The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-24

/ danger OF missing my appointment.
! The day before / was to depart, as | was
I standing about dusk at the door Of the inE
| looking anxiously to see whether any
/ guides or pogters had returned from the
/ mountains, the landlord came to tell Ele
that he had found my man.
Have you sent for him?"
"He is here"
"When did he Gomez"
"Just now"
"Doeg he come from the valley"
mo, sir: from the mountain"
Impossible l should have seen him
coming. / have been watching for an
hour"
This man does not follow the same path
as the others"
Why"
But my host would not explain himself
further; he only called with loud voice.
"Jacques!'
He was fine man, very tall, muscular,
about thirty years Old covered with sweat,
the wrinkles of his face giving an express
sion Of hard and energetic will.
He had large, straight nose, large
mouth, forest of black curly hair, a
beard two days old.
wanted him TO come in, in order to get
away from the chilly breeze; but he
shrugged his shoulders and said to me
quickly:
do you wish to 90 to Fiery, and go up
first Mount Cervino?"
Il have given up Mount Cervino, unless
this evening | find muleteer who will
carry my Valise"
Il viii carry it,"
''Tnen I should need a guide for Mount
Cervino''
81 viii come"
Would you be willing to carry my va
lise up there?"
How much does it weight"
''About fifty pounds"
''All right give me fifteen francs"
The price was more than moderate, but
the fellow seemed to me a swaggerer.
Ioffered to show him the valise; but he
laughed at the idea. 1 did not Ike him.
care you regular guide?"
Certainly"
t'Have you license?"
''No. i have certificate of honorable
discharge | was in the artillery"
What is your name?"
''Do you want to know all this for fifteen
francs?" and he began to laugh sarcasti-
cally. Every well, / viii tell you my
name gratis. Ny name is Giacomo Balmes
Does that please you:"
Seeing that his smile did not please me
he Immediately changed his expression
and added emphatically:
Fifteen francs would help me, you
know; tomorrow night you will be able to
tell me if have earned them" and after a
searching glance, 1.-The landlord tells me
that you have known him quite awhile.
Ask him about me. My respects"
And so saying he went into the kitchen.
Next day we set out at o'clock in
the morning. My valise stuffed full
seemed to him mere straw He carried
it bound on his back with cords, like a
knapsack. He walked nimbly, whistling
a quickstep. His gait had something
peculiar about it, / did not know what it
was, but later on ! understood. His step
made no sound, he seemed to glide along.
Hardly had we started when he began to
talk to me, but either from sleepiness or
from the feeling of uneasiness which his
company gave me / did not answer him.
He tried two or three subjects, then gave
up and began to whistle, fastening his
step. Instead of going by the regular way
he begun presently to follow around the
mountain on its lower slope until he found
kind of path cut in the living rock, rough
and bare as slab. He entered it without
saying anything and climbed like SPUR
rel.
Certainly by that way the ascent was
pleasanter and quicker.
When we help ourselves with hands and
knees, and every step must be studied and
measured, the mind does not notice the
fatigue.
AT first IN the steepest places jacques
turned around and offered me his hand,
but being fresh l refused his aid, proud 10
encounter the rough mountain. Then the
fellow began to walk by himself, abandon
ing me to my fate. There was no real dan
ger, but felt somewhat indignant at see
ing him so high on the rocks. Sometimes,
intent on my steps, l forgot him. and when
l raised my head annoyed at being alone,
the guide was out of sight. Where had he
gone! His appearance. the choice of that
unusual road, his gait. his mysterious dis
appearance, made me suspicious.
l was sure that my host would not have
trusted me TO q bad character, but this
idea was not enough 10 calm me.
/ continued TO ascend, and when | raised
my head again there he was. but al long
distance and still careless Of me
At first l had thought that in certain
parts the path would become impractica-
bic and that it would be necessary TO get
ont of it and resume it farther on, bat
gradually as l proceeded perceived that
the passage continued. and indeed il was
always becoming more practicable. / cried
TO him to stop. but my voice did not reach
him. If it had not been for my valise,
would have returned immediately
At last l SAW him sitting on the ground
waiting for me l came up 10 him in bad
humor
The smooth surface Of the rock had be
come slippery in consequence OF a stream
of water, and be had stopped TO oder ne
his hand.
Why DO you walk az such distance
.rom mes wish 70 have you near ne
Il thought you wished TO be alone. !
did Dot want 10 disturb you
Why do you leave the path so oftens
What makes you so out OF your way sos''
Il am o. the race OF hounds; like to so
smelling abou: the ground
We'll. now. don't leave me any more"
AS you please.
/ tried 10 start = conversation. but this
time il was he shat would nor bite.
The sun had risen. re had taken of his
Jacket and wSS carrying il on his arm.
Prom MS leather bell hung viIle dresser