Connecticut western news., 1872-10-18
turret, tower and pinnacle were tipped with glistening and efulgent light.
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 with glistening and effulgent light.
 'I have seen that"
 "An hour or so before midnight, while my eyes were riveted upon point far up the dazzling heights, where reposed what might be thought garden of statuary, all the forms of the statues clearly defned- upright, bending over, recumbent-I be- gan to think to myself what disagree able effect this long gazing, even by moon light, has upon the organs of sight"
 "But why
 "Because I got the impression that the petrified groups were moving. I looked away, rubbed my eyes and looked back again. The delusion still existed. It seemed so real that touched De Vare's arm.
 "'Do you notice any thing unusual there beyond the cone-toward the Cham ounix?'
 "He gazed steadily for time and then spoke to the guide. Coutet sprang to his feet with a yell.
 ".An avalanche! an avalanche!' ? shout ed the guide in stentorian tones. .-..
 "We started just as Coutet had done all taking position to watch the descent. First, the movement was so gradual as hardly to be noticed but, gathering pow CT with it's progress, it soon increased it's speed until dull roar was distinguish able. .........
 "What is it's course?' anxiously in- quired our host of De Ware.
 ""Toward us. direct answered the inn perturbable traveller.
 "We were filled with consternation. As the roar increased, the villagers rushed from their beds in terror, uttering shrieks and cries. sThe avalanche the avalan- che! ... "We stood rooted to the spot. The | thunder increased and neared us. Vast acres of solid. mountain side were slipping with fearful rapidity toward the direction we were in. There was of course no real danger. -...s5 E.. -les
 s''The pinnacle yonder,' said the inn movable De Ware, will save us. The avalanche strikes it, slaves the irregular ities from it's side, shoots it many angles pense of some otherp
 "He was right. From that or some other cause, the death dealing mass of ice rushed away into the valley beyond.
 "A dangerous season to make an as- cent said everyone, when we got down home. But we resolved to try it.
 "Early on the morning of the 17th a party of SIX, accompanied by the afore- named guides, started upon the perilous undertaking. After proceeding short distance we were made to halt by our guides, for the purpose of being tied to- gether, with sufficient space between us to allow of uninterrupted movements 1; then in turn we were fastened to the guides themselves. It is doubtful if one in score would safely return unless this precaution was taken, for there is con- tinual tripping of heels; first one, then another, slipping and falling upon the glaciers. t ''You don't, Larco; you've not made the ascent" -' ' "And don't want to make it." groWl- cd, like surly fox.
 Rawdon smiled, and turned the fire about. Then resumed. ..- If we had got the idea there was either ease or comfort in the enterprise, it was speedily dispelled by actual experience. Shelves of rock met us everywhere, along which we had to crawl on our hands and knees; precipices lowered above, up l which our weary way was made by foot holds cut with the hatchets of our guides. Terrifying chasms yawned on either side. Mysterious Assures, whose bottom and depth were lost in distance, had to be leaped over with the assistance of guide and staff. As we ascended. the air be- came more rare, and the nose smarted with every inhalation. We made tor tuous way, winding about to escape chasms and evade towers of ice, or trem- ohu I,.sJ I of snow that might crumble at any step." "Hope you liked itn' @ o.. :
 "We had toilsome day, and did not succeed in making 8 very great distance, for my wrist troubled me after few hours exertions with it, and began to swell. However, we pitched upon place to spend the night, it being partially shel- tered from the cutting wind; and while Coutet prepared the supper, climbed upon pinnacle to take in the magnificent view stretched abroad before my eyes. It cannot be described except in faint out lines. Far below these icy fields reposed the verdant wales teeming with beauty and life; and placid Leman, like sea of glass, sparkled in the setting sunlight, while Jura's distant hills were we'll de- fined against the clear sky. Thus night came on. But the stolen stiffness that fell upon us, broken at intervals by the inde- scribable crash of the crunchiug pieces of snow descending on every side, is beyond description. Still We got to sleep.'
 "Glad you could sleep, Rawdonlo l In the morning we awoke refreshed, and resumed the ascent, although found great inconvenience from my sore and stiff wrist, and was obliged to carry my staff in the other hand Not to finger on details, we, at last, after much suffering and danger, reached the goal which we sought. But would say that if one un. dertakes this or similar enterprise with the fond delusion that through it all he can maintain dignifed manner, he wll find the fond delusion vanished"
 "Bien entendu." -,. s.+
 Many chasm the traveller must pass on the horizontal. The sure feet of the guide crosses narrow isthmus of snow which he is fearful an untrained foot may slip upon; therefore the traveller mus submit to prostrate position and be hauled across, his head taking the route of ploughshare and leaving broad furrow ploughed for the next conner to slide into. Again, the tension of the nerves will, ere many hours, cause the legs ts buckle and bend in exact imitation of devotee of Bacchus."
 Pleasant" ,.s-.>-. .-} ...s.e
 "We encountered pleasant tempest too, thunder and lightning, when it seem. ed as if the whole Alps were splitting from base to peak, so heavy were the frequent detonations. But we were safely ap and getting back, having met witt Il many incidents but no accidants Wbay within mile of the hamlet from whict we had started, the nearness of our jour ney's end tended to. make us careless Holding my staff somewhat heedlesslJ with my left hand, it so unexpectedll sht .r,,aail Geszz-a