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

6nef8 Dy ueJWOrk OF vines cluglng 10
the crevices and riffs in the rock for IFS
uncertain life. Further on / beheld a
dark, irregular line disappearing in
the murky depths below. I strained
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 u favor.
ite of the fckle jade. The dark line
proved to be 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
kindled 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. r1 tar IA.
" Dropping my fowling-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 1 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, q 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. tFt
"Broad sheets of lightning lit up
with dazzling diktinctness 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.
i ing my aching arms a 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
fastened upon me as I hung suspended
and flattened against the cliff, but few
feet below him, while the electricity
twisted and writhed, like tongues OF I'M
fernal serpents, around the muzzle of
his carbipe.
It was q trying moment, my friend !;
q situation we'll 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 prevented
the lancer from discovering me, 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 il the fiood-g 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, oftentimes threatening
to tear me bodily from the oscillatlng
ladder which had served me so well.
81 had but little strength to spare
when 1 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
I above the crash of the elements, heard
the increasing roar of some unknown
torrent as it swelled and gathered force
far above me.
Il "Nerved on by the strength of de-
fspair rushed down the steep declivity,
\ reckless as to where my feet might wan
der. Completely blinded between the
mingled glare of the lightning and the
intense darkness that followed each
fash, stumbled on, feeling that every
moment my steps we're becoming un-
steadier. h
"The water was already up to my
knees, and rushing by with force that
made me grip desperately to whatever
projection l could find along the side OF
, the ravines
, The inexorable 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 was rushing helplessly
} along enveloped amid the spray and foam
Of that maddening whirl.
SCI think mgst ave lost myself fol
moment, but .d, amid the darkness
3 and roaring Cers, nearly strangled &c
, death. Another instant and 1 wai
] whIrled heavily against some yielding
object. rallied my strength for fina
! effort. The next fash revealed the
0 wreck of a tree, with the roots still
2 | nIinn,innr kananinnnIn "a Ahn ni1n "a Al.