The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-12

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or two mingling with the crash of the
heavy artillery rolling in the vast ex-
panse above me.
Depending principally upon the
strength and endurance of my arms, I
carefully and cautiously felt my way
along the verge of the precipice, work
ing in the direction of the gully, which,
once gained, promised to afford me the
means of escape from the dangers which
encompassed me.
"Broad sheets OF lightning lit up
with dazzling distinctness the fearful
scene, bringing out every undulation OF
the rocks, every crevice and blade OF
grass; and once, when [ had found q
slight support for my feet, and was Civ.
ing my aching arms rest, I glanced
above amid the yellow glare of the
lightning and beheld the fierce, dark
whiskered face of a Mexican peering
over the brink, his eyes apparently
fastened upon me as I hung suspended
and hattened against the cliff, but few
feet below him, while the electricity
twisted and writhed, like tongues of in
fernal serpents, around the muzzle Of
his carbine.
"It was trying moment, my friend; !;
q situation we'll calculated to inspire
feeling Of terror in the heart of the
boldest. But whether it was the rain,
which was falling in torrents and driv-
ing furiously before the gale, or the
glare of the lightning, which prevented
The lancer from discovering me, 1 am
unable to say. At all events I escaped
his notice, the shot did not come, and
watching my chance in the lulls of the
tempest, continued my perilous course.
cit seemed as if the food-gates Of
heaven had been opened; and the scourg-
ing wind, sweeping with terrific violence
around the mountain, disputed every
inch of the way which I gained with the
utmost difficulty, ofteptimes threatening
to tear me bodily from the oscillatlng
ladder which had served me 30 well.
"I had but little strength to spare
when I at last found myself crouching
on the muddy bottom of the old noun
tain gorge.
"The earth yielded beneath my feet,
sand and pebbles swirled by; and rising
above the crash of the elements, heard
the increasing roar of some unknown
torrent as it swelled and gathered force
far above me.
"Nerved on by the strength of de-
spair rushed down the steep declivity,
reckless as to where my feet might wan
der. Completely blinded between the
mingled glare OF the lightning and the
intense darkness that followed each
flash, stumbled on, feeling that every
moment my steps were becoming un.
steadier.
"The water was already up to my
knees, and rushing by with force that
made me grip desperately to whatever
projection could find along the side OF
the ravine.
"The ine1orable waters rose yet
faster, and the danger of the tempest
grew wilder still. My strength and even
faculties were failing fast, my feet were
lifted from beneath me, and quicker
than thought was rushing helplessly
along enveloped amid the spray and foam
of that maddening whirl.
II think I must have lost myself for
q moment, but walked, amid the darkness
and roaring waters, nearly strangled to
deasi. Another instant and was
whirled heavily against some yielding
object. rallied my strength for final
effort. The next flash revealed the
wreck OF q tree, with the roots still
clinging tenaciously to the side ofsthe
bank.
CT drew myself up ont Of the rush of
the current, and crawled to firm foot
hold on the shelving bank Of the torrent.
"The cool rain revived me. The Ter
rible strain- upon my nervous system
had robbed me to great extent OF the
strength and vitality natural to my
strong constitution. But my power of
endurance was great. I stumbled for
ward, feeling my way amid debris OF
fallen trees, pitholes and huge rocks, all
scattered promiscuously ,,about on the
steep side of the mountain, until faint
glimmer OF light streamed tremulously
across my path. It was welcome
sight, and, prisoner or no prisoner, 1
made up nv mind to risk life and liberty
and demand shelter from the terrible
storm, which still ragged, but gave signs
of abating.
ST was unarmed; the only weapon I
had sailed forth with had been aban-
doned on the edge of the precipice, ire
vious to my attempting the perilous
passage. I felt my neart beat faster as
neared the door OF that tumble-down
rancho, which loomed up, a huge, shape
less mass, amid the gloom and solitude
OF that wild spot
"a moments hesitation, and I knocked
rcsolutely at the door.
"Qutero vivc = (who comes there p
and heard the click of a weapon.
"'I am an American, I replied, bit
terly, in English; a United States Off
Ger, who has lost his way on the side OF
this cursed mountain
"With jerk the door was thrown
back on its rusty hinges, revealing the
figure OF man of brawny proportions,
armed to the teeth, and of most villain
GUS aspect.
"He held tiaring torch on high, the
uncertain light of which fell across his
SCARED and scowling visage. Keenly
and deliberately he scanned the torn and
tattered remains of my uniform; then,
in voice harsh and growing, he de-
manded:
"'What do you want here, and how
many of you are there?'
II replied, in the best Spanish 1
could master, that I was alone, and re-.
peated my doleful story of being lost in
the storm.
cat that moment, to my surprise and
astonishment, my faithful Newfound-
land, who, by some keen instinct of his
nature had succeeded in scenting me,
burst from the surrounding obscurity,
testiiying his Joy by leaping upon me
and baying in his deep, powerful tones.
eft was q welcome surprise to me. 1
felt that had at least one friend upon
whom l could rely in case of an emer-
gency.
"The mans appearance was indica-
tive OF a mixtured ferocity and cunning,
while his eye, wild and unsettled, lit up
with an expression I could not fathom,
as he babe me enter.
"Strange forebodings filed my heart
as T gazed about the reoesses of the
hovel. It was almost bare of furniture,
save table and two broken chairs. A
fire blazed cheerily in the fireplace,
before which were stretched three dark
forms wrapped in tattered and greasy
blankets. The gleam of firearms, as
they lay piled in the corner, did not es-