Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-02-04

A AChamOis Hunters Adfent ure.
Some years ago young huuter 10 the Grin {.
delhols was one day 90 adventurous as to put
sue game. chsmois. over the glaciers. He
soon found himself stopped by a orevasse-no
hindrer % to chamois. but q serious one to q
man. Ludwig, however, WAS in eli the ardCr
of the chase. end he instantly determined to
follow the clamois' example and leap it
rash RI s1lve. for which he had to pay very dear
ly. Hs drew back few psc s, then made q
vigorous rush, and sprspg tv the other side.
But, alas just as be r. arhed it bis fuot slipped,
and ne fell Into the yswoog & gllf, which sWal-
lowed him up 10 moment.
Gifted with admirable presence Of mind and
surprising agility, he Immediately put his quo
orosswise beneath him. in order to break bis
fall. As the walls of ioe gradually narrowed
the quo soou stuck fast, and bis fall was STOP
ped at depth of about thirty feet. As soou as
he recovered from the stuuDing shock his first
impulse was to implore the help of God, and
then to make every effort to escape from bis
perilouS position. He drew out bis large knife,
aud, with great difficulty, succeeded 10 coBtriv-
ing TO C 1t steps at either side. He clanbered
up q llltle wsy. but when lie had reached
certain height the widening of the creVass,
added 80 much to his difficulties that be foutd
be must abandon this plan as utterly inpracti-
cable.
Any man Of ordinary character would have
given bimseIf up to dlspair, and wvuld iuev
itably have perisbed 10 the trightful situation,
which one csunot think Of Without shudder.
But Ludwig did not lose ,ursge. He prayed
with renewed ardor, and did not cease to hope
FIR D.viue assistance. H, then listened intent.
ly, aod soft, faint souod of roshog water
req c ned his ear from the dis;aut depth of the
abyss. IL was hk fish of light iato his
miod, aud bis decision vas Instantly made.
This stream," be said to hims Ii, "must
make its way out somewhere. will scramble
down aud follow i.s c,urs', Who knows but
what it will gu d, me TO safety"
50 saying, the biava mountaineer let him
salt down like sweep 10 chimney, bruised
snd torn By the sharp edges OF the les, but su+
taued by the sIorg nope OF approaching
dehvsrance H. resc;es the Dsrrow stream OF
water, aOd follow It's c 'nrse, Rrupiog aiurg.
now goiog upon his hspds aud knees, now
orswIivg with his ch-st u.,on The Ice, nos
twisting aud wtithlog 10 the most painful and
d:ffc it rugss.
b. degrees the way grew wider, there WAS
free space to move the current Of the stream
became stronger; every thug seemed to indIcste
that he was approaching the end of his terrible
journey.
At laet faint light began 70 pierce the horri-
BILE dsrkness. 1t Is the light of the sun, and
every moment it grows brighter His heart
bounds with JOY. His limbs bsnumbed with
cold, recover their vigor. He sees the opening
of the crevasse BE presses on, and imagine. if
you can, his transport whan he secs. as if in a
picture, the spire of his own village church
That silent finger, pointing from home to hsa-
ven, had never spoken 20 elcquently TO his
heart Full of joy and thankfuness, he was
soon out Of his cold and dangerous passage
Then BY well known and familiar paths he
soon regained his fathers house, and astonished
his family by relating the story Of his W ,nderful
adventure.