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

grass; while, even win light weight to
carry, the passage is, TO IA novice, more ex
citing than agreeable.
With these remarkable bridges l was
tolerably familiar, although had never be-
fore seen one which spannei 80 wide and
profound gulf that which now yawned
beneath us, as led Miss Trevor across the
seemingly fragile construction, which rock
ed in the wind as a hammock on board
ship might do. We had traversed some
two thirds Of the distance, when fresh
and more violent gust came bowling
through the pass, and it was all that l
could do to prevent Miss Trevor from be-
ing dashed from the quivering bridge, on
the floor of Which were both compelled
to crouch, while the plant mating that
supported us swayed to and fro like a
swing in playground, and the snow and
hail flew around us. The Swapping of a
rope, the giving way of few strands of
the plated grass that bore us up, meant
death, instant and inevitable. And even
should the tough grass cords endure the
strain upon them, We were in no slight
danger Of losing our hold from sheer ex-
haustion, and of being jerked from the
bridge as a stone is propelled from sling.
Once | made resolue effort to lead the
way TO firm ground, but the violence of the
/ vibration, neared the steeply-sloping
extremity of the bridge, all but tore me
from my hold of the tough fibres, and we
were thankful to regain the middle of the
narrow web, with which we swayed, back
wards and forwards, as we may see
| spider swinging single thread.
The intense cold which, as often happens
in he Andes, seemed the more intolerable
On account of the heat of the morning
so benumbed the delicate frame of
my fair companion that I constantly
feared that before the storm should
/ cease she would have sank into that
fatal lethargy that knows no waking. By
chafing her cold hands, and, in spite of
her remonstrances, wrapping her in the
loose coat wore, which was fortunately
wooden one, l saved her, at anyrate for the
time, from frost-bte or stupor, although the
snow and frozen hailstones whitened our
garments, as we crouched waiting, rather
than hoping, for deliverance.
Hours elapsed, and the wind abated
but | began to despair. No traveller might
come that way for days, while l could not
anticipate that Miss Trevor could endure
the keen frost of the coming night
in that exposed situation. Yet, how
was it possible for me, in her exhausted
state, to - What was that sound
A loud halloo from human and, as it
seemed, friendly voices, and instantly 1
IL . H. II.
creeping towards over the plated floor,
a 1.-THE figure, followed by another, while
the voices of those on the bank were raised
in cheer of encouragement
'Safe and sound, Cahalcro! st. Nicho-
las and the Virgin be praised for that !
Ay, and the senorita, TOO ~ said the we'll
known voice of Antonio, my glIide-for he
it was who headed the party. "Why, then,
III say all my days, Inglese, tnat you bear
a charmed life. Few who cross the
Paso-"
But did not hear the rest of the In !,
dams speech, for now, for the first time, l,
too, grew faint and giddy, and realized the /
terrible strain on mind and body which the !
excitement of peril had enabled me to !
maintain, and, though l aided in lifting
Miss Trevor's almost insensible form from
the snow, l can rem rmber nothing more
until 1 found myself lying on the bed in
guest-chamber of the convent, while a
bearded monk, in brown robe and rope
girdle, was warming something in pipkin
over brazero of glowing charcoal.
"Drink this, Englishman ~ said the |
good-natured Capuchn, as he poured the
hot wine into a large silver cup, embla-
zoned with the armorial bearing, of some
Spanish viceroy of long ago; "drink this,
and then get to sleep again, if you can. (
Nothing like it when once you are warm
and sheltered. Yes, yes,' he added, with
smile. as he anticipated my question, "the
young lady, too, is well, and asleep, too,
dare say. Heretics not, you and she
are welcome here, cavalier ~
1 have little more to relate. OF the
remains of the unfortunate persons who
fell over the rock of FL Paso, no trace was
ever found, although, at Miss Trevor's
urgent entreaty long and painful search
was instituted among the glens below.
But so wild and broken the ground,
and so intersected by snowdrifts, torrents,
ana tnOfnY ID1ckeIS, IltI lTOft tue hiSt tic
Indian miners and herdsmen despaired of
success, and, as l have said, the bodies
were never recovered. So soon my beauti-
full charge had regained strength enough
to enable her to travel, 1 accompanied her
to the city of Santiago, where her fathers
sister resided, and there, beneath her
aunt's roof, left her to mourn for the dear
onas whom she was never more to behold.
But our parting was not for long. l be-
came a frequent visitor to Santiago, and
was a frequent guest in the house of Ellen
Trevor's aunt. There after while told
her my love, and thence led my bride to
the altar, if 1 may use so high-fown an ex-
preston concerning the Consular Office,
with its wh;.ewashed walls placarded with
announcements of wreck and salvage, and