The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-20
A SNOW STORM IN THE TROPICS
A STORY FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.

Father" SAID George Moore, one
stormy winters night, won't you please
tell NE OF some one sfyour adventures!
"You seem never to tire of my adven
lures" SAID his father, smiling. "Did L
ever tell YOU how nearly | was lost once,
in snow sto.m in the tropics?"
"a snow storm in the tropics! How
could that be-"
at happened when l was quite a
Young man, that, for several months, In
the course of business, l had to stay at
a lonely place on the coast of Peru. l
was in town, but it was dull one, and
only showed signs of life when some
trading vessel would lie there for day
or two. My only amusement was seal
fishing; but | soon got tired of that, for
/ was not very successful. 1t vs. asport
that required more practice than was
able to give it. The boats are nothing
but two bags of skin, connected by mar
row deck, and did not consider them
altogether safe, for me, at least.
"At last l thought l would vary the
monotony of my life by little trip up
the Andes mountains. | could not go
alone, of course, but small sum was
sufficient to hire guide, and two men
besides. and four mules. There were no
hostile Indians to fear, and the guide
was all that needed, but | knew he
would be better contented with some
companions, and felt, myself, that 1t
would be a lonely sort OF journey for two.
1t was my intention to make an early
start, but il was quite late in the morn
ing before ! could get the lazy natives on
the road. The first part OF our march
was across sandy, stony desert, with the
rays of the hot sun beating on our heads.
NY broad brimmed Panama did not pre-
vent my face from bliste-ing, and the
white cotton cape / wore did not seem
to be much of protection.
1--WE halted twice to take some re-
freshments, and short rests; and before
sunset, We arrived at a miserable sort OF
inn, where we renamed for three hours,
and rested ourselves and the mules and
both men and beasts ate hearty suppers.
Then we continued our journey, for 1t
was more pleasant to travel at night than
in the day. 1t was evident that we were
reaching higher ground, though the AS.
cent was so easy as scarcely to be per
ceptible. But the air gradually became
iresher and cooler, and at last wooden
cloak Was comfortable.
"When day came we found ourselves
in a region almost as barren az the desert
We had left the day before. We were on
a rocky plain, high up on the hills, or,
more properly, small mountains. Nc
plants grew on the plain except few
species of cactus, which flourish In the
poorest soils; there were no signs OF HE
but focks of turtle.doyes."
That must have been a pretty sight
though, father! should like to see
great many turtle.dov together
"You would not if you were Peru
visn farmer, for these poeticai birds are
the very mischief in the grAn-helds
They only trouble us by their melancho
" vail. Their sad notes made this
dreary solitude still more awful
"But had / n consolation. Before me
rose grandly up the high peaks OF the
Andes. Treir white tops seemed to
touch the sky.
AFTER a time, to my surprise, we be-
gan TO descend. In few hours more
We were in a lovely valley, filled with
villages, and farms, and trees, and HOW
erS. | stayed there two days EMO! ing
the valley, and inspecting its curios'ties,
which | will tell you about some time!
WAS it warm in the valley
YES, but not oppressiveiy hot. 1t was
high up on the hills; and then 1t WAS the
month of August, and the winter season.
"Winter season in AugustY'
"Of course / was south of the eqda.
tor, where the seasons, you know, are
inst the reverse of ours. We commenced
The ascent OF the mountain in high spirits
The wind was cool and bracing; and the
vegetation all around Us WAS OF great IN
terest to me. But it began to change
rapidly; and before night we were among
huge stones and jagged rocks, where only
evergreens were seen"
How could you find your way
"There was rough kind of a road over
the mountains In many places l should
never have been able to trd ii at all, ou'
the guide knew all the .au dmarks.
The first night we spent IN an Indian
cabin; and the next morsing Continued
our Journey, but we were not SO gay q:
ON the preceding day 1t was bitter cold
and we needed all the wraps we had Win
us do not know how our two compan'
ions managed to wander away from Tue
road as they afterwards insisted ths'
they did. / think the cold was too mnch
for their courage, and they grew tired OF
their bargain. and made up their miho'
IN fall back Of US, and watch a chance &c
turn around and go home. The guio'
and | soon missed them, and we roue
about in various directions. calling them
and searching for them. But II WAS easy
enough for them 10 conceal themselves
behind a rock, or in n ravine, ana W.
could not ind them. We gave them W
at last, hoping they would lind their VIZ!
back again.
uBut we soon discovered tha. in look
inc for them We had lost our way. ro'
AN hour We wandered about, ana my
Guide could not find a trace Of the ROAD
This was serious, Tor We had but 'nia'
stock of provisions, ss there were lnoian
huts scattered al along the regular
route, on which he had relied for sup
niles. We could not travel over thu
rough country st night; and nigh $ eh
posure to the cold was not 10 be tnousn
of without shudder. And besides, w
might never find our way out OF luz
frightful solitude .
"Was there nothing anywhere about .
show that any kind of people ii'e'
thsre?' A..
.No. 1t seemed 10 me We were lh'
first human beings who had ever SCI 100
there. In the midst of our perPleS','es
my guide pointed silently to the sk!
There were several small, thick, whit'
clouds floating there They did not loon
very terrible, but the guide said we Wou.l
soon have q storm, and we must uy y
find shelter. Soon more white eiouu'
floaled into sight and they increased WI
til they hid the sun from US. we "ef'