Daily globe., 1879-05-18


twisted and writhed, like tongues of in
fernal serpents, around the muzzle Of his
carbine.
SIT was trying moment, my friend;
a situation we'll calculated to inspire
feeling Of terror in the heart Of the bold
est. But whether it was the rain, which
was falling in torrents and driving furi-
ously before the gale, or the glare of
lightning, which prevented the lancer
from discovering me, am unable to say
At all events l escaped his notice, the
shot did not come, and watching nv
chance in the lulls of the tempest, / con
tinued my perilous course.
stIt seems as if the flood gates of heaven
had been opened; and the scourging wind,
sweeping with terrific violence around the
mountain, disputed every inch of the way
which gained with the utmost difficulty,
oftentimes threatening to tear me bodily
fiom the oscillatng ladder which had
served me so we'll.
II had but little strength to spare when
/ at last found myself crouching on the
muddy bottom of the old mountain
gorge.
The earth yielded beneath my feet,
sand and pebbeles swirled by; and rising
above the crash of the element, l heard
the increasing roar Of some unknown tor
rent as it swclled and gathered force far
above me.
'Nerved on by the strength of despair
rushed down the steep declivity, reck-
less as to where my feet might wander.
Completely blinded between the mingled
glare Of the lightning and the intense
darkness that followed each flash, I
stumbled on, feeling that every moment
my steps were becoming unsteadier.
THE water was already up to my
knees, and rushing by with force that
made me grip desperately to whatever
projection l could find along the side of
the ravine.
s'The inexorable waters rose yet faster,
and the danger Of the tempest grew
wilder still My strength and faculties
were falling fast, my feet were lifted from
beneath me, and quicker than thought I
was rushing helplessly along, enveloped
amid the spray and foam of that madden
ing whirl.
II think must have lost myself for a
moment, but walked amid the darkness
and roaring waters, nearly strangled to
DEATH Another instant and | was
whirled heavily against some yielding
object. l rallied my strength for a final
effort. The next flash revealed the wreck
Of tree, with the roots still clinging
tenaciously to the side of the bank.
i 81 drew myself up out Of the rush of
the current, and crawled to a firm foot
hold on the shelving bank of the torrent
''The cool rain revived me. The ter
rible strain upon my nervous system rob-
: bed me to a certain extent of the strength
and vitality natural to my strong consti-
tuition. But my power Of endurance was
great. stumbled forward, feeling my
way amid debris of fallen trees, pitholes
and huge rocks, all scattered promiscu-
ously about on the steep side of the
mountain, until a faint glimmer of light
streamed TREMENDOUSLY across my path
5 It was a welcome sight, and, prisoner o.
no prisoner,I made up my mind to risk life
and liberty and demand shelter from the
5 terrible storm, which still ragged, but
gave signs Of abating.
| 81 was unarmed; the only weapon
had sailed forth with had been aban
, doned on the edge of the precipice, pre-
2 vious to my attempting the perilou!
: passage. felt my heart beat faster a!
; neared the door Of that tumble-dowl
/ rancho, which loomed up, huge, shape
! less mass, amid the gloom and solitud,
t Of that wild spot.
GA moments hesitation, and / knocked
resolutely at the door.
!; "'Quiero pive?' (who comes thereD ant
I heard click of weapon.
I am an American, replied, bitter
e ly, in English; "a United States officer
e who has lost his way on the side Of thi
S cursed mountain
"With a jerk the door was throw
e back on It's rusty hinges, revealing tn
/ figure of a man of brawny proportions
:. armed to the teeth, and of most villain
e Gus aspect.
p ':He held a flaring torch on high, tn
u uncertain light Of which fell across hi
Scared and scowling visage. Keenly an,
c deliberately he scanned the torn and tat
q tered remains of my uniform; then, in
: voice harsh and growing, he demanded
d "sWhat do you want here, and hoy
many of you are there?'
h 81 replied, in the best Spanish I coul
4 master, that [ was alone, and repeate
0 my doleful story of being lost in tn
S storm.
a Sat that moment, to my surprise an,
e astonishment, my faithful Newfoundland
8 who, by some keen instinct of his natur
d had succeeded in scenting me, burst fror
d the surrounding obscurity, testifying hi
|, JOY by leaping upon me and baying i
l. his deep, powerful tones.
';It was a welcome surprise to me- fe
d that had at least one friend upon who1
# l could rely in case of an emergency.
o ''The mans appearance was indicativ
e of mixtured ferocity and cunning, Will
his eye, wild and unsettled, lit up wit
:? an expression could not fathom, as
e. bade me enter.
y ''Strange forebodings filled my hea1
l. as gazed about the recesses Of the hove
d 1t was almost bare of furniture, save
% table and two broken chairs. A fiji
n blazed cheerily in the fireplace, befol
g which were stretched three dark form
IS wrapped in tattered and greasy blanket
The CLEAN of fire. arms, as they lay pile
le in the corner, did not escape my atte,
S, ton; and you may depend | did not fet
le the easiest in my mind as drew up b.
ID fore the fire, with my dog coiled dow
at my feet.
L "In my exhausted state, despite Il
1 danger 1 felt was lurking about me,
g must have dropped off asleep, my hea
TX finding support against a projection
the chimney.
tn ''The low, monotonous hum of voic
er fell upon my ear, and cautiously reco1
to noitering from beneath the visor Of IL
'p cap, l found that the three sleepers ha
h aroused themselves, and were in dee