Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-05-12
believing. After a while it

1
grew lighter, the rain ceased, the wind
died away, the lightning became less
vivid. and the thunder sounded farther
and farther away. Soon the sun came
out and all was calm. We then went
up and down the creek, viewing the
Bridge from all points. Finding 1t
tiresome to the neck to stand and look
up at the arch we lay down on our
backs and viewed it for hours with ease
and comfort. We then found that the
mighty arch, at least forty feet thick,
leaked badly, great drops Of water
percolated through 1t and fell to the
ground.
While two Of our party went back to
the spring after the ancient pistol which
had been forgotten IN our hurry, Fish
and climbed the hill on the south in
order to get on top Of the Bridge. 1t
was q laborious task. 1t tried me more
than the thirteen miles walk Of the
morning. Arrived at the top, the great
height Of the Bridge for the frat time
became apparent. Not finding, how
ever, q convenient place to look over on
the east side, l went ever to the other
side, out on a fat ledge OF rocks from
which the descent was straight down.
The distance from the top to the stream
below was awful. As gazed upon the
immense expanse below me, a chill
crept over me, my flesh seemed to be
creeping from my bones, an indefnable
desire to cast myself of took possession
Of me, tried to turn away, but could
not. 1 was spell-bound. Fish now
came up by my side and looked over
Ae started back With cry Of horror.
His cry aroused me. I tore myself
away and sosn left The Bridge. l could
not breathe freely on it. When I'VE
descended again 10 the creek the others
had returned, but without the pistol. -
Somebody had stolen it. Fish had
borrowed it for the occasion. l sTenu-
ously opposed its being brought along
as it was more dangerous to friends
than to enemies.
Il was between twelve and one
O'Clock when we arrived at the bridge.
As il had the appearance of rain, we
changed our intention of remaining till
sunset and set out for home at four
O'Clock. Soon after leaving the bridge
it drizzled little. The roads were very
muddy and the walking extremely un-
pleasant. We had scarcely got two
miles from the bridge, whez one of our
party gave out and we were forced to
stop long while to let him rest. 1t
now became very evident that he could
not get home that night. He was a
Louisisnian, was rather delicate, the
chills and fever having almost put an
end to his existence but since his COM
ing to Virginia, be had improved Won
deriully. But he was not yet tough.
ened enough 10 stand twenty-six mile
walk in one day. Persuadlng him 10
try it again in hopes Of bis getting lodg-
ing in a stsre farther Oh, we once more
tramped away. While trudglng along
through the mud Of Rockbridge's red
clay,-for a more detailed description
of which see Porte Crayon's sketches.
We amused ourselves kicking at each
other the mud which clung to our boots.
We soon reached the store. Unload
ing as much mud as We could possibly
part with on the porch, we carried the
rest into the store, and distributed it
over the floor, to the no great JOY of the
clerk whose business it would be to ex-
ercise the muscle of his arm next morn
ing in scrubbing it out; 1t is very tena-
cious where 1t once takes hold. Here
we invested in ginger cakes and cigars
and remained o long while eating and
smoking and allowing our tired friend
to rest. At twenty minutes till seven,
1 prosposed to move on, our exhausted
friend wanted to rest longer; but the
shades of night were falling fast, clouds
dark and heavy were piling up, every
thing foreboded a rainy and disagree
able night, and we had yet nine miles
OF weary walking through mud, deep,
stiff, and sticky. Ny counsel prevail
ed and We once more set out. Sson
afterwards, lady friend of ours, who
had passed US IN carriage in the morn
ing, now repassed rs and called out as
she pllded rapidly by, that she had TAX
On us for tramps. We smiled ghast-
ly smile and passed on. 1t rapidly
grew dark. The dense dark clouds
did much to hasten the darkness, Soon
an immense mudpuddls stretched out
long and wide before US. The others
went straight through it. I took a
roundabout course and climbed oyer
into a yard to pass it by. In deing
this I fell somewhat behind. Scarcely
had I gotten fairly within the yard,
when a pack Of hounds and "curs OF
low degree" set up most inharmon'
| ious barking and clamor. Fearing lest
the goodman of the house might appear
with a doubled bsrreled shotgun load
Cd with buckshot, and, mistaking me
for a tramp, as the young lady bad
done, let fly at me, took to my heels
and kicked up the mud rscklessly. As
1 was dashins along at full speed, a line
stretched tight from the corner OF an
out building to = post, took me sudden
| ly across the nose and brought me to q
sudden halt. For q moment, the
shock staggered me. Ny hat fell of IN