Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-15
THE DEVILS BRIDGE.


Every Swiss tourist knows the Reuss
the most turbulent of little streams
which comes laundering down through
its narrow and stony bed, at depth o
fifty feet from the carriage-road, between
the two walls formed of almost perpen
dicular rocks; well, this same Reuss
formerly intercepted all communication
between the inhabitants of the Val d.
Cornarra and those of the valley O
Goschenen; that is to say, between the
Grisons and the people of Uri. Thi;
impossible barrier caused so much loss
to the cantons bordering on the stream
that they assembled their most skillfu
architects, and accordingly, at the com
mon expense, several bridges were bull
at various periods, from bank to bank
not one of which had ever proved sufi
ciently solid to withstand for more thar
one year the violence of the tempests
the mountain torrents or the falls o.
avalanches. One last attempt of thii
kind had been made toward the close o.
the fifteenth century, and the winter
being now past, hopes were raised thai
this time the bridge would resist all at
lacks, when one morning a villagel
came in to inform the bailli of Grosche
men that the passage was again inter
cepted.
well, then, cried the worthy BALL
in pet, ''it is only the devil that can
build US one."
He had scarcely uttered the words
when his servant announced that {
stranger desired to speak to his worship
on pressing business.
"Show him in, said the bail]i.
The domestic retired, and presently
ushered in a man of about thirty or five
and thirty years Of age, clad in the Ger
man fashion; that is to say, wearing 9
pair of red, tight pantaloons, and q
closely-ftting jacket Of black cloth
sashed at the sleeves, aud disclosing tC
view lining of hame-colored satin
His head was covered with a black car
of peculiar form, style of head-dress
to which long crimson plume lent by
its undulations peculiar grace. I'D
To whom" said the bailli, motioninp
his visitor politely to seat, have the
honor of speaking2"
The stranger, after a cautious glance
around TO ascertain that they were alone,
walked up to the bailli and whispered
something in his ear. tf
The worthy magistrate gave utterance
to long, low whistle. 0ho that's it,
is it2" quoth he. -.lr.s s.isF IaHr
Exactly so, said the stranger, qui.
etly. Not so black, ehl and all that
sort Of thing; excuse me, ] know what
you are thinking Of; but now that we un.
derstand one another, let's make our
selves comfortable" so saying he drew
chair to the fire, seized poker and
gave the GOALS a vigorous stir. " 1t is
deuced coldup here, quoth the stranger;
" won't you come in to the fire, as we say
in Scotlandg' The bailli did not re-
auire second bidding, but drew up his
chair and placed his feet on the fender,
while the stranger deposited his on the
hob.
"Well, my good friend" commenced
the stranger; so You want a little of
my assistance, ehy
"I own, monseigneur," replied the
bailli, that your valuable aid would not
be altogether useless.
"For this coniounded bridge, is it not?
Well, is it an article of such absolute
necessity
1--WE can none of Us get across"
Hal hal" laughed the stranger.
"Come, now, be good natured," re-
sumed the bailli, after a minute S pause;
build us one. P"
"That is precisely what | came to pro-
pose TO scg.
"Weli, then, tis pply point that re.
mains to be discussed is-P The bailli
hesitated.
1.-THE price added the stranger, re-
garding His ipterlocutor with a singular
Of cunning.
Yes" stammered out the bailli,
feeling that it would be there the rub
would be.
"Ohl as to thai" said the stranger,
baianeinR himself as he spoke on the
hinder legs OF the chair, while be amused
himself by pairing his nails with the
bRilli's penknife, in the first place, let
me promise that / do not intend to be
hard upon you on that point.
q Ali come now, that's very pleas
anti saiq' kAil6, ' Let's see; the
last bridge cost GGs si,lty larks Of gold;
we will double this sum for the new one,
but we really cannot 60 further than
that gVlU % l1anlAi Fe
"Pshawl what do / want with your
goidl' replied the stranger. / make
it as ] waht it. Laok here"
While thus speakiug. the stranger
took q red hot coal out Of The middle Of
the hrs, VIII as much ease as he could
have picked an almond out Of a
Hold ont your hand"
saiA be 10 the bailli
The bailli hesitated. Don't be
afraid" continued the stranger; aud so
saying, he placed in the bailli's fingers
an ingot Of the purest gold, as cold as II
il had at that moment been dug from the
mine The bailli turned it round and