Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-10-01

casional glimpses OF the Alps through
the wreaths Of fog which every moment
became more dense. We had not
proceeded twenty steps, however,
when the guide suddenly paused and
motioned me back. At that instant
there came another report, so loud
and sharp that was absolutely stun
ned, and right in front of us long,
Jagged line appeared in the ice, widen
ing rapidly, until two sheer walls
faced each other more than ten feet
apart.
Though the chasm lay directly in
our way, to cross it was out Of the
question. The guide turned quickly
to the right, and we followed the
brink of the crevasse, hoping to find
a point where it ended or was narrow
enough to spring over. The fog had
now become so dense that we could
not see dozen steps before us, and
we were forced at a snail's pace in
order to avoid falling into some un-
seen abyss. We had gone on in this
way perhaps five minutes, when there
came another report, followed by a
series of weaker shocks. The guide
and / paused and looked around u.s.
The situation had become, to say
the least, embarrassing. During a
momentary lift of the fog, we saw all
around perfect network of cracks,
intersecting one another at every
angle. Then, as the vapor closed in
again, we could hear on every side
tremendous crashes and grindings, as
the huge masses of ice approached or
receded from each other.
What to do now was serious ques-
ton, To proceed single yard might
be to precipitate ourselves to the bot
tom of some frightful chasm, and to
remain where we were might be
merely waiting until the ice should
open beneath our feet and engulf us.
While we stood few feet apart
anxiously discussing our position,
there was another shock, and | was
blinded by shower of small particles
of ice.
When / cleared my eyes l saw that
another cleft had opened directly at
my feet, between myself and the guide.
1t was rapidly widening, and in few
seconds would completely separate me
me from my companion. Without
hesitation sprang across it and stood
beside him. He looked at me with a
grave face.
1--WE are in danger" he said, simp-
ly.
YES" | replied, "but we must dc
our best to get out of it. What do
you adviser"
1--WE must not stop here" he said
peering into the fog. IL think we had
better follow one of these cracks until
we can cross it. We shall have to
feel our way for this fog hides every.
thing"
Crouching almost to our hands and
knees we proceeded slowly onward
keeping the main crevasse, cleft
some twenty feet wide on our left
For nearly an hour we went on in
this way. Indeed, it seemed to me
that we had not moved at all, and
that l recognized certain peculiarities
in our surroundings as similar tc
those had noticed at our point Of
departure.
While l was bordering this dis.
quieting notion, | saw the guide stoor
and pick up some object from the ice
He turned and looked at me with a
white face.
1--WE need 60 no further" he said
holding up his spirit-ffask. 81 drop.
ped that an hour ago on the ice beside
the crevasse."
an other words" said l, eve
have been travelling in circle for the
last hour"
I'VE are imprisoned upon an island
of ice"
l was silent for a moment, strug.
Cling with my own dread.
"Well," said /, eve shall make the
best of it, and wait until the crevasse
closes again"
He shook his head sorrowfully
"The mass of ice we are standing up
on will be more likely to split up and
we be sent to the bottom"
"The case is hopeless, then" | said
I'VE can do no more. Let us NEE,
death as bravely as we can"
"Old Kober was right" he mutter.
ed. "He warned me and l have leo
you to your DEATH"
"Your are brave man." he said
grasping my hand.
Desiring to prepare myself for wha,
was to come as well as l might,
withdrew little distance from him
and sitting down, covered my eye
with my hand. The fog had settled
down so heavily that il was almos
like night.
Suddenly and without warning