Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-25


reht yawning precipice beneath their
feet an uneven path Of ice. It was a
somewhat dangerous situstion, and the
foremost Of the party, trusted Swiss
Guide. showed signs of uneaSi0ess
This was Mansell's first experience OF
the ilimslayaS, but he was q practiccd
Alpine climber. end his former training
stood him in good stead. II vas he who
first saw the ACCESSIBILITY of making a
change in their order of progression.
Yuu so in front. he said 10 a native
Who accompanied them. and who had
frequently acted rs guide 30 similar ex-
petitions, Il viii bring up the rear.
This arrangement had already been
agreed 10 10y the remaining members of
TIE party. two athletic young English
men evidently brothers The elder was
acapiNn in the army, who had for some
tme past been engaged in making eX-
r1rations IN the Himalayss with the aid
~ 81 iew natives. The majority of these
we're timCrous and useful only as guides
over ;he mountain passes, but the man
~lO was now appointed leader had as
ceaiel - considerable heights with
more than one adventurous explorer
erG was SAID TO know every inch of the
l-nui which they were then traversing.
Iha party soon moved on with re-
rewei confidence, the Swiss guide, how
ever. still manifestiug dissatisfaction and
Questioning whether they had been con
..ctod by the easiest road. He came
rsy' IN order 10 the native guide; be-
Hri him were the brothers: Mansell
came la>A All were roped together.
"Coniound that fellow Wilhelm 8"
rutercd AianseN. of he gets in n
rauic De NAV slip aud give us trouble"
" I can't think what's the matter with
fm." said the younger of the brothers.
.D,h imported him from Switzerland
c-,urp0se for this sort of work, and
f.'. never played the fool before. lie
seems 10 think orr brown friend has mis-
fksu the way. but that's not likely. He
vas up here with Fitzmaurice S short
tin, go.
There's q stiH bit coming, observed
the Captain.
"rrettv WELL said Mansel, cheer
frlv. "hut 7 have done FAR worse. l
fsr. Soy Wilhelm viii settle down all
r-t now that be has got mischief in
ffor; ot him and can see that he is up to
--.cEs. Re hates a native as DO
N4 beetle. &c said this specimen had
81, ity eve, but SO they all have, the
r....s. and one must take some one that
SHOWS the ground.
he'r way now grew sleeper and more
a, cult. and conversation ceased. For
-me, however, all went well.
suddenly Nansel who had contin-
r glanced ahead anxiously whenever
-. .uuli 81. lv take his eyes oil the slip
rrvI path, was possessed by "a fear which
..d4r,d not communicate to his COM
rlious. Il was doubtless aroused by
detecting suspicious movement on
81. par, Of the leader
We shall be over the worstof this bit
.rauiuute." he sand TO himself by way
~ consolation. "and then | II either 20
,a font myself or Wei consider il its
v 10 go further SO saying he drew
arp knife from has belt and placed 1t
between ms te.tb lie scarcely knew
what De intended 10 DO with Il in an
,. rrency. Tor an instant be thought
of passing ID on 10 the Captain, who was
rarrovided in that respect, thus giving
lm the means % separating himself
p
case some accident or treachery should
tltauger thc lives of the whole party
Ia the face Of great peril all kinds Of
ea-pIcions pass rapidly through the
Iul. and are perhaps as readily reject
ODE lt even occurred 10 Msnsell that
t.a two guides might be in league against
t.em. the Swiss guides nervousness
trne merely assumed for the occasion.
again. be reflected that he was probably
alarming himself unreasonably, and he
once more observed with satisfaction
that the most difficult portion of the
narrow ice-path was almost passed.
4 moment later tie Swiss guide
slipnod. recovered himself. slipped again
with terrible cry, and fell backward.
IL was evident 80 Mansel that his
worst fears were realized. The leader
lad cur the zone
With q fun recognition of the horror
ei his position, MsnselIs thoughts
f4rted with the swiftucss OF "a lightning
cash % his wife and child in England
them he cried 10 his companions 10 stand
rrm. He even began 70 cell TO The man
It him 70 cut the rope in front of him
s1 rs 20 leave them linked only in cOu-
iIes. lie might be able to save one of
lsfrieuds. though ne knew II was pow
cr,ss 10 support three men.
10 is too late. he brothers had lost
fn.ir presence Of mind. but IT would
have ayailed them little at this crisis.
Wilhelm hsd fallen against the Captain,
and Nsnsell saw that all three were fall
u- back upon himself. He knew that
b.. was poweress 10 resist their weight,
ed believed that, whether bound 10 him
~ not. they must inevitably hurl him
a.pu tie vawniug abyss. Only one
chance remained to him Of saving bis
,ru life. and that was indeed a slender
.re. With a rapid, desperate effort he
-yered the rope.
some hours later the native guide re-
rued 10 the encsmpment which tie
rfv bad started from in the morning
.-unr the news Of a terrible accident
.cc9rding 20 him his own life had been
--s-erved bv a miracle. The Swiss guide
sd slipped on the ice, whereupon the
pe had broken between them, and al
200 party except himself had been hurried
..vu the precipice and instantly Killed.
Having impaired this information he
appeared. perhaps because he found
iu.rlf REGARDED with manifest dis'rust.
lle utmost horror was excited by his
report. and an expedition was organized
t. discover the bodies of the unfortunate
ODD VINO had met with 30 dreadful a
.-. The two brothers and the Swiss
Guide were subsequently found dead at
.e foot Of the gorge there being neither
rv uor watches left upon the bodies.
1as,l was searched FOR IN vain, but
doubtless bis body he'd been cast INTO
sl-, inaccessible cleft or creyice.
CHAPTER H.
amy Nansell resided IN a pretty
Yruck house. surrounded by green
4aa, AID Shady trees, within five miles
.t... ,,:,,,,-,, town of Drufiieid.