Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-12-01
.TisccFfGmco,ss Political.
rHIRrr-sEvEN DAYS OF PERIL


Resolved to search for a trail DO longer
when day ight came [ selected for Landmark
the lowest notch in the Madison Range
Carefully surveying the Jagged and broker
surface over which must travel 70 reach it
left the lake and pushed into the midst o
s inticacies. All the day, until nearly sun
---. ! struggled over rugged hills, through
andialls, thickets, and matted forests. witt
tc rlck-Iibhed beacon constantly in view
A- advanced it reccded. as if 10 m0ckery
aimy toni. Night overlook me with mJ
Iurucy half accomplished. The precautiJr
lf Obtaining fire gave me warmth and sleep,
and long before daylight I was on my way.
The hope OF finding an easy pass Into the
valley OF the Madison inspired me with fresh
courage and determination but long before
arrived no the base Of the range, ! scanned
H1peles-lv Us iusurm0unable difficulties. q.
presented ID my eager vision an endless sue
ces-ion of inaccessible peaks and precipices,
-,iug thousands of feet sheer and bare above
,lc pl in. No friendly gorge OF gully OF
canon invited such an effort as / could make
o. scale this rocky barrier. Oh for the faith
chat could remove mountains How soon
should this colossal fabric open az my ap-
uroach What feeling Of helpless despair
came over me with the conviction that the
journey of the last two days had been in
vain seated myself on rock, upon the
summit Of a commanding bill. and cast my
eyes along the only route which now seemed
teuable-d0wn the Yellowstone. How many
lgCarv niles Of forest and mountains filed the
terrible panorama | thought that before
accepting this disc0ura-ing alternative
would spent a day in search for a pass.
Twenty miles NJ most would take me into the
Madison Valley. and thirty more restore me
90 friends who had abundance. >uppoeiug
tlat ! should find plenty OF this-les, | had
left the lake with a small suVTly, and that
was entirely spent. ! looked in VAIN for
them where / then was.
While was thus considering whether to
remain and search for passage or return to
the Yellowstone, experienced one of those
strange hallucinati1us which many Of my
friends have misuamed insanity. but which to
me was Providence. An old clerical friend,
for whose character and counsel had always
cherished rCculiarregard, in some unacc0unt-
able manner seemed 20 be standing before me.
charged with advice which would relieve my
pcrrlexi,v. / seemed ID hear him say, as If in
a voice and with the manner Of authority -
"Go back Immediately, as rapidly as your
strength VIII permit. there J. no iood here
and the idea of scaling these rocks IL mad
ness
Doctor - rejlined. "the distance is 700
,reat. cannot live to travel it.
SAY not so. Your life depends upon the
effort. Return at once. Start now, lest your
resolution iaiter. Travel as fast and rs far as
p0ssible-it is your only chance.
..Doctor am reioiced 10 meet Won in this
ao,r or 3isfrsss b1f do,bt the wisdom of vour
.ornsel I am within seventy miles of Vir-
,,;nia Inst over rbcs. rocks n few miles
s,rs,, sloU find friends NJ Shoes arc
,o,rl, ,ror7 ou+ INV cI,+bes arc in t,ttcrs
.,.,l nv, s-r,-,,+b Is -olro.r overcome Asa
I..- +-:,I II soe,,s Fl, me cam bn- attennt
-, s.,Io t5is mountain or ,,erisb in tho rtioTt
.rG,5 - n--IIs =
Don tAihA vi a. A"L' PJ"e. vi eiiuu
rance VIII carry yod tuIouRu' Will "oI
t-lt YOU. lt your trus' III iie1'e"' Ai0'
i--''el and ncd VIII help YOU
Overcomc by these and otner persuasions,
and delighted with the idea Of having a
l1Je.ng companion. plodded my way over
iae route had come. intending at a certain
point to change it 50 as to strike the river at
,1s l'o5 oi the axe, Sloppihs al'er le"
-'s OF travel l ha1 20 ullAcul'y IN fIooIi- f!oIi
,, Hie, ai-l p4sSeu d ooilioI 'aDio i,iS H.
-1n resuiileu my journey the ne1' u"y
.ie sun was Just rising, whenever was
-'sl1sel, as was often the case 70 question n
.le wisdom OF the change OF routes, my ola