Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-01-08


and dependent children kept alive his
often shrinking heart. He was yet in
hopes of reaching the upper air-of seeing
his dear ones again. But even as he was
thinking thus, with something of his old
time cheerfulness, 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
almost to the bones ~ sSS&s
With dire starvation staring him in the
face, ne bowed his head and wept like a
child. Starvation, that is dreadful, even
more of herror than a thousand other
Deaths He could almost see it silently
approaching, and for time despair alone
had possession of him. Then his trust in
the, Supreme Being returned. and he COM
mitted himself unto His holy keeping.
/" Heavenly Father!9 he murmured, from
between his parched and blackened lips:
it is Thy hand that has sustained me so
far-has saved 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.
Hear my prayer! Save me, o God! Save
me!'
Something of sweet consolation came
with the utterance of the words, and he
laid down to sleep more TRANQUILITY than
he had done for many previous nights.
Yet, it was only to be awakened by a new
fear. It needed no seer to tell him that
the fohn, or hot south wind, was sweeping
over the glaciers and snow fields of the
high Alps; 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 torrent. Instantly he was wet
to the skin, and stood almost paralyzed
with terror. Then he breasted his way
out into the chasm, but it was only to re-
turn again as quickly as possible. Never
cataract ragged more fiercely than the surg
ing 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
could 90 no further. And yet, the wa
ters rolled upward around him They
reached his waist-surged higher to his
breast--crept to his throat-and despite
all his efforts, began to trickle into his
mouth. In another moment he would be
strangled with them, his hold would be
torn away, and his body dashed hither
and thither against the sharp points OF
the ice. 90, God! Save me! Save mel"
burst from him in the terrible agony of
the instant--the moment of time that lay
between him and death.
A noise like thunder a shivering
IoI nh ha nh T.
appeared as if the very foundations of
the world were tottering 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 bot
tom without fear. How this had been
accomplished, he was forced to wait until
the morning light to determine: and,
with the first beams, he saw great fis-
sure had been opened, through which the
imprisoned waters had found their way
to the valley below. This unlocked for
preservation again inspired him with con-
fidence---rendered more firm his trust
in God. Through that tunnel he saw 8
way to freedom. 1t was small to be sure,
but he could enlarge it and he worked
failed The ibex was entirely devoured.
He had split the bones and sucked the
marrow; he had, gnawed them over and
over again to appease his hunger. For
two DAYS he had not tasted a morsel OF
food. The hatchet had slipped from his
hand when he had endeavored to strike a
blow, and he was forced to abandon the
undertaking. There was nothing left
him now but to die.
Another day passed, and no help came.
He lay crouched in corner wishing that
the end would come and that swiftly.
His eyes were already filmed and his heart
beat family. Then strange noise aroused
him. He looked aloft and saw chamoia
vainly striving to defend itself from the
attacks of two old vultures that were
striking at it with wing and beak. 1t was
an unequal contest; and, at length, the
animal, driven to desperation, attempted
to leap the broad chasm. The effort was
a noble one, but it failed of success. The
chamois missed its footing, and fell
bruised and helpless, at the very feet OF
the starving man. In an instant, his
knife was plunged into its throat; and the
warm blood was drained by his eager lips
This gave him new life and he renewed
his labor. 1t was almost herculean task
More than once, he fell fainting beside it
But hope was very strong within him
| Still, he would have utterly failed, had not
heaven assisted him.
| Again, the fohn was busy at its work ol
destruction; again, the windows of HEAVIER
were opened, and the Grains descended
and the floods came" and accomplished
more in single night than his hands coult
have done in months. With the morning
| light, he crawled through the now large tun
mel; but when he reached the outer end
found, to his horror, that he was on tn,
top of mighty precipice. His blood
boiled; his brain seemed on fire his hear
beat as if it would break through ribs ant
flesh. He was, if possible, more desperate
ly imprisoned than before. How was he
to get down? Through his bewilderet
mind suddenly flashed the thought of tn.
skins of the ibex and the chamois, and h'
was not long in making rope OF them
He then cut deep hole in the ice, drov'
down his alpenstock, fastened one end o
it, and swinging himself off, reached thu
bottom in safety.
With cry of joy and a prayer of thank
| fulness, he hastened along the well-knowl
path; and when the bell of the little chap
ell, that reared its gildsd cross in the Mat
ter valley, was tolling for the evening
prayers, he staggered like drunken mai
into the very midst of the astonished wor
shippers, even as the voice of the goo
priest was repeating, God is everywher
with me; and everywhere, even in tn
most threatening dangers his voice speak
to me in tones of comfort, and says, 'Cal
upon me in days of trouble, and I.will dc