The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-12-27
An Exciting Adventure.

Vera Cruz. Tempted by the high noun
tains In the vicinity, the beautiful seem
cry and above all the superb hunting,
L sailed forth early one morning accom-
panied by no one save my Newfound.
land dog / was an ardent sportsman,
my double. barreled gun worked to
charm, and not until the deepening
shades of evening, accompanied by an
unmistakable growl of thunder, did i
give thought to the flight of time or
the Importance of retraclng my steps to
the city. had not anticipated danger
from the enemy unless it might be in
the shape of a small band of guerillas
lurking amid the mountain gorges, ac-
tuated more by the hopes of plunder
than by patriotic motives. There is
little twilight, you know, in the trop-
folds of an immense cloud which was
rapidly spreading itself over the entire
heavens, while from its sable depths
darted lurid sheets of lightning, follow
ed by the increasing roar of thunder
which had already found an echo
through the valleys and gorges of the
mountain. did not fancy wet jacket
and, whistling for my dog, was on the
point of retracing my steps down the
rough mountain road when the jngling
of spurs and aceoutrements, the tramp
ling of horses and the hoarse word of
command was sufficient for me to draw
back into tall tuft of grass growing
behind me. A number of Mexican Ian
GERS were before me preparing to bivouac
for the night, and my retreat down the
road was out of the question. High,
precipitous rocks hemmed me in on three
sides, through which the road 1 had
Travelled had been originally cut. The
outlet was now in the possession of the
lancers, while in front of me the steep
side of the mountain, verging almost to
precipiee, sloped towards the city,
To remain where was would be only
to court death, a nameless fate, an un-
known grave, for discovery was certain
to follow when the sentinels should be
posted.
Cautiously examined the smooth
sides of the precipice, covered here and
there by network of vines clinging to
the crevices and riffs in the rock for its
uncertain life. Further on i beheld
dark, irregular line disappearing in the
murky depths below, which proved to
be deep, dry gully, the channel of some
mountain stream long since dried up.
Dropping nay fowling-p piece and bidding
my noble dog to shift for himself,
swung myself over the precipice, cling
ing to the network of vines which shook
and complained ben cath my weight.
The darkness had increased with as
tonishing rapidity, and as swung over
that rayless void / found it impossible to
pierce the gloom. heard the short,
sharp howl of my dog as he started off
in search of me; then, amid the rush of
the squall, came the confused shouts of
men, a struggling shot or two mingled
with the crash of the heavy artillery
rolling in the vast expanse above me-
Depending principally upon the strength
of my arms, carefully and cautiously
felt my way along the verge of the preci-
pice, working in the direction of the
gully, which, once gained, promised to
afford me the means of escape from the
dangers which encompassed me. Broad
sheets of lightning lit up with dazzling
distinctness the fearful scene, bringing
out every undulation of the rocks, every
crevice and blade OF grass, once when
found slight support for my feet, and
was giving my aching arms a rest, 1
glanced above amid the yellow glare of
the lightning and beheld the fierce dark
whiskered face of a Mexican, peering
over the brink, his eyes apparently fast
ened upon me as 1 hung suspended and
flattened against the cliff but few feet
below him, while the electricity twisted
and writhed like tongues of internal
serpents around the muzzle of his car
bine. 1t was trying moment, a situa-
ton well calculated to inspire feeling
of terror in the heart of the boldest.-
But whether it was the rain which was
falling in torrents and driving furiously
before the gale or the glare of the light
ming which prevented the lancer from
discovering me 1 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, l continued
my perilous course.
had but little strength to spare when
at last found myself crouching on the
muddy bottom of the old mountain