The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-12-17


iedSe OF bare stone, running along the
lace OF tall. gaunt rock, while the road
being narrow, and u. erly unprovided with
rail, or bank, or parapet, overlooked the aw.
ful abyss below, at the bottom of which
family visible, torrent gurgled along its
boulders of water-worn stone An uplier
place OF passage, or one more calculated
to shake weak nerves, had never seen,
and could well imagine that, in time of
snow or storm, to attempt it would have
been foolhardy exploit. In fine weather
and broad daylight, however, it could. no
doubt be traversed in tolerable security.
The travellers in front We're all mounted,
and pushed on, as the width of the path
dictated in Indian file. First of all rode.
as 1 judged, a girl, whose plumed hat
danced gaily in the yellow sunlight; then
came a STRIPPING on mule; and after
these, followed FIVE other persons, two
mounted, three on foot. Those on foot
were talking loudly and ges,iculating We
hemently. Their harsh laughter came faint
ly back to us as we advanced.
"They have given drink to their guides.
the imprudent ones ~ muttered Antonio.
shaking his head. Lucky for them that
1t Is fine weather, and peon from the
poblas, who knew the road, could--Ay
de mi ~ And he dropped on his knees.
and began to tell the beads of his rosary
with a passionate fervor, which would have
astonished me more had not my business
brought me much in contact with the
strange, impIessionable race to which he
belonged. | knew that there must be a
cause for this sudden outbreak of religions
zeal.
What is il ?" 1 asked, impatiently.
Leave off, man, muml,iing out the names of
the saints. for one minute, and give me a
plain answer. What is wrong r.
An onio jerked his elbow towards the
suddenly overcast sky. Around the peak
of the giant volcano, to northward, heavy
clouds had gathered; while, elsewhere, a
thin white film, like flax from the spindles
of the Fatee, spanned the turquoise blue
of the southern heaven.
"What is it T. L asked, as noticed that
the mule, snorting, and evidently fright
ened, seemed trying 10 squeeze itself against
the rocky wall.
1T is coming-eoming ~ cried Antonio,
hoarsely.
"What is coming ?" I exclaimed, angrily.
"Tell me. scoundrel, Or
"Youll know soon enough FL vente
del Muerte-the Wind of Death-Great
Gregory, Rose of Lima, my patron, save
us now :" replied the guide, as lurid flash
of lightning ilumined the whole m oun-
tain panorama, and, mingling with the
dapason of the thunder, came a shrek, as
of imprisoned spirit let loose, and
rush of bitterly cold wind fairly hurled me
against the rock, to which 1 clung for sup
port, while the mule, sobbing and painting,
covered down upon its knees For some
four or five minutes this resistess blast
and, when it relaxed its fury, my
first thought was to creep forward on
hands and knees and to look upwards, so
as to ascertain what had happened to the
travellers on the rocky ledge above. To
my horror, the shelf of stone was empty.
Nc; on il there remained, pressed against
the rock, one slender figure in female garb;
W lille near her, crouchnd DOWN like ter
rified dog, stood the mule from which she
had dismounted- TIE lest We're gone
So sudden, so dreadful, was the catastro-
phe that had occurred, almost before my
eyes, that for some moments / remained
as though incredulOus of the full horror
Of the scene. The voice of my guide, as
he moaned out, May they find mercy,
they were. Pray for those who are
dead. Pray, too, for her who is about to
die Pobra Nina ~
The Indians quick eyes were not at fault.
II was a woman-a girl-and by her dress
probably lady, who in mortal peril
within few yards of me.
"Come, Antonio ~ cried, staggering as
/ rose TO my feet; ION, and we may yet be
in time TO save one life at least. Twenty
dollars, man, If we save her ~ | added,
as my dusky fellow remained
motionless
"Not ali the silver in Chill, cavalier,
would T.: oft the wretch who should ven
ture to cross the Paso, there, when Ell
Jorazo wears his cap of clouds, and the
death wind Is blowing. I'm no coward,
senior; but Ill moi risk life on such a
cast"
IF you won't, aill; and alone, too -
/ answered., holy; and, without paying
any attention 10 Inc warnings which the In
dian shouted after me, scrambled up the
steep and winding road, and stood upon
the Paso del Dial bio itself, being careful to
keep as close as possible TO the bare
rock wall, and away fioni the preci-
pice.
Most fortunately, the force of the furi-
Gus wind had slackened since the first ter
ribIe gust had exacted its early toll of
human victims, or, otherwise, l doubt if
the hardest mountaineer could have
travers Il that place of peril AS it vast cost
me aderperate struggle TO keep my foothold
and advance towards where the girl stood,
partly screened by a large stone that must.
years before, have fallen from above, ana