Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-08-03


companied by successive flashes OF
The rain descended in tor
rents, and an angry wind began to
howl and moan through the forest
trees.
Il looked from the window Of our
vehicle. The night was dark as ebo-
ny, but the frequent lightning show
ed the danger of our road. We were
on the edge of frightful precipice.-
| could see at intervals huge, jutting
rocks, far away down its side, and the
sight made me solicitous for my fair
companion. | thought of the mere
hair breadths that were between us
and eternity; single little rock in the
track of our coach wheel, tiny billet
of wood, a stray root of the tempest
torn tree, restive horses, or q careless
driver-any of these might hurl us
from our sublunary existence with the
speed of thought
'Tis perfect tempest. How !
love sudden storm There is some
thing grand about the winds when fair
ly loose among the hills. | never en-
cotntered a night like this, but By
ron's magnificent description of thun-
der storm in Jura recurs to my mird'
But are we on the mountains yet| OBJ
served the lady, as l drew my head
from the window.
Yes, we have began the ascent
It is said to be dangerous?' -
by no MEANS [ replied, in as easy
tone as l could assume.
Il only wish it was daylight, so that
we might enjoy the mountain scenery.
But what's that?' and she covered her
eyes from a sheet of lightning that il
Illustrated the rugged mountain with
brilliant intensity.
peal after peal of thunder instant
ly succeeded; there was very vol
umc of rain coming down at each
thundor-blast, and with the deeper
moaning of an animal in dreadful ago
ny breaking upon our ears, | found
that the coach came to u dead halt.
Louisa my beautiful fellow-travel-
er, became pale as ashes. She fixed
her eyes on mine with look of anx-
ious dread, and, turning to her father
she hurriedly remarked:
we are on the mountains
Il reckon we are, was the unconcern.
ed reply.
with instructive activity, put my
head through the window and called
to the driver, but the only answer was
the moaning of an animal, borne past
me by the swift winds of the tempest
/ seized the handle of the door and
strained in vain-it would not yield
At that Instant | felt cold hand in
mine, and heard Louisa family articu
late in my car the following appalling
words:
'The coach is moving backwards
Never shall / forget the fierce ago
ny with which | tugged at the coacl
door, and called on the driver in tone,
that rivaled the fierce blast Of thu
tempest, whilst the conviction was
burning in my brain that the coach was
being slowly moved backward !
What followed was of so swift oc
currence that it seemed to me like 9
frightful dream.
Il rushed against the door with al
my force, but it withstood my utmost
efforts. One side Of the vehicle was
sensibly going down, down, down The
moaning of the a9onized animal be
came deeper, and 1 knew from his des
perate plunges that it was one of oul
horses. Crash upon crash of thunder
rolled over the mountain, and vivit
flashes of Lightning played over oui
heads. BY its light could see for |
moment the old planter standing erect
with his hands on his son and daugh
ter, his eyes raised to heaven, and hi
lips moving as if in prayer. l coulC
see Louisa turn her ashy cheek towart
me as if imploring assistance; and
could see the bold glance of the bo,
flashing indignant defiance at the wa
J of elements, and the awful danger tina
awaited him. There was a roll,fa des
perate plunge, harsh grating jar,
! sharp, piercing scream of mortal ter
ror, and had but time to clasp Loui
sa firmly with one hand around he
waist, and seize the fastenings attache,
to the coach roof with the other, whe
we were precipitated over the prec
picc.
Il can distinctly recollect preservin
) consciousness for few seconds of tim,
! how rapidly my breath was becomin
E exhausted, but of that tremendous d.
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