The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-14
q lad no Ilea Of that. ao on.n

Su'ueS' SUutet auu peFOTlhssOnu, ueClueu
me to no longer postpone the enterprise.
My host and the doctor argued against 1t
in vain. VEL and the new party-re-
mained out late one evening viewing the
beautiful scenery by moonlight. Mystic
turret, tower and pinnacle were tipped
with gllstering and etFulgent light,
81 have seen that"
"An hour or so before midnight, while
my eyes were riyeted upon point far up
the dazzling heights, where reposed what
might be thought garden Of statuary, all
the forms of the statues clearly Defined
upright, bending over, reCumbent-I be.
gan to think to myself what disagree.
able effect thislong gazing, even by moon.
light has upon the organs of sight"
"But whyp
"Because | got the impression that the
petritied groups were moving. Hooked
away, rubbed my eyes and looked back
again. The delusion still existed. 1t
seemed so real that touched De Varo's
arm. .
"'Do you notice any thing unusual
there beyond the cone-toward the Cham.
ounixr
''IIe gazed steadily for a time and then
spoke to the guide. ooutet Sprang to his
feet with yell.
"An avalanche! an avalanche y shout.
cd the guide In stentorian tones.
ave started just as ooutet had done !;
all taking position to watch the descent.
First, tho movement was SO gradual as
hardly to be noticed but, gathering pow.
er with Its progress, 1t coon increased its
speed until a dull roar was distinguish.
able.
"'What is its coursel' anxiously in.
quired our host Of De Ware.
"Toward us, direct answered the i'm.
perturbablC traveller
ave were filed with Consideration.
As the roar increased, the villagers rushed
from their beds in terror, uttering shrieks
and cries. THE avalanche the avalan.
che 7 ~
"We stood rooted to tho spot. The
thunder increased and nearel us. Vast
acres of solid.mountain-side were slipping
with fearful rapidlty toward the direction
We were in. There was OF course no real
danger. .a...r
"'The pinnacle yonder,' said tho i'm.
movable De Ware, will save us. The
avalanche strikes 1t, shaves the Irregular
tiles from Its side, shoots 1t many angles
o'the right, saving our hamlet at the ex.
penso Of some otherl .-..
"lle was right. From that or some
other cause, the death.denllng mass OF ice
rushed away into the valley beyond.
'"sA dangerous season to make an rs.
cent, said everyone, when we got down
home. But We resolved to try Il.
"Early on the morning of the 18th II
party of SIX, accompanied by the afore.
named guides, started upon the perilous
undertaking. After proceeding II 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;
then in turn we were fastened to the
guides themselves. 1t Is doubtful Il one
In score would safely return unless this
prccautiOn was taken, for there Is n con-
tinual tripping Of heels; first one, then
another, slipping and falling upon the
glaciers. "YOu don't, LARGO; you've
not made the ascent"
sand don't want to make it, growl.
cd, like a 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, II 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
which our weary way was made by foot
holds cut with the hatchets Of our guides.
Terrifying chasms yawned on either side.
Mysterious flssures, whose bottom and
depth were lost in distance, had to be
leaped over with the assistance of guide
and staff. AS we asrended. the air be-
came more rare, and the nose Emarted
with every inhalation. We made q tor.
tuous way, winding about to escape
clasms and eyade towers Of Ice, or trem.
bllngIy crossing abysses on frall bridges
Of snow that might cruinble at any step"
''Hope you liked it!n
1--WE had a toilsome day, and did not
succeed In making very great distance,
for my wrist troubled me after o few
hours exertions with It, and began to
swell. However, we pitched upon a place
to spend the night, |. being partially shel.
tered from the cutting wind; and while
Coutet prepared the supper, climbed
upon pinnacle totNke In the magnificent
view stretched abroad before my eyes.
| 1t cannot be described except in faint out.
| lines. Far below these icy fields reposed
the verlant wales teeming with beauty
and life; and placid Leman, like sea OF
glass, sparkled in the setting sunlight,
while Jnra's distant hills were well de-
fined against the clear sky. Thus night
came on. But the stolen stiffness that fell
upon lis, broken at intervals by tho inde.
scribablc crash of the crunchiug pieces Of
snow descending on every side, is beyond
description. Still We got to sleep"
"Gial you could sleep, ,RawdonW
ain the morning we awokO refreshed,
and resumed the ascent, althougl u found
great inconvenience from my sore and
stiff wrist, aud wRs obliged to carry my
stail in the other hand. Not to linger on
details, we, at last, after much suffering
and danger, reached the goal which we
sought. But l would say that II one un'
dertakes this or a similar enterprise Will
the fond delusion that throughit 1t all lie
eau maintain . dignifed manner, he vii
find the fond delusion vanishedn
"I'ien entendu."
aMany a chasm tho traveller must past
on the horizontal. The sure feet of the