New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-06-11
A TERRIBLE BLAN KET.

l went swinging 1t away, IL struck
against lump Of rock that hung over
precipice, so deep, that sailor as |
am trembled as looked down. The
stick bounded from the rock against
my shin, and SO 1 resolved that the
granite should take run.
But it was tough work; for the stone
was big, and was we'll set in the rock;
but, after a deal of straining and push
ing, down it went. .... 49, ~
The job must have taken me longer
than l thought for when I looked be-
fore me could see no one, and as look
ed l began to see that twilight was COM
ing on, and since among mountains
night follows almost Immediately upon
twilight, fastened onward
[ do not think I had gone twenty
yards when [ saw that storm was
brewing and it was on me in no time,
and as the snow came down it grew
SO dark that great curtain seemed to
be drawn over the sky.
Well, I CROPPED on, but / didn't like
it. If it had been a storm at sea, I
should not have cared mu Oh; if the
mountains aJoutme had only been of
water, I should not have cared at all;
but when knew that false step
might send me topping down, as the
rock had toppled before me, I don't
and less.
[ stopped down to look at the path,
as we'll as could in the little remain
ing light; and found that I was in no
path at all.
AS the last rays of light died out, and
as the snow Whirled about me, turned
cautiously toward slope of rock, feel
ing with my stick before I took a step
for the snow will fill up a crevice in
no time. and you may sink twenty feet
before you know where you are), and
at last touched the rock
There was still a glimmer of light
left, and by it just saw black part
OF the rock, which I took to be a cave.
So crept into it and crouched down
on the ground.
Well, [ hadn't lain there three min
utes when it became pitch dark. I
don't know whether any of you have
ever been in the dark when full Of fear
and anxiety; but if you have, you know
how every minute seems like an hour.
Suddenly thought OF my match box;
and believe [ shouted as l thought of
it, for second idea came into my head
Suppose [ struck the matches about
one minute, they would not help me
through the darkness, but they might
guide those who were searching for me
to my place of shelter.
So out came the match box, and the
next moment I had struck light.
Why [ looked round the cave I can't
tell; but did, and I ought my breath,
as you may suppose, when away in the
dark [ saw two great yellowish- green
balls of fire.
[ don't think moved for moment,
and then began to ask myself whether
it was not all fancy.
So l thought 1 would strike another
light; but the box had fallen among the
snow, and when [ felt for the matches
they were all mixed up with the snow
Now, what was to do? If 1 went
out of the cavern l should be frozen to
death; while to remain in the cave,
and near those dreadful balls of fire,
was enough to drive me mad; so
CURED myself up as small as possible,
and lay shivering. 1 had only lain
for what [ now know to be a very
short time, but which ! took to be
hours, when something soft came
against my knees and elbows.
l dashed out my fist, and felt it sink
a foot deep in the snow, which I
found had drifted against the opposite
side of the cavern till it fell over
upon me.
So found that I was being showed
up, and that I must either 20 nearer
those dreadful balls, which by this
time [ was sure was no fancy, and
which | felt certain were looking
toward me through the dar l1ness, or
must stay where l was to be buried
alive.
I dom know how I came to the de-
cision; but did at last decide to go
further into the cavern, and so I
shufled out of the way of the snow.
And then Hay still again, waiting. In
moment or so, surrounded by danger
as | was, I began to find myself act
ually going quiet to sleep. ] had no
notion then that that sleep would have
been the sleep of death.
In another minute or so I felt a
warm air On my face; but I was 100
sleepy to move, and SO lay still
And then I felt four weights press,
one after the other, upon my body, and
then a soft heavy weight sunk down
upon me. guessed it was an animal
OF some kind. / felt sure of this, when
l.. 4 ~