The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1881-09-15
who Comes There?"

ment, that found myself on duty
at Vera Cruz. Tempted by the
high mountains in the vicinity, tho
beautiful scenery aud above all the
superb hunting, | sailed forth eai "
ono morning accompanied by no
one save my Newfoundland dog.
l was an ardent sportsman, my
double-barreled gun worked to a
charm, and not until the deepening
shades Of evening, accompanied by
an unmistakable growl OF thunder,
did give thought to the fight Of
time or the importance OF retracing
my steps to the city. had not an
ticipated danger nom the enemy uu-
less it might be in the shape of
some small baud OF guerillas lurk>
ing amid the mountain gorges, ac.
tuated more by the hope Of pluuder
than by patriotic motives. There is
little twilight, You know, in the
tropics. The sun had disappeared
in the folds Of an immense cloud
which was rapidly spreading itself
over the entire heavens, while from
it's sable depths darted lurid sheets
OF lightning, followed by the increas.
ing roar OF thunder which had al
ready found an echo through the
valleys aud gorges of the mountain
did not fancy wet jacket, aud,
wbistl:ng for my dog, was on the
point of retraciug my steps down
tho rough mountain road when the
jingling OF spurssni accoutrements,
the traInpliuY of horses aud the
hoarse word Of command was sufii &.
cient for me TO draw back into tall
tuft of grass growing beside me.
4 number OF Mexican laucers were
before me preparing to bivouac for
the night, and my retreat down tho
road was out of tue question.
High, precipitous rocks hemed mo
in on three sides, through which the
road | had Travelled had been orig
inally cut. The outlet was now in
posses sion oi tue lancers, while in
front Of me the steep side OF the
mountain. verging almost to preci-
pice, sloped towards the city. To
remain where l was would be only
to court death. n nameless fate, an
unknown grave, for discovery was
certain to follow when the seutinels
should be posted.
Cautiously examined the smooth
sides of the precipice, covered here
aud thore by network OF vines
cliugiug to the crevices and riffs in
the rock for It's uncertain life.
Further on boteld dark, irregu-
lar line disappearing in the murky
depths below, which proved to be a
deep, dry gully, tho channel of
some mountain stream long since
dried up. Dropping my fowling-
piece and bidding my noble dog to
shift for himself, | swung myself
over tho precipice, cliuging to the
network Of vines which shook aud
complained beueath ny weight.
The darkness had increased with
astonishing rapidity, aud and as ]
swung over that rayless void 1
found it impossible 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 confused
shouts of men, struggling shot
or two mingled with the crash Of
the heavy artillery rolling in the vast
expanse above me. Depending
principally upon the strength aud
endurance of my arms, carefully
and cautiously felt my way along
the verge of the precipico, working
in the direction Of the gully, which,
once, Rainei, promised to afford me
the means OF escape from the dan
gers which encompassed me.
Broad sheets Of lightning lit up
with dazzling distiuctness the fear-
fal scene, bringing out every un-
dulation of the rocks, every crevice
and blade OF grass, once when i
found q slight support for my feet.
and was giving my aching arms a
rest, glanced above amid the yell
low glare Of the lightning and
beheld the fierce dark-whiskered
face Of Mexican, peering over the
brink, his eyes apparently fastened
upon me az hung suspended and
aattened against the cliff but a few
feet below him. while the electricity
twisted and writhed like tongues Of
internal serpeuts around the muzzle