, until
his strength utterly failed. The ibex
was entirely devoured He had split
the bones and sucked out the marrow
| Had gnaweJ them over and over
again To appease his hunger. Foi
| two days he had not tasted u 'norSe
of food. The Ratchet slipped from his
| hand when he endeavored to strike
n blow, and he was forced to aband
on the undertaking. There was no
thing left him now, but to die.
Another day passed, and no hell
came. He lay crouched in a corner
wishing that the end would come
and that swiftly. His eyes were al
ready filled, and his heart bea
family. Then a strange noise arous
ed him. He looked alOft and saw
channels vainly striving to defen'
himself from the attacks of TIVE
him wing and beak. 1t was an I'm
equal contest: and, at length, tn,
animal, driven to desperation, at
tenn pted to leap the broad chasm
The effort was noble one, but j
failed of success. The chamois missed
its footing and fell, bruised and help
less, at the very feet Of the starving
man. In AN instant his knife WA.
plunged into his throat, and TIL,
warm blood was drained by his cage
lips. This gave him new life, ant
he renewed his labor. 1t was almos
herculean task. More than one,
he fell fainting beside it. But hop,
!. was very strong within him. Still
he would have utterly failed, hat
. not heaven assisted him.
| Again the fohn was busy at it.
work of destruction again, thu
windows of heaven were opened
and the train descended, and thu
. flood came" and accomplished NOR
: in single night than his hands coult
have done in months. With thu
} morning light, he crawled through
! the now large tunnel but when IN
reached the outer end found, to hi
, horror, that he was on the top of ,
mighty precipice. His blood boiled
, his brain seemed on fire; his hear
beat as if it would break through rib
and flesh. He was, if possible, more
desperately imprisoned than before
How was he to get down? Through
/ his bewildered mind suddenly flash
ed the thought of the skins of the
hex and the channels, and he was
not long in making a rope of them
He then cut a deep hole in the ice
drove down his alpenstOck, fastened
one end of it, and swinging himsel
off reached the bottom i'll safety.
With cry of joy and prayer O
thankfulness, he fastened along the
well known path ; and when the
bell of the little chapel that reared
It's gilded cross in the Matterhorr
valley, was tolling for the evening
prayers, he staggered like drunken
man into the very midst of the as
tonished worshipers, even as the
voice of the priest was repeating,
"God is everywhere with me and
everywhere, even in the midst of the
most threatening dangers. His voice
speaks o me in tones of comfort and
says, Call upon me in the day OF
trouble, and l will deliver thee, and
thou shalt glorify me n"-staggerine
toward the altar, to kneel at it, but
fell fainting into the arms Of his wife
who again nursed him TO health
strength and manhood.
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