Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-09-13

Uu' " ioN ictt oeloW uluis Wuho tllo clcC'
tricity twisted and wreathed, like the
tongues of Internal serpents, round the
of his carbine
1t was trying moment, my friend ;
situation we'll calculated to inspire feel
ing of terrier in the heart OF the boldest.
But whether it was the rain, which was
falling in torrents and driving furiously
before the gale, or the glare OF the light
ming, which prevented him from seeing
me, nm unable to say. AT all events |
escaped his notice, the shot did not come.
and watching my chance in the lulls of
the tempest, l continued my perilous
course.
1t seemed as if the food gates of heav.
Ell had been opened and the scourging
wind, sweeping with terrific violence
around the mountain, disputed every inch
OF the way which gained with the ut
most difficulty, oftentimes threatening to
tear me bodily from the oscillating lad~
der which had served me so well.
l had but little strength to spare when
| at last found myself crouchng on the
muddy bottom Of the old mountain 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 tor
rent MS it swelled and gathered force far
above me.
Nerved on by the strength of despair |
rushed down the steep decivity, reckless
as to where my feet might WANDER
Completely blinded between the mingled
glare Of the lightning and the intense
darkness that followed each fash. l
stumbled on. feeling every moment that
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 projec-
I ion | could find along the side of the ra
vine.
The inexorabe waters rose yet faster,
and she danger of the tempest grew Wild
er still My strength and even faculties
were failing fast, my feet were lifted from
beneath me, and quicker thnn thought
was rushing helplcssly along, enveloped
amid the spray aud foam of that mad
dcning whirl.
/ think | must have lost myself for n
moment, but walked, amid the darkness
and roaring waters, nenrly strangled to
death. Another instant and | was whirl
ed heavily against some yielding object.
rallied my strength for final eflort.-
The next flash revealed the wreck Of n
tree, with the roots clingng tenacously
to the side of the bank.
/ drew myself out of the rush Of the
current, and crawled up to "A firm foot
hold on the shelving bank of the torrent.
The cool rain revived me. The terri
BILE strain upon my nervous system had,
to II great extent, robbed me of the
strength and vitality natural to my strong
But my power of endur>
ance WAS great. i stumbled forward
nmid the debris OF fallen trees, pit holes
and huge rocks, all scattered promiscd-
ously about on the steep sideot the noun
tain. until faint glimmer of light
streamed tremulously across my path. -
1t was welcome sight, and. prisoner or
no prisoner, made up my mind to risk
life and liberty and demand shelter from
the terrible storm. which still ragged, but
gave s igns of abating.
was unarmed the only weapon l
bad sailed forth with had been abandon
ed on the edge of the precipice, previous
to my attempting that perilous passage.
| felt my heart beat faster Ms neared tho
door of that tumble-dow rancho. which
loomed up, huge, shnpeles mass, amid
the gloom and solitude of that wild spot.
A moments hesitation, and i knocked
resolutely nj the door.
"Qmero UiUeF" (who comes there p
and heard the click of n weapon.
E" am" replied, bitterly. in English,
' a United States officer, who lost his way
on the ide Of this cursed mountain"
With jerk the door was thrown back
on its rusty hinges, revealing the figure
Of n man of brawny proportions, armed
to the teeth, and of most vilainous as-
pect.
He held II flaming torch on high, the
uncertain light of which fell across his
Scared and scowling visage. Keenly
md deliberately he scanned the torn and
tattered remains OF my niform then in
A harsh and growing voice, he demand
ed
" What do you want here, and how
many Of you are there 2"
replied in the best Spanish that was
alone, and repeated my dolefuI story Of
being lost in the storm.
AT that moment, TO my surprise and
astOnishmert, my faithful Newfoundland, +,
who, by some keen instinct of his nature
had succeeded in scenting ne, burst from
The surrounding obscurity, testifying his
JOY by leaping upon me and baying in his
deep, powerful tones.
1t was 1t welcome surprise to me. /
felt that had at least ore faithful friend
upon whom | could rely in case of any
emergency.
The mans appearance was indicative
Of mixtured ferocty and cunning, while
his ewes wild and unsettled lit IN with
an expression could not fathom, and he
bade me enter.
Strange forbod;ngs filed my heart as l
gazed about the recesses of the howell. 1t
was almost bare Of furniture, save table
and two broken chairs. A fire bazed
cheerily in the fireplace, before which
were stretched three dark forms wrapped
in tarered and greasy blankets. The