Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-12-22

physical power. and if continued much
longer, would leave me in q condition OF
utter helplessness. turned aside 10 the
high hills that hem the valley ip. Their
sides were swept quite bare of snow, and
offered an easier route much of the way.
And-why had l not thought of it be-
| fore Pa distance Of several miles might
| be saved BY shortening the wide circuit
made by the trail in following the course
of the valley
81 ventured it, and was soon far out of
I sight of road and stream and valley. But
| the route was irregular and winding.
There were rugged hills aud cliffs to be
avoided, difficult crossings to be effected
over dangerous mountain torrents, and
| in the midst Of it all must have become
completely confused in my ideas of di-
rection and distance-lost, in fact.
"The truth of this came home to me
with agonizing certainty. Night was
rapidly approaching-night and storm.
Darkness was already descending Alone,
helpless, without food or shelter-lost in
those interminable mountains--there
was only the certainty of death for me.
| l saw the apparent helplessness of the
situation, and for time yielded to
despair.
~ was tempted to lie down there and
| die-to end that fearful agony of sus-
pense, and escape the keenest torture by
| that easiest form OF death, the painless
stupor of cold. Then, boys, thought of
you--of all my kind friends. Where
were they all, then I? What were they
doing We're any Of them seeking for
me, through night, and cold, and snow?
| These thoughts aroused me to one more
| desperate effort. Perhaps / should meet
my comrades on the way. 1t was a
source Of new strength and hope, and
Struggled on again as rapidly as pos
| sible
"At, last came out on the brow of a
steep acclivity, and there, to my un-
speakabs joy, | caught sight of flicker
ing ray of red light, glimmering family
| through the thick darkness. 1t was a
long way of, yet the sight of it brought
strength to my TREMBLING limbs, and hope
to my sinking heart. There was light,
warmth, food, comfort, at least, and
| perhaps waiting friends
| II went on, straight toward that light,
clambering over logs and rocks, scaling
lillsr and crossing valleys. But that
c, heering ray was caught sight of no
m, ,re. Finally / came to the ban OF a
bro,,d, swift stream. Its dark, deep
waters ran directly across my path.
The great masses of ice that drifted on
its surf CO ground and grated together
continually. | heard its defiant hiss,
and shut tderlng burned away. To the
left hand, to the right, far away, the
dark tide kept its course. 1t. could not
be crossed. There was death in its cold,
troubled waters. VIE N y VI
Despsiringly / turned aside, and
walked along the bank, strsining my
anxious eyes away across, in the direc-
ton in which had seen the light. The
black shadow of night hung like thick
| veil before my sight, and darkness lay o J
heavy DER my soul Before me ste' ID
hillside ran abruptly down to the streF M
| Through deep drifts of snow / strur gled
along the trescherous scclivity. At.lind-
Ing dizziness swept over me, ani. felt
m yself falling, down, down, through
m, ,yisg masses of snow, and then the
lev waters Of the stream rolled over me.
I s,r, 7ggled with the energy Of despair,
and a, ,Houted loudly for help. yet scarcely
heard be sound myself. Large pieces
of ice A oated around me in the swift cur
rent. ant, drifted against me. Several
times l lal hold upon them, only to be
brushed aw sy again by those that came
hehind. Finally | succeeded in drawing
myself up ou't Of the water-upon the
moving ice it seemed. For my brain
was reeliuC. and everything seemed
whirlng rapidly around.
Numbed. chilled and dying, /
| stretched nv worn and weary frame upon
| the Welding snow At the last moment,
ont of the surrounding darkness. flick
| er;ng raw of consciousness shone into my
mind. lingering only till / could thank
God that the pain and agony we're
nassed. then the thick darkness fell
again, and | wss-iesdl
"Dead," Dick repeated solemnly, vita
his gaze bent 10 the direction of the dis
tant hills. "And but for the Providence
which brought you to my timely assist
apce. my bones would have been lying
there upon the bank this morning,
stripped by rsvenous beasts,
"It has spared -s sorrowful dis
covery, Dick," said Llmbert.
"But, my dear fellowsl you never car
fully know BY what an inseparable Il
this thing has bound you to my ipmo st
heart and soul forever" added Die K,
with trembling voice, as be leaned for
ward and put out his arm from the
blanket we had wrapped about him.
"Come, let me take you BY the hand
once more, all Of you, to bind that tie
more firmly between Us, and in token Of
my devO,ios TO your welfare and hap
piDess hereafter"
Each in turn grasped the extended
hand Of our comrade, and in that solemn
pleading Of eterRsl friendship, there was
not an eye but Was moistensd, under the
soffaning touch Of a kindred emotion.
"Fellows," said Charley, its favor
able time 10 rsneu our plight Of friend
ship collectively" So We joined in q
silent hand-shakipg all around, and felt
like four united broihers And Though
the long-threatened storm rsgsd violently
without, within there was = season of
happiness, fraught with rsjOieing and
savory bear sop. 4