The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-13
AN ANDBAN ADVENTURE.
On the ascent From tho Seacoast to
the Most E evated Of Cities.
From the Philadelphia Record.


From the Philadelphia Record.
While going from the seacoast to Quito in
1870 fell in with one of those close chances
for life which l shall not soon forget. It
may not be known TO all how strangely
isoluted is that ancient city OF Ecuador,
where whole families live and die without
seeing beyond their native horizon. It can
only be reached from the West coast by
paths cut in the sides Of those mountains of
dazzling mists, dizzy nights and mysterious
glooms-the Andes.
Centuries old are these narrow foot
holds; the fiat lodges cut by the Incas are
now but narrow trenches worn down by
the hoofs aud only wide enough for one ami.
NAL
AT intervals there are wider foot-paths to
allow travellers to pass each other, where it
Is the custom to sound a note of warning
with a horn and wait short time before
advancing. To meet anywhere between
these points means almost certain death.
The mules rush madly together in fatal
combat, which plunges all TO destruction, it
being impossible for the rider to dismount
In time TO save himself.
10 return to my story. Having pro-
vided myself with the usual escort OF SER
want, pack mule and guide, we threaded
our way without incident till the second
day, when | found myself some distance
ahead. Mile after mile the path wound in
and out OF those Jagged arms that seemed
TO form monstrous teeth in the mountain
side, and the gradual descent was the only
suggestion of an approach to the valley,
which was but shimmering sea of Of mists
and fitful shadows. The sensation OF isola-
ton nearness to nature-never so dreamy
and mysterious as in these weird mountains
was fast producing In me a peculiar
languor and oblivion of the actuali-
ties, and reaching a passing
place. l was only too willing to
obey the unwritten laws to "tarry," which
lent itself SO well to my mood. Thoss halt
ing places were usually cut on the project
ing points of the rocky arms, and c1m-
mahded view Of the path ahead as far as
the next halt Rousing myself at length
and receiving no answering signal, l had
started on but few PAGES when l heard
that sound most dreaded-the patter Of
hoofs ahead. l was Utterly cold with hor-
TOR, and for one second unable TO move aud
my mule stiffened under me with fright.
The path was like the letter V, and looking
across saw riderless mule trotting to-
ward the converging point in the rock,
where | noticed. as in a flash q narrow ifs
sure out of which grew a sapliug.
10 reach that spot was my only thought,
to force my mules head into the cleft and
hang on &c the tree, which looked fright
fully slender for such desperate strain.
l had no need to goad on my beast, for he
broke into frantic rum his instinct Of
danger being as keen as mine. 1t seemed
but moment before the mule was half way
in the Crevice and was clinging to the
tree. The tramp mule had now almost
resched the spot and l saw TO my horror
that small child was hanging an to the
reins and trying to stop the runaway. 1t
all happened so quickly that | could only
shut my eyes not TO see the catastrophe which
came like a hash-the rush, the shock of
meeting, a moment of frightful strain. and
the boy and the animal were pitched head
long over the edge.
sat on my trembling beast literally un.
able TO move and was only aroused from my
stupor by the voice of a native who came
running up and crying, "My mule, my
mule, I've lost my mule" and in spite of my
protests that his child had shared the same
fate. he kept on moaning the same thing.
The loss of the hey was very evidently of
little account compared to the animal
Peering over the edge, was relieved to find
the slope more gradual than l had dared to
hope.
Having no more than time to reach the
valley before night. waited only till my
men overlook me and pushed on and was
lucky enough to find shelter and food at
nightfall in a natives house.
The next morning we started up the VAL
ley, determined to learn the fate of the
child, and soon met some natives, who told
us, to our establishment thai the boy,
though covered with countless bruises, was
not killed-the bushes which covered the
mountain side having broken the terrible
fall. Turning about, we were soon on our
way. 1t was some time before l recovered
my nerve, and to this day the sight of
died mule trotting riderleSs makes me
shudder.