Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-09-28
An Hour Of reril.
BY H. NJ. EsTABRooKE.

lives, incidents so strange and startling II
their character, and so deep and lasting
| In their impressions, that we, can never
think of them. even after the lapse of long
long years, without an involuntary shud.
der and reverent, Thank God, it is all
past r. Sometimes, indeed. we bear q.
way as legacy from scenes of imminent
peril, something to serve through the
coming years as crntinual reminder OF
the time when we stood helpless and
friendless upon the verge of destruction
and had not the arm of Him who holds
the world as water in the hollow of bis
hand, been outstretched in our defense,
we might now be numbered among the
things of the past.
Tonight as l sit before a ruddy FIRE,
indulging my fancy in waking dreams, q
food of remembranccs comes sweeping
DER me; and with it, the recollection Of
an hour, the very memory of which is so
painful. that 1 turn from it with shud-
der, and endeayor to forget it amid my
books. 'Tis all in vain. Owing to some
strange cause-a problem for metaphysi-
clans alone to solve-there are certain
times when the mind is wholly unable to
resist the intrusion of disagreeable reverse,
but entertains, in an unwilling manner,
that which it cannot dismiss.
Nearly twenty years have elapsed since
the event to which alluded occurred
an event which stamped its impress so in
delibly on my mind, that it seems but
yesterday since it transpired, and which
left my hair at twenty-five white as De-
cember's snow. 1t happened thus -
Walter Warner and L had heen bosom
friends from our earliest youth. Togeth-
er we had spent the happy hours of child
hood 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
the same class in - College. Ours
was no ordinary friendship. He wasdear-
er to me by far than brother; for
though many years have rolled into eter-
nifty since be died, | have never ceased to
mourn for him as one who met most un-
timely 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, that, upon graduation,
we found ourselves wearied out, and near
ly broken down by incessant labor. To
remedy this. our old family physician and
oft consulted friend, advised a season of
travel and recreation, as best calculated
to rest and recruit our over-tasked ener-
gies. To follow his advice, was, of course
no unpleasant task; and after a few has
ty preparations, we turned our backs up
on our homes and started for an extended
tour through the State of Texas, then a
recently acquired American territory, fol-
lowed by the kindly wishes of numerous
friends and many prayers for our safe re-
turn. l shall pass over in silence the ad-
ventures we encountered in our travels,
simply saying, that at the expiration of
two months, we found ourselves, not in
Texas, but on the beautiful table lands of
Mexico, and near the foot of mount Ori-
zaba
1t had always been wild and strange
ly foolish desire of mine, caused by read
ing books of travel and adventures, to
some day ascend to the sumit of a volcano
and look into the hidden depths of re-
gion, weired and awful enough to be fit
residence for the Prince of Darkness |;
and now with the opportunity at hand of
gratifying my wishes. even though the
undertaking was attended with great
amount of danger, | was not disposed to
let it slip, but proposed to Walter that we
should scale Orizaba, and then return to
oda native state. To this he gave ready
assent; and accordingly, procuring a
guide, an intelligent and trustworthy fell
low named Pedro Runa, we set out for
the peak one morning just as the first rays
of the rising sun were gliding the eastern
sky. The ascent was task of greater
difficulty than l had imagined; and long
ere we reached the top, had it not been
that I was unwilling to acknowledge my
self fatigued, 1 would willingly have fore
gone the pleasure had promised myself,
rather than to have completed the journey.
We pressed on, however, and at last
stood where mortal foot has seldom trod,
with the clouds rolling in silent grandeur
far below us. Il.
The view from our exalted position was
wild and beautiful in the extreme. Be-
meath us the country lay spread out like
map, and we could trace each river from
its source to its mouth while far away
to the southwest rose the lcloud-clapped
summit of Popocatapetal, standing silent
and lone, like a giant sentinel placed there
by God'sown hand.
All had we but been content to have
returned then without further adventure,
I should never have written this painful
story. But young blood knows no rea-
son; and in a moment of excitement Wal
ter proposed that we should descend into
the crater os the volcano.
.sSenor, Senior, for Gods sake don't
think of such thing" exclaimed the
guide hastily, and devoutly crossing him
self. ''Tis only few years since that a
traveller miserably perished here in the
same attempt
Cant help that. I'm going down, any
how; and if fellow is only moderately
careful, there's no great danger, i suspect" !"
returned Walter, leaning over and eating
into an abyss dark as Erebus itself.
swell, well, young men will do as they
please, suppose" sud Pedro; ''but re-
mernber, i, have given you fair warning,
and may the Holy Virgin protect and
bring you safely out"
..pll shoulder the risk" answered Wal
ter. .Come, Charley, let us 60 down
and before had time either to assent or
refuse he had swung himselfover the near
ly perpendicular side, and was Chamber
ing down to shelf or rock which jutted
out some distance below. / was afraid of