The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-04-17

| Gotting proposed that he should stay
with the wounded man, while Siegel
and 1 should go forward and attempt to
reach the chalet. Gotting was the only
one of the party who had ever been
there, and that was years before. He
gave us directions how to find 1t.
We were to pass to the right or left OF
certain peaks he pointed out to us, and
then he said we should see a large field
of snow. We were to cross this. and the
chalet was in a hollow about half mile
above and to the lett.
Well, we started-Siegel and I-leav-
ing all the provisions except few sand
wiches with Franz and Gotting. A
weary walk brought us to the peak
where, according to Gotting, we were
to see the snow field. But there was
nothing of the sort there; peak rose
upon peak, but there was no great, level
snow-held stretching away at our feet,
such as he had described.
We looked at each other in dismay.
To add to our distress, the weather,
which had hitherto been beautiful, be-
Gan to get overcast. Light wreaths of
mist were setting on the highest SUBMITS
of the mountain. sure signs OF coming
storm.
However, there was no use in going
back. We should perhaps not be able
to find Franz and Gotting again if, be-
wildered as we now were, we attempted
to get back to them. Our only chance
was forward.
Tired and dispirited we walked on,
turning around only to look at the gath
ering clouds which were now piling
themselves dark and threatening behind
us. The wind, too, began to rise. We
determined to 90 downward; indeed, we
were too much exhausted to go any
higher, or waste any more time in look
ing for the chalet.
The ground seemed tc get mere rough
the lower we went, and the tremendous
gusts of wind which whistled round US
made the descent most dangerous.
Great, scattering raindrops now began
to fall and we halted on a ledge Of rock,
utterly worn out.
The storm increased and in q short
time was at its height The rain
came down in torrents, completely
drenching us. The lightning with
binding flashes played all around, Missing
and illumining for an instant the awful
grandeur of the scene, while the thunder
pealed and crashed overhead, each crag
and wall of rock echoing the sound and
increasing it an hundred-fn
We had thrown our rifles away, afraid
that the lightning would strike them,
and stood waiting for the storm to
abate. When we resumed our decent
we were trembling with cold in every
limb. The air, which was warm enough
before, was now picrcingly cold and the
wind drove snow and bits of ice against
our faces with binding force.
Invent first, and for long time neither
of US spoke. Only when particularly
dangerous place was crossed l gave tho
warning "Look to the right" or ITO
the left" as the case might be.
Siegel led the way when was tired,
and thus we proceeded with greatest
caution, as false step would have been
almost certain death, till we got to more
level ground. =.
Here We again encountered thickets of
knic. holz. We were already congratu-
lating ourselves on having gut the worst
over, when we were suddenly stopped by
a precipice or "Wand," down which it
would have been impossible for goat
to 90. 1t was sheer descent IF at least
eighty feet.
This was dreadful disappointment.
We walked along the edge for some way,
but as far as we could see the Wand ex-
tended for miles. had already thrown
myself on the ground and had given up
all hopes of life. when shoutfrom Sicgel
who had gone on little way, made me
once more spring to my feet.
fastened to him. He was standing
over a narrow hole in the rock almost
hidden by bushes of the kne holz
"We are saved! VIC are sayedm he
cried. He explained to me how, when I
had given up in despair, he suddenly
thought that he remembered the place
we were in, and had remembered, too,
that if it were indeed the part of the
mountain he supposed it to be, there
was n circular hole in the rock forming
the Wand by which the chamois hunters
scaled this otherwise inaccessible place.
He had gone on, had found the opening.
and fearful of losing the spot had stood
over it and called till came.
We slid safely down this chimney like
hole, which is not much more than
twenty feet in depth, and easily descend
ing the lower part of the Wand, which
is here much broken, arrived, famished
and half frozen, at 10 o'clock at night,
at woodman's hut Siegel knew of in
the valley below. Here We obtained
warmth and shelter.
Three of the woodmen Immediately
started up the mountain and returned in
few hours with poor Franz, who was
very much exhausted, not so much from
cold-as Gotting had contrived to light
a fire, and they had provisions-as from
loss of blood.
once asked Siegel what he would
have done if he had not found that open
ing. ave should,' lie said, ''havo
struck our alpenstocks into the ground,
and have walked round them all the
night to keep OF sleep, whichif it con-
quercd us would, of course, have been
fatal. If we lived till day broke we
should have tired to find our way back
to the others"
Whether we were likely to succeed in
so doing, cold, hungry and exhausted as
we were, the reader may judge.
! As for Franz, he completely recovered
from his wound, and l have hunted
many a time with him since that memo
rable day - YOuthS Cvmp.tni9n.
Exquisite Brooches.
1 A New York ;eweler has sent some