The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-09-11
A TALE OF THE GKINDEWALD

early spring, Ill lIAS; consequently the
snow laid thick upon the mountains an0
was preparing to descend in avalanches
into the valleys. In that pass which
leads from the lake Of Thun to the Wet
terhorn and the Elgher there were but
few Inhabitants. near the junction of the
two valleys of Grindcwald and Lauterbrun
men, a little inn stood under the shelter
OF the gigantic rocks. In the hight OF
the season-August and September-the
hotel had much custom, and Herr Baum.
garthcn and his wife had very few soli-
tary hours. They were easy-living pco.
pie, and with the gifts of the latter sum
mer they usually amassed sufficient wealth
to carry them through the dreariness of
the winter season. They were cheerful
co'ple; consequently, neither looked with
dread to the approaching avalanrhes of
the Elgher, or to the wolves which still
hunted in packs along the rocky passes
of Lautcrbrunnen. They had one child
a boy: he was II at the opening of my
tale, entirely unlike father or mother,
while the pride and delight of both of
them.
Fritz was well known in the neighbor-
| hood around, and considered one of the
greatest glories of the Obcrand; he was
J tall Of his age, though slim, but very
active. Though our work at present has
! nothing to do with love stores. Fritz did.
nevertheless, love, IN the valley of
Kandcrstes, the Frau Louise.
| 1t was in the depth Of the snow winter
of the celebrated year, when no traveller
| left his foot mark upon the SHOWS of the
N,t, \ Il Il
to explore the solitudes of Lautcrbrunncn
Fritz had gone to Kendersteg, bold and
| fearless, with his staff in his hand, and
his pistol in his belt, with his dog Kaiser
by his side: he had tearlessly climbed t. e
rocks which no youth on that side of the
grand Shrcidach would have advcntured
and which, perhaps, no Switzer, snort
of the Brcvcnt, would have touched.
Fritz was the p.de of the valley; his
father and mother were left alone in their
little unirequcntcd inn, strong and COM
Portable inside, exposed to every danger
and difficulty without; they were both in
bed; it vas the dead of night; toward 2
in the morning. Fritz had promised to
be home before midday. Anxious about
him, they still trusted to the daring of
their child and the protection of Kaiser.
The valleys around were deeply silent
with that stiffness which snow alone can
give. It is like that profound quiet
The woman started from her sleep, and
awokc her husband
| '.Hark! Karl" said she, "Do you not
hearl'
He reused himself
"Nothing, Frau" said he, falling back
on his pillow. .
Two minutes passed, and his wife again
aroused him. He started up.
"Karl, sad she, ''thcre's a sound OF
horse hoois in the valley, and the how
of distant wolves in the Eighcr." '"0"
The man lcaped out of bed. threw the
window open and listened; he heard
nothlng-all was still deep SHOWS Otter
break all sound. He returned to bed
and hardly sunk into his sleep before the
unmlstakable sound of horse, arrived al
full pace, rested at his door.
"FoT the kind Gods sake said voice
below his window, "let me inw cry
which was accompanied with IN earnest
knocking at the door OF the hotel.
"Go, Karl, CO." said she to her unwill
|
traveller who waits outside; admit him.
Karl lazily rose and threw the window
open. A man on horseback was below
and close to the door.
"Opcn the door! Open the door! In tn,
name of the kind God2 I am pursued.
"By Nhat?" said the host
There was no need to wait for an ans
wcr, for the shrill cry of pack of wolves
was heard upon the quiet winters nigh
in full pursuit of the terrified stranger
who waited at the door.
The intense stiffness around made tho
bay of the approaching pack of wolves
more shrill and terrible as it was echoed
from the gigantic peak OF the Eighcr anC
the storm-worn precipices Of t,e Wetter
horn. The wall came now high, now
low, down the valley, but ever advancing
and speaking Of ravenous hunger ant
rabid terocity. The air was piteously
cold, and Karl, who possessed but Ettl,
of the courage or true hospitality of {
Switzer's heart began to shrink from thu
thought, at such perilous moment, o
opening the door of his house, and begar
the vain work of expostulating with th'
agonized stranger.
"Only come down and open the odor,
said he. in bis exceeding terror; ''they
will be upon me directly-I hear thei
footsteps now. They have pursued mt
all the way down the valley; my horse is
worn out with the pursuit, and can g
, no further; only come aud open the door
you have time, indeed you have, before
they can be upon us. Pray--pray b'
qulck!'
The wretchrd man uttered these word.
in broken sentences, while his eyes were
! fixed entreatingly on the window; bu
Karl's craven heart still refused to CIV,
| him courage. There was terrible stor,
2 connected with bygone days, mixed VI
, with that part OF the valley, OF wolvc
! having driven with hunger burst forclb
r Iy into goat-herd's hut and devourec
its helpless inhabitants before they wer
/. able to defend themselves. While Kar
g and his wife, who still lay in her bed
4 with her teeth chattering with trighh;
e we're hesitatlng as to what to do, tn
: wolves had turned the last corner of tn
: road, and were close upon the heels @
. the traveller. He cast one last, piteOu
s look of despair upon Karl, leaped upo
z his horse, and dashed away into the sol
: tude and SHOWS of Lsuterbrunnen pas
4 Scarcely had Karl time to realize thu
q the hapless horseman was gone, than th
}. whole pack dashed furlously past the IN
r in full and close pursuit The host stoo
:. appalled, at the still open window. e
e continued to hear the fast-reccding hoo
:. of the horse. mingled with the faster d.