The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-03-05

Il
my eyes to the utmost, for the gloom of !
night and the mists of the storm, which |
threatened every moment to burst above
my head, enveloped all objects in dark
ness and uncertainty.
"But for once, fortune favored me,
and never laid claim to being favor.
ite of the tickle jade. The dark line
proved to be a deep, dry gully, the
channel of some mountain stream, long
since dried up.
But how to reach the friendly cover
that was the question which puzzled
me.
GA sudden commotion among the
gayly-trapped gentry behind me soon
decided my course of action. They had
kiDdled small campfire, were about
to cook their evening meal, and dozen
men-tall, strapping fellows-were ra-
dating from the main body in different
directions to perform the duty Of senti-
! nels.
"One in particular was making for
the friendly clump of wide-spreading
limbs, in hopes, possibly, to partially
escape the fierce gusts OF wind and rain
which had begun to sweep about the
mountain. .....
Dropping my fowling-p piece, and
bidding my noble dog to shift for him
self, swung myself over the precipice,
clinging to the network of vines, which
shook and complained beneath my
weight.
"The darkness had increased with
astonishing rapidity, an@ as swung
over that rayless void / found it i'm
possible to pierce the gloom. heard
the short, sharp howl of my dog as he
darted off in search of me; then, amid
the rush of the squall, came the con-
fused shouts OF men, struggling shot
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, ]
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 aud blade OF
grass; and once, when I had found a
slight support for my feet, and was Civ.
ing my aching arms rest, 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 l hung suspended
and fiattened against tue cliff, but few
feet below him, while the electricity
twisted and writhed, like tongues of I'M
fernal serpents, around the muzzle of
his carbiDe.
cit was trying moment, my friend /;
a situation well calculated to inspire a
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, L am
unable to say. At all events 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 gained with the
utmost difficulty, ofteutimes threatening
, to tear me bodily from the oscillating
ladder hich had served me so well.
81 had but little strength to spare
when 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, 1 heard
| the increasing roar of some unknown
torrent as it swelled and gathered force
/ far above me.
: " "NerVed on by the strength of de-
3 kspair I rushed down the steep decIivity,
reckless as to where my feet might wan
4 der. Completely blinded between the
I mingled glare of the lightning and the
: intense darkness that followed eacL
i fash, stumbled on, feeling that every
I moment my steps were becoming un
steadier.
/ "The water was already up to my
D knees, and rushing by with force thai
a made me grip desperately to whatever
o projection could find along the side o.
Q the ravinel
o "The inexorable waters rose We
Q faster, and the danger of the tempes
Q grew wilder still. Ny strength and ever
d faculties were failing fast, my feet wer,
lifted from beneath me, and quicker
/ than thought was rushing helplessly
Q along enVeloped amid the spray and foam
/ of that maddening whirl.
d 81 think 1 mus ave lost myself TO
a moment, but "a, amid the darkness
q and roaring Sers, nearly strangled T.
70 death. Anoeher instant and 1 wa
d whlrled heavily against some yielding
object. 1 rallied my strength for fins
d effort. The next fash revealed tn
10 wreck of tree, with the roots still
y clinging tenaciously to the side of tn
N bank.
le "I drew myself up out of the rush G
J. the current, and crawled to firm foot
ID hold on the shelving bank of the torrent
OTha cool rain revivad ma The an