Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-02-09

with the blows of his little Ratchet.
But it was slow work, and much of
the time was taken up in clearing the
chips from the little grotto.
A week passed-a week of the
most severe toll and terrible anxiety
and yet he was not disheartened.
His trust in God had returned, and
the love for his wife and dependent
children kept alive his oft sinking
heart. He was yet in hopes of reach
ing the upper air-of seeing his dear
ones again. But even as he was think
ing thus, with something of his old
time cheerfulness, a new anxiety took
possession of and nearly overpowered
him. The carcass of the ibex, that
had been the innocent cause of all his
trouble, was picked almost to the
bones.
With dire starvation staring him in
the face, be bowed his head and wept
like a child Starvation! That is
dreadful, even in thought! Starvation,
that has in it more of horror
than a thousand of other deaths! /! He
could almost see it silently approach
ing, and for time despair alone had
possession of him. Then his trust in
the Supreme Being returned, and he
committed himself into His holy keep
ing. Heavenly Father!' he murmur-
ed, from beneath his parched and
blackened lips, at is Thy hand that
has sustained me so far, and has saw
ed me from all danger. Thou givest
food to the young ravens, and markest
even the fall of the tiny sparrow. None
but Thou can hear me or help me-
Hear my prayer! Save me, o God
Save meP
Something of sweet consolation
came with the utterance of the words.
and he lay down to sleep more tran
quilly than he had done for many
previous nights. Yet, it was only to
be awakened by new fear. 1t need
ed no seer tC tell him that the fohn,
or hot south wind was sweeping over
the glaciers and snow fields of the
high fields; and that the rain was
falling in torrents; and the enormous
blocks of ice melting, as by the touch
OF fire. The cavern he had dug with
Infinite labor was almost breast deep
with water, and it was rushing in with
all the swiftness of a mountain tor
rent. Instantly be was wet to the
skin, and stood paralyzed with terror
Then he breasted his way out into
the chasm, but it was only to return
again as quickly as possible, Never
cataract ragged more fiercely than the
surging water there.
Cutting little inches in the ice wall
he climbed beyond the reach Of the
water, and tremblingly awaited his
fate. The waves rose rapidly, higher
and higher He had climbed until
his head rested against the top of the
little cave-and he could go no farth
er. And yet the waters rolled on
ward around him. They reached his
waist-surged higher to his breast
crept to his throat, and, despite al
his efforts, began to trickle into hi;
mouth. In another moment, he woulC
be strangled by them; his hold woulC
be torn away, and his body dashed
hither and thither against the sharl
points of the ice. 30, God Save ne
Save me T. burst forth from him in tn,
, terrible agony of the instant the mo
ment of time that lay between hin
and death.
A noise like thunder-a shiverin!
crash-resOunded through the chasm
1t appeared as if the very foundation
Of the world were tottering beneat
him. Now, indeed, he felt that hi
end had come. No! Terror was in
stantly changed to rapture; the wat
| er rushed out of the cavern with tn
most amazing velocity; he could dc
, scend and stand on the bottom with
| out fear. How this had been accom-
! plished, he was forced to wait unit
= the morning light to determine, an
e with the first beams, he saw a grea
r assure had been opened, throug
q which the imprisoned waters h
D found their way to the valley below
e This unlocked for preservation agai
|. inspired him with confdence-rende
e ed more firm his trust III God. Thr'
V that tunnel he saw way to freedom
e 1t was small. to be sure, but he coul
g enlarge it; and he worked diligentl
t until his strength utterly failed. Tt
e ibex was entirely devoured. He ha
e split the bones and sucked out tt
it marrow; gnawed them over and owe
l. again, to appease his hunger. FL
IS two days he had not tasted a mors
d of food, the hatchet slipped from h
IT hand when he endeavored to strike
t. blow, and he was forced to abando
d the undertaking. There was nothir
,r left him now but to lie down and di
is Another day passed, and no he
r came. He crouched in a corner, wis
ID ing that the end would come, and th
E. soon. His eyes were already filme
st and his heart beat family. Then
strange noise aroused him. He loo
IS ed aloft and saw a chamois vain
le striving to defend itself from the &
ne tack of two vultures, that were stri
s. ing at it with wing and beak. 1t W
is an unequal contest, and at length t
- animal driven to desperation, attemI
10 ed to leap the broad chasm. The
ut fort was noble one, but it failed
r. success. The chamois missed his fo'
lis ing and fell, bruised and helpless,
n, the very feet of the starving man.
,ft an instant his knife was plunged In
v. its throat, and the warm blood "
a drained by his eager lips. This ga
nd him new life. and he renewed his
ed Dor. 1t was almost a hcrculean ia;
tn More than once he fell fainting besi
1t it. But hope was very strong witt
es him. Still he would have utterly fs
~ bad no+ booror ooS;otad him