The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-03-13

fused shouts of men, q struggling shot
or two mingled with the crash Of thu
heavy artillery rolling in the vast ex
panse above me.
{" Depending principally upon the
strength and endurance of my arms,
carefully and cautiously felt nv wa,
along the verge of the precipice, work
ing in the direction of the gully, which
once gained, promised to afford me tn,
means of escape from the danger.
which encompassed me.
Broad sheets of lightning lit ur
with dazzling distinctness the fearful
scene, bringing out every undulatior
of the rocks, every crevice and blade
OF grass, and once when I had found q
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 Mexican, peering
over the brink, his eyes apparently fast
ened upon me as l hung suspended
and flattened 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.
cit was a trying moment, my friend,
a situation well calculated to inspire q
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 prevent
ed the lancer from discovering me,
am unable to say. At all events es-
capped 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 flood gates of
heaven had been opened, and the
scourging wind, sweeping with terrific
violence around the mountain, disput-
ing every inch of the way which gained
with the utmost difficulty, oftentimes
threatening to tear me bodily from the
osciRating ladder which had served me
so we'll.
Il had but little strength to spare
when at last found myself crouching
on the muddy bottom of the old mount
ain gorge.
"The earth yielded beneath my feet,
sand and pebbles swirled by, and rising
above the crash of the elements, l 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 Irushed down the steep declivity,
reckless as to where my feet might
wander. Completely blinded between
the mingled glare of the lightning and
the intense darkness that followed each
flash, l stumbled on, feeling that every
moment my steps were becoming UNI
steadier.
"The water was already up to my
knees. and rushing by with force
that made me grip desperately to
whatever projections Icould find along
the side of the ravine.
1.-The memorable waters rose vet
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 I was rushing
along and enveloped amid
the spray and foam of that maddening
whirl.
81 think must have lost myself for
a moment, but walked amid the dark
ness and roaring waters, nearly stran-
gled to death. Another instant and l
was whirled heavily against some
yielding object. Irallied my strength
for final effort. The next flash re-
vealed the wreck of tree, with the
roots still clinging tenaciously to the
side of the bank.
81 drew myself out of the rush of
the current, and crawled to Il firm
foothold on the shelving bank of the
torrent.
"The cool rain revived me. The
terrible strain upon my nervous system
had robbed me, to a great extent, of
the strength and vitality natural to my
strong constitution. But my power Of
endurance was great. l stumbled for
ward, feeling my way amid debris of
fallen trees, pit-holes and huge rocks,
all scattered promiscuously about on
the steep side of the mountain, until a
faint glimmer of light streamed
across my path. 1t was
welcome sight, and, prisoner or no
prisoner, I made up my mind to risk
life and liberty, and demand shelter
from the terrible storm, which still
ragged, but gave signs of abating.
IL was unarmed; the only weapon
had sailed forth with had been aban-
doned on the edge of the precipice,
previous to my attempting the perilous
passage. l felt my heart beat faster
as l neared the door of that tumble
down ranch which doomed up, a huge,
shapeless mass, amid the gloom and
solitude of that wild spot.
A moments hesitation and 1 knocked
resolutely at the door.
"'Quiero vive?' (who comes THEREBY
and l heard the click of weapon.
eel am an American l replied bit
terly, in English. "A United States
officer, who has lost his way on the side
of this cursed mountain
"With a 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 q flaring torch on high,
the uncertain light of which fell across
his SCARED and scowling visage. Keen
ly and deliberately he scanned the torn
and tattered remains of my uniform,
then in a voice harsh and growing, he
What do you want here, and how
many of you are there?'
II replied in the best Spanish