Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-07
THE MARITIME ALPS.


1t is not easy to find ones way with
out guide in the Alpes Maritimes. A
company of tourists more venturesome
than prudent discovered that not long
ago. They had started from the charm
ing inn of La Girandola, perched on a
rock on the banks of the Roya and in
tended to climb the peak of Gonella. in
order to get view of the high ridges.
They missed their way, passed the point
they were seeking, and continued up and
down, almost all the time through the
woods, until at last fatigue caused them
to STOP The ladies of the party were in
despair and began to talk of dying of
hunger in those fearful solitudes, when
the notes of bugle were heard in the
distance.
The tourists recognized the French
clairon, which is much shriller than the
italian cornet, and advancing in the di-
rection of the sound, they were soon out
of the wood and within view of troop
on the march, a battalion of chasseurs
de montague, with gray dolmans and
trousers and leggings. AS they ad-
vanced, the tourists distinguished clear
ly the column developing it's spirals on
the side of steep spur, mounting from
the depths of the valley of Luceran to-
ward the peak of La Calmette. On a
point to the left group halted, forming
the vanguard the main body of the
troop climbed slowly, followed by a
long line of mules.
At that moment the firing of cannon
re-echoed from rock to rock and an
nounced the beginning of the attack.
Little by little all the battalion got foot
ing on the top of the spur, deployed on
this difficult ground, and advanced
toward the principal peak. The mus
kerry ratified, backed up by the thunder
ing of the artillery. Lines of agile foot
soldiers rose from the hollows of the
rocks, from the midst of the bushes,
from the irregularities of the ground,
showed themselves for a moment, then
disappeared, and kept on advancing
The frightened chamois, surprised by
these sounds in their solitudes, bounded
from rock to rock. Their wild flight
will carry news to the inhabitants of the
Italian slope, who have proverb say
ing, when the chamois come down in
flight the French are mounting on the
heights"
The attack continues. The noise re-
doubles. The chasseurs are running up
the steep slopes. At last they reach the
summit. What lungsl what legs they
have 4
Now the troops halt. assemble to-
gether, make coffee and take rest.
The tired. tourists join them. The Off
Ger in command, having been informed
Of their misadventure, promises to help
them.
II cannot have you taken back to the
plain today" he says to them. you
will have to stay with us until tomor-
row, and follow us to our camp tonight" !"
'Oh," said one of the ladies, "that is
impossible. We cannot walk another
STEP"
''Do not be alarmed, ladies'" replied
the officer. sour pannier mules will
carry you. We will put you up COM
fortably in the bivouac, and tomorrow
we will go down to La Bollene, where
you will find carriages for Nice"
The proposition was promptly accept
ed. The bugle sounded the signal for
departure, and the ladies were placed on
the backs of the ambulance mules, ac-
companied by the men of their party,
and intrusted to the care of the doctor
Of the battalion. For time the road
was fairly good. An hours march
brought them to the woodcutters' camp.
a nf h17fo 5,,ho to1 1ar-+ +1,o
who work for the forest. Here the
mules straps were frightened. their shoes
examined and their burdens carefully
put in order, for the last part of the road
is the hardest. The woodcutters' camp
is the last point where there is any wa
ter, and SO, before starting, all the ami
mails are given drink, and all the pots,
gourds and other receptacles are filled.
The zigzag and very precipitous path,
mounting up a steep incline formed of
loose fragments of rock, is hampered by
roots and branches of trees. Their step
shows that they are accustomed to the
mountain, its steep paths and its rarefied
air. Their lungs, like their muscles, are
strengthened by these repeated exercises
in the woods, on the heights and across
the glaciers all through the fine months
of the year.
Farther on the ground gets bare; the
path runs over the rock itself; the zig
zags are SO short that they have scarcely
the length Of a mule. The animals ad-
vance but very slowly, and by the time
the ambulance reaches the plateau the
soldiers have already been there some
time, and the bivouac has been rapidly
formed.
The officer in command comes for
ward to meet the tourists. and to their
great surprise proposes to conduct them
to their hotel. They follow him. The
mules stop at the extremity of the pla-
teau, where the woods begin. Under
the trees a bivouac has been installed
for the tourists. A gourbi of pine
branches will protect them from the
GOODNESS of the night. The entrance is
decorated with bouquets of mountain
flowers.
"Here is your home for one day, mes
dames," says the officer. eve will send
you the mule litters, and with some fern
and rug you will have a fairly COM
Portable bed"
I'VE accept the lodging, but not the
beds. We will not deprive your sick"
81 have no sick" replies the officer.