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

which partly obstructed the path, and, ir
dong so to, to skirt the perious verge OF
the abyss. l had now lost my grasp OF
the overhanging wall, TO which had hith.
erto clung with an eager clutch, and began
to fear that the rushing wind would bear me
away over the edge of the rock; but, though i
reeled under the force of the blast, | ken,
my feet, and reached the spot where the
girl was kneeling, with clasped hands and
averted face
Before 1 could sp ak, the mule, in the
agony OF It's alarm, set up the screaming
cry which its species utter under the in
| huence OF pain or rage, and the girl turned
her head, and, for the first time, saw me.
My recognition of her was immediate.
Well did l remember that golden hair;
those blue eyes, dilated they now were,
and expressive only of grief and fear;
that fair, pure face 1t was the beautiful
English girl had seen at San Juan, and
/ doubtless, her late companions had been
her own family, of which she was, alas /,
/ the sole survivor
| "Save them +! Oh save them 80 she ex-
claimed in Spanish. "Cio to their help. sir.
for the love of heaven My poor father
my dear mother-my brother - All /!
all"
She wrung her hands, pointing with a
piteous gesture to the edge of the cliff
Il fear, Miss Trevor" began, speaking
in our own language, when the girl gave q
little start and uttered an exclamation of
surprise.
"Iou know me 2" she said; "yet-"and she
paused for moment. looking wonderinely
at me, and then slowly murmured, "Ah
yes-I recolect-in San Juan, yonder ~
And even at that terrible time faint
blush rose to her cheek, as she possibly
recognized in me the strange Englishman
whose eyes had, perhaps, too openly ex-
pressed the admiration that he felt for
beauty such as hers.
This, however, was no time, nor was the
Paso del Diablo a fitting place, for fine
speeches or elaborate apologies.
"AIiss Trevor" said l earnestly, al am
here to save you if l can. Every minute
that we linger here adds to the chance that
a fresh squall may set in, and, should it do
SO, it may be beyond human strength to
get beyond this perilous ledge Twenty
yards off, as you see, is an angle in the
path, by turning which, as L Judge.
we shall be comparatively SAFE 1
Will endeavor to support you if YOU
will"
She interrupted me with an earnest
prayer that l would leave her where she
was, and GO to the rescue of her parents
and brother. Their need, she said, was
greater than hers. 1 was, of course, but
too we'll aware that these unfortunate per-
sons must be beyond the reach of any
earthly aid, but to say 90 would have been
gratuitously cruel, and therefore urged on
her the necessity for accepting my escort so
far as the nearest hamlet or cluster of
miners huts, promising to return with
ropes and men, and to undertake search
for her lost relatives, which, alone, could
not hope to carry out She was very gem
tie and confiding, as child might have
been, and rose up from her knees, ex-
pressing her willingness to follow me.
And just then some flakes of snow came
whirling down, whitening the rocky plat
form.
There were, as have said, some twenty
yards to traverse before reaching a corner,
by rounding which, as l conjectured, we
should have quilted the ledge of rock and
gained the wider road beyond. But twen-
ty yards, in some cases, may give cause for
more anxiety than leagues of ordinary way
faring. l had need of all my strength to
support Miss Trevor's uncertain steps
she advanced, and, when we drew near to
the angle in the path, L perceived, with no
slight trepidation, that she was trembling
like an aspen leaf, as her eyes were turned
towards the tremendous gulf below.
"Hold me back a, Pray hold me % she
exclaimed, almost wildly. ut draws me to
tit will"
understood her, luckily. am one of
those men who can remain cool and steady
on the dizzy verge of precipice. That is
mere question of constitutional tempera-
ment, for l have known the bravest, who
have faced death on the battlefield without
flinching, utterly unnerved by the terrible
fascination which yawning depth below
the gazer's feet can exert upon him. The
dread desire to plunge, and end life and
fear at once. could well appreciate; and
saw that Miss Trevor would never get
round the sharp angle of the rock, where
the path narrowed to width of some eigh-
teen inches at most.
BY sudden impulse, 1 caught up the
girl in my arms, and by mighty effort
succeeded in rounding that dangerous
point, and in reaching, as l had expected,
the broader road beyond. The snow was
falling fast, while still the thunder rolled,
and the ice-cold wind swept bowling past.
Already the road was white with fallen
flakes. Far across the deep valley, on an
opposite table-land, 1 deserted the walls
of convent nesting amidst trees, and with
farm buildings and Indian cottages around
it, Could we but reach it we should be
safe, but the only way to gain it speedily
Uas evidently hv crossing one OF those