The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-08
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THE SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPH.

@This will do" said Mansell; let us
change here.
He and his companion halted.
Where they now stood the track had
widened suddenly; few PAGES further on
it abruptly narrowed again. On their left
was wall of frozen snow; on their right a
yawning precipice; beneath their feet an
uneven path of ice. 1t was somewhat
dangerous situation, and the foremost of
the party, trusted Swiss guide, showed
signs of uneasiness.
This was Mansells first experience of
the Himalayas, but he was practiced
Alpine climber, and his former training
stood him in good stead. 1t was he who
first saw the advisability of making change
in their order of progression.
"You go in front" he said to native
who accompanied them, and who had fire.
quently acted as guide to similar expedi-
tinns; al will bring up the rear.
| This arrangement had already been
/ agreed to by the remaining members ofthe
party, two athletic young Englishmen, evil
IDENTIFY brothers. The elder was a captain
in the army, who had for some time past
been engaged in making explorations in the
Himalayas with the aid of few natives.
The majority of these were timorous and
useful only as guides over the mountain
passes, but the man who was now appointed
leader had ascended to considerable heights
with more than one adventurous explorer
and was said to know every inch of the
ground which they were then traversiDg.
The party soon moved on with renewed
confidence, the Swiss guide, however, still
manifesting dissatisfaction and questioning
whether they had been conducted by the
easiest road. He came next in order to
the native guide; behind him were the
brothers; Mansell came last. All were
roped together.
"Confound that fellow Wilhelm" NUT
tered Mansell. eff he gets in panic he
may slip and give us trouble"
Il can't think what's the matter with
him" said the younger of the brothers
"Dick imported him from Switzerland on
purpose for this sort of work, and he's
never played the fool before. He seems to
think our brown friend has mistaken the
way, but that's not likely. He was up
here with Fitzmaurice short time ago.
''There's stiff bit coming" observed
the Captain.
"Pretty well, said Mansell, cheerfully,
"but have done far worse. dare say
Wilhelm will settle down all right now that
he has got mischief in front of him and
can see that he is up to no tricks. He
hates a native as | do black beetle. He
said this specimen had a shifty eye, but SO
they all have, the rascals, and one must
take some one that knows the ground"
Their way now grew sleeper and more
difficult, and conversation ceased. For a
time, however, all went well.
Suddenly Mansell, who had continually
glanced ahead anxiously whenever he
could safely take his eyes off the slippery
path, was possessed by fear which he
dared not communicate to his companions.
1t was doubtless aroused by his detecting
suspicious movement on the part of the
leader
"We shall be over the worst of this bit
10 minute" he said to himself by way of
consolation, "and then I'll either 60 in front
myself or we'll consider if it's wise to go
further" So saying he drew sharp knife
from his belt and placed it between his
teeth. He scarcely knew what he intended
to do with it in an emergency. For an in
slant he thought Of passing it on the Cap
tain, who was unprovided in that respect,
thus giving him the means of separating
himself and his companions from the guides
in case some accident or treachery should
endanger the lives of the whole party. In
the face of great peril all kinds of suspic-
ions pass rapidly through the mind, and
are perhaps as readily rejected. 1t even
occurred to AIansell that the two guides
might be in league against them, the Swiss
guides nervousness being merely assumed
for the occasion. Again, he reflected that
he was probably alarming himself unrea-
sonably, and he once more observed with
satisfaction that the most difficult portion
of the narrow ice-path was almost passed.
A moment later the Swiss guide slipped,
recovered himself, slipped again with a
terrible cry, and fell backward 1t was
evident to Mansell that his worst fears
were realized, The leader had cut the
rope.
With full recognition of the horror of
his position. Mansell's thoughts darted
with the swiftness of lightning fash to
his wife and child in England; then he cried
to his companions to stand firm. He even
began to call to the man next him to cut
the rope in front of him so as to leave them
linked only in couples. He might be able
to save one of his friends, though he knew
it was powerless to support three men.
Iti too late The brothers had lost
their presence of mind, but it would have
availed them little at this crisis. Will
helm had fallen against the Captain, and
Mapsell saw that all three were falling
back upon himself. He knew that he was
powerless to resist their weight, and be-
lieved that, whether bound to him or not,
they must inevitably hurl him down the
yawning abyss. Only one chance remained
to him of saving his own life, and that was
indeed a slender one, With rapid, des-
perate effort he severed the rope.
Some hours later the native guide re-
turned to the encampment which the party
had started from in the morning bearing
the news off terrible accident According
to him his own life had been preserved by
miracle. The Swiss guide had slipped
on the ice, whereupon the rope had broken
between them, and all the party except
himself had been hurled down the preci-
pice and instantly killed.
Having impaired this information he
disappeared, perhaps because he found
himself regarded with manifest distrust.
The utmost horror was excited by his
report, and an expedition was organized to
discover the bodies of the unfortunate men
who had met with so dreadful fate. The
two brothers and the Swiss guide were
subsequently found dead at the foot of the
gorge, there heing neither money nor
watches left upon the bodies, Mansell was
searched for in vain, but doubtless his
body had been cast into some inaccessible
cleft or crevice.
CHAPTER IL