Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-10-20
AN HOUR OF PERIL.
BY II. NJ. EsTABRooKE.

BY II. NJ. EsTABRooKE
There sometimes happen during our lives,
incidents so strange and startling in their
character, and 80 deep and lasting in their
impressions, that we can never think of them,
even after the apseof long, long years,witl-
out an involuntary shudder and reverent,
"Thank God, it is all past" Sometimes,
indeed, we bear away as legacy from scenes
of imminent peril, something to serve
through the coming years as a continual re-
minder of the time when we stood helpless
and friendless upon the verge Of dlstructioni
and had had the arms of Him who holds the
world as water in the hollow of His hand,
being outstretched in our defense, we might
now be numbered among the things of the
past.
Tonight as sit before a ruddy fire, in
duging my fancy in waking dreams, Il food
of remembrances comes sweeping DER me;
and with il, the recollection Of an hour the
very memory of which is so painful, that |
turn from it with a shudder, and endeavor
to forget il amid my books. 'Tis all in vain.
Owning TO some strange cause-a problem
for metaphysicians alone to solye-there are
certain times when the mind is wholly ma
BILE to resist the intrusion Of disagreeable
reveres, but entertains in an unwilling man
ner, that which il cannot dismiss
Nearly twenty years have elapsed oince
the event TO which | alluded occurred-an
event which stamped its impress so indelibly
on my mind, that it seems but yesterday
since il transpired, and which left my hair
at twenty-five white as Decembels SHOW
IL happened thus:
Walter Warner and | had been bosom
friends from our earliest youth. Together
we had spent the happy hours of childhood;
together we had searched for wild flowers in
our native woods; and, when older, we had
studied together from the same books, and
finally graduated from tho same class in
College. Ours was no ordinary
friendship. lie was dearer to me by far than
u brother; for though mauy years have roll
ed into eternity since be died, have never
ceased to mourn for him as one who met q
most untimely fate.
During our college life we had applied
ourselves too closely to study, for there was
friendly rivalry between us as TO which
should stand The highest in the class, and
the midnight hour often found us still busily
poring over our books. The consequence
was, thai, upon education, we found ourselves
wea.ied out, and nearly broken down by in
cessant labor. To remedy this, our old fam.
iIr chysciar end 20 cesaplio9 frieRg, Gf
yised a season of travel and recreation, as
best calculated to rest and recruit our over
tasked energies. TO follow his advice, was
of course, no unpleasant task; and after a
few hasty preparations we turned our backs
upon our homes and started for an extended
tour through the State of Texas, then re-
Gently acquired American territory, follow
ed by the kindly wishes Of numerous friend!
and many prayers for our safe return.
shall pass over in silence the adventures We
encountered in our travels, simply saying
that at the expiration of two months, w
found ourselves, not in Texas, but on th'
beautiful table lands Of Mexico, and nea
the foot OF mount Orzaba.
1t had always been wild and strangel.
foolish desire Of mine, caused by reading
books of travels and adventures, to SOM
day ascend to the summit OF volcano anC
look into the hidden depths Of a region
weird and awful enough to be fit residence
for the Prince Of Darkness; and now with Tia
opportunity at hand of gratifying my wlshe
even though the undertaking was attende
with great amount of danger, was not dis
posed 10 let it slip, but proposed to Waite
that we should scale 0rzaba, and the retur
to our native State. 10 this he gave read
assent; and, accordingly procured guild
an intelligent and trustworthy fellow name
Pedro Runa, we set out for the peak on
morning lust as the first rays OF the su
were gliding the eastern sky. The ascel
was q task Of greater difficulty than | hG
imagined; and long ere we reached the TO
had it not been that was unwilling to a,
knowledge myself fatigued, would willing
haue foregone the pleasure had promise
myself, rather than to have completed Il
tourney. We pressed on, however, and
last stood where mortal foot had seldo
trod, with the clouds rolling in silent 'gra
deur far below US.
The view from our exalted position "
wild and beautiful in the extreme. Benea
us the country lay spread out like ma
and we could trace each river from its sour
10 its mouth, while far away TO the sout
west rose the cloud-clapped summit Of PC
Ocatapetl, standing silent and lone, like
giant sentinel placed there by Gods o.
hand.
Ali had we but been content to have
turned then without further adventure
should never have written this painful sto
But young blood knows no reason; and
moment OF excitement Walter proposed 1
we should descend into the crater OF
volcano.
"Senor, Senior, for Gods sake don't th
of such a thingl" exclaimed the guide hal
ly, and devoutly crossing himself a.
only few years since that traveller ms
ably persisted here in the same attempt
Cant help that, am going down, a
how; and if fellow is only moderately c
full, there's no great danger, | suspect"
turned Walter, leaning over and gazing
an abyss dark us Erebus itself.
"Well, well, young men Will do as
please, l suppose, said Pedro; but rem
ber. have given you fair warning aud
the Holy Virgin protect and bring you
ly out"
"Ill shonlder the risk, answered Wa
"Come, Charley, let us go down" and be
l had time either to assent or refuse he
swung himself over the nearly perpendi'
side, and was cambering down to she
rock whic iutted out some distance belo
was afraid of being thought cowardly Sd
l refuse to follow; and though did n
all relish the idea Of venturing into the
of a burning mountain, l nevertheless c
ed over the edge aud worked my WI
where he stood, full fifty feet from the
ter's verge.
"Isn't this a gloomy place." said W
as ! struck upon the ledge by his side
felt my heart leap into my throat as 1t
preceptibly trembled beneath the sh oc
"Yes; gloomy enough for the intern
eions, ii that is all, returned 81 te
Walter. | don't like il now that we are
and wish we were safely out of this con
ded hole. What if an eruption should {
or this rock should" Great Coo
hair on my head fairly rose on end, as
the grating sound aud saw that the sh'
which we we're standing was slowly pi