The Republican journal., 1875-05-06

were that day far off. circling probably in
majestic swoops over some distant valley
or gorge
| was forced. however, to be constantly
on the alert and my impatience and per-
plexity may be imagined as hours elapsed
and there We're still no signs OF my ap-
preaching deliverance. The storm had
long since passed over, and darkness was
settling down when | again felt pull at
the rope, and continued my ascent, begun
nearly four hours before. 1t was of the
utmost Importance that the whole party
should regain the top Of the cliff before
night had fairly set in | therefore de
ferred, on my arrival at the ledge, all
questions and rebukes till we had gained
place OF safety. The heavy rope, fast
ened to the cord, was hauled up by the
man on the top, and after it had been Sc
cured to tree-stump we swarmed up
without loss of time We had still before
Us somewhat perilous scramble in the
darkness down the steep incline, but the
exhaustion we had undergone made it
necessary that we should first recruit our
strength by means of the food and bottle
OF $ Schnapps'' with which we were fortu-
nately provided While we We're thus en-
gagged | received from my companions an
account OF the causes OF the perious de-
iiv.
On receiving my signal they had begun
to haul, but after the first pull had felt q
sudden jerk, and perceived that the block,
supposed to have been securely fastened
at the edge of the platform, was gone.
They imagined at first that it had struck
and killed me. but my shouts soon apprised
them of my safety. Fearing to continue
the process of hauling lest the rope should
be cut by the sharp edged stones, they in
formed the man on the cliff OF the mis-
hap, and despatched him to procure a sec
ond block. He accordingly ran down the
slope to the bottom Of the mountain, cut
Young pine tree, shaped a block, and
was in the act of carrying it up when the
storm burst forth, and the lightning, play
ing around him in vivid flashes, cleft and
splintered q rock weighing hundreds of
tons that had stood within thirty PAGES of
him. lie received no injury except being
thrown on the ground and partially stun
ned by the terrific conclusion, but it was
not till after a considerable time that he
was able to rise and continue his ascent.
Had he been killed, our situation would
have been most precarous one There
would have been no possibility Of regain
ing the cliff without help. and as our party
comprised all the working force Of the
neighborhood, and Tomerl's cottage was
the only dwelling within fifteen or twenty
miles, our chances of rescue would have
been extremely slight.
We reached the bottom Of the mountain
rs the upper part was beginning to be lit
by the rays of full moon, and three
hours tramp brought us without further
mishap to the cottage Moilel forewarned
OF our return by series Of 'jodlers,n
sound which may challenge competition
as & joyful acclaim, had prepared an ample
supper; and when Tomerl produced his
welI-tuncd EITHER" 4 species of guitar
producing simple but soft and highly mus
lcal strains, the mirth was at its height.
OF the chamOis- stalker. who, with his
gun in his hands chamois on his back
and a girl in his heart" has no cause to
envy a king. \ dance called the ''Sehuhb-
latteln,' in which the art consists in touch
ing the soles OF ones shoes with the palm
Of the hand, finished our evenings amuse-
ment, and we retired, rather worn out.
Just as day was breaking.
After four hours sleep we rose refreshed
and eager to examine our two captives
Attached to Tomerl's cottage was dmin-
utive barn, from which we removed the
door, and mailing strong laths across the
and 1oomY cage \ couple Of rabbits
furnished q luxurious breakfast, which
was deyoured with extraordinary yOraci-
ty The hen-bird, as is the case with all
birds Of prey, was considerably larger and
stronger than her brother, though the lat
ter had the finer head and eyes
y week after their capture they were
'leathered' Tor the first time. This pro-
cess consists in pulling out the long down
like plumes situated on the under side of
the strong taiL-feathers. These plumes,
which, il taken from full-grown eagle,
frequently measure seven or eight inches
in length, are highly priZedb by the Tyrolese
peasants, but still more by the inhabitants
Of the neighboring Bavarian highlands,
who do not hesitate to expend Il months
wages in the purchase of two or three
with which to adorn theu hats or those OF
their buXOm sWeethearts. The value of a
crop of plumes varies somewhat. Gener-
ally, however, an eagle yields about forty
tlorins' (SlC) worth OF feathers per annum
Six weeks after this incident ! again
wended my steps into the secluded Bran
denburg valley, and found the eagles
thriving and much grown. Being curious
to see if their confinement had subdued
their wild and terocious spirit. removed
one Of the laths and entered the barn An
angry hiss, similar to that of a snake,
warned me Of danger, but too late to save
my hands some severe scratches. With
one bound and flap of their gigantic
wings they were on me, and had it not
been tor Tomerl, who was standing Just
behind me armed with a stout cudgel, |
should have paid dearly for my incautious
visit.
l know OF no instance where human
skill has subdued in the slightest degree
the naughty spirit of the free-born golden
eagle. An untamable terocity is the pre-
dominating characteristic OF this noble
bird. more than of any other animal.
Crcling majesncally among the tieeting
clouds, he reigns lord paramount over his
vast domain, avoiding the sight and re-
senting the approach of man. w. A.
Baillle-Grohman, in Lippincott.