The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1879-01-11
THE TIGERS Den.
81 ANNIE MYRTLE.

~ ANNIE MYRTLE.
came to Lima 10 1859, in order to
superiutend-iu tho uame of . Com
pany formed at London-the explora.
ti"ns Of mines wLich existed only
upon the chart Invented by the
would.be guarantee. The inspec.
ton of the soil soon made mo under.
stand that my silent partners had
been duped. Before returning to
Europe, We wished to receive some
advantage from that long voyage.
Wishing to receive instruction, and
also to satisfy my curiosity, l resolv.
ed, in company With two Of my com.
panions, Messieurs Smart and Col.
ron, to visit Chimborazo, tho highest
and most imposing of the mountains
of Peru.
Ono morning, after having passed
tho preceding night in On 1ndis0 vii
lage, We began to ascend the foot
path which is found at the base of
this giant Of the Andes, when. raising
my head, I saw that the radiance of
the eternal sn"ws which surround
the summit Of the mountain was dis.
appearing, little by little, by reason
Of thick mist.
The natives who served 10 a. guides
threw alarmed glances toward those
inaospicious vapors, and, shaking
their heads, assured 10 that We were
threste with violent hurricane.
Their fears were soon verified.
The mist extended with rapidity
along the sides Of tho mountains, and
We were soon plunged 10 thick dark,
ness. The atmosphere was suffoca-
ting, and yet 60 moist that the steel
Of our watches was covered with rust.
The river near which We were walk
ing was running with redoubled
vigor.
Suddenly, and az if by magic, there
rushed through the rocks upon our
left a multitude of streams, which
were dragging along with them the
trunks Of trees and bushes that had
been torn up BY tho roots. also
perceived an enormous serpent, which
was struggling and making useless
efforts to resist the violence of the
waters.
Soon thunder was heard, which
awoke all the echoes Of the moun>
tain. Each moment the lightning
rent the clouds below rs, above us
and on either side. We could al
most believe ourselves in the midst
Of an ocean of fire.
We sheltered ourselves undor the
shade of y great tree, while one Of
oar guides sOnght for % . moro &C.
cure asylum. lie soon returned and
announced that he had found . spa
ei"us cavern, which would afford % .
sufficient protection against the vio-
lence of the elements. We started
Immediately, but it was with the
1grratest difficulty that we reached
the designated place.
The tempest prolonged itself with
q DOise ~ terrible that We could not
hear one another speak. l stood in
silence at the entrance Of tho cavern,
and l observed through the opening,
which was loug aud narrow, the scene
without. The highest cedars were
torn up BY the roots or bent like
reeds.
Some monkeys and parrots, killed
BY tho falling Of tho branches, were
scattered along tho groand. Tho
streams had become great rivers,
which followed the sides Of tho noun.
taius.
All attempts to describe THE grand
scene would be in vain. Whoever
has not visited South America has no
conception Of such 4 spectacle. I
feared ws should DO obliged to pass
several days in THE cavern. Never.
tl'sless, when tho Tempest became
lees violent, our guides left tho den
In order to ASCERTAIN II 10 could pur>
soc our route.
The cave inf which no he'd sought
% asylum wAs % dark that when we
were ct distance from tho entrance
we could no longer see fifty centlme-
;; tres lnearly half . yasd) before %.
!, While No were speaking Of tho
! embarrassments Of OR situation, Q
. kind . grooming, proceeding from the
!. depths Of tho cave, attracted our a.
, tention. Mr.. Smart and myself lis.
tened with attention, while our friend,
Colson, throwing himself fiat upon
tho ground, with Fern, my hunter,
esept along tho narrow cavern In or
der 20 ascertain tho cause Of thio
noise.
They had gone bat . abort distance
when 10 heard . cry Of surprise.
They soon reappeared, each bearing
. spotted animal Of tho sise Of . N
tie cat, tho jsw.bone Of each beiul ,
, armed With formidable iucisive teeth.
. Their eyes were Of . gresnish color;
and they had long claws.
Az coon % Nj. Smart glanced q
. them, be exclaimed:
I'VE are 10 the don Of a."
; He was interrupted BY tho voices
; Of oar guides, who were running TO-
!. ward tho cave, shriekipg "a tiger!
: A tiger y aud who, climbing With
singular dextesity TO the top Of . O..
dar growing near tho cavern, bid
Themselves among tho branches.
We were moti0oless with terror
but coon our presence Of mind 70.
Turned and 10 seised our fire. arms,
NJ. Smart called to 90 to obstruct che
opening to tho cave with . large
stoue, which, fortunately, We lyina
uear. We hastened to perform thi1
operation, for 10 began to hear die.
tinctly the roarinss Of tho ierocioua
animal. We were lot lit reached
the eutr.nee of the dan haknse -.