Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-05-01
Who Comes There?

OF which was junior partner COM
PEELED me to visit San Francisco.
On the train was a tall, soldierlV
appearing man, whose acquaintance
made. He told me of an adven'
ture heshad.
1t was personal adventure, and
the gentleman, an officer of the ar
my, would not care to see his name
in print.
1T was during the Mexican war,
when l was sub in a cavalry regi-
ment, that found myself on duty
at Vera Cruz. Tempted by the
high mountains in the vicinity, the
beautiful scenery, and above all the
superb hunting, I sailed forth early
one morning accompanied by no one
save my Newfoundland dog.
"I was an ardent sportsman, my
doubie-barrelled gun worked to a
charm, and not until the deepening
shades of evening, accompanied by
an unmistakable growl Of thunder,
did l give Thought to the flight of
time or the Importance of retracing
my steps to the city.
''It was about the time that the
bloodthirsty and cowardlY Canales
had ordered every Mexican to join
the army and commanded that no
quarter should be granted to the
hated Americans.
81 had not anticipated danger
from the enemy, unless it might be
in the shape of some small bands of
gEerriilas lurking amid the noun
tain gorges, actuated more by the
hope of plunder than by patriotic
motives.
81 will not attempt to say how
many thousand feet was above the
level of the sea, but I found the ele-
vation sufficient even for the tried
and practiced nerves of seamen,
had he been placed in my position"
'FThere is little twilight, you
know, in the tropics. The sun had
disappeared in the folds cf an i'm
mense cloud witch was rapidly
spreading itself over the entire heav-
ems, while from its slbla deDths
da1ted lurid sheets of lightning, fol-
lowed by the increasing roar of
thunder, which already found an
echo through the valleys and gorges
of the mountains.
81 did not fancy wet jacket,
ard Whistliug for my dog, an ami
nal to which was warmly attach
ed, l was on the point of retracing
my steps down the rough noun
tain road, when the jingling of
spurs and accountrements, the
trampling of horses. and the hoarse
word Of command was sufficient
for me to draw back into tall tuft
of grass and Spanish bayonet grow
ing beside me.
The dog crouched at my feet,
growing ominously, as if conscious
of the danger his master was in, and
faith, I did not much like the situa-
ton found myself compelled to
face.
Al n1mber of Mexican lancers
were before me preparing to bivouac
for the night, and my retreat down
the road was out Of question.
High, precipitous rocks hemmed
me in on three sides, through which
the road I had travelled had been
originally cut. The outlet was now
in possession of the lancers, while
in front of me the steep side of the
mountain, verging almost on to a
precipice, sloped toward the city.
ITO remain where was would be
only to court death, a nameless fate,
an unknown grave for discovery was
certain to follow when the sentinels
should be posted.
"Cautiously | examined the
smooth sides of the precipice, cover
ed here and there by network of
vines, clinging to the creVices and
riffs in the rock for its uncertain
life. Further on l beheld a dark,
irregular line disappearing in the
murkY depths below. I strained
my eyes to the utmost. for the
gloom of night and the mists of the
storm, which threatened every mo-
ment to burst above my head en-
veloped all objects in darkness and
uncertainty.
But for once fortune favored me,
and | never laid claim to being a
favorite to the tickle jade. The dark
line proved tojhe deep, dry gully,
the channel of some mountain
stream long since dried up.
Bathow to reach the friendly COW
er ? That was the question which
puzzled me.
A sudden com notion among the
gtyly-trappe gentry behind me
s)on decide my course of action.
They had kindled small camp
tire. were about to c00k their eye