The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-05

| TO n1Qo In the VAIloy. anu n THplV search speed
liz convinced tho officers that the delinquent
was not there.
As the sun rose higher and higher. until It
began to shine even on the northward facing
snow fields, q sharp-eyed private reported that
he saw a black speck moving high up on tho
great white slope south OF the valley. The
officer called for n field glass. and, placing 1t to
his eyee. examined the snow carefully.
Call out a detachment" he said. that Is
Samson on the mountain"
There was n great stir In the camp when the
truth became known. Emissaries wore sent
after the searchers down the pass. calling Thorn
to return.
He thinks to get to Italy" said the oflcer.
81 did not imagine the fool knew so much of
geography. Wo have him now secure enough"
Tho officer who had been flung ovor Sam
eon's head was now able to Mobile about. and
he was exceedingly bitter. Shading his eyes
and gazing at the snow. he said:
"A good marksman ought to be able to
bring him Town."
There is no need OF that" replied his su-
perior. HE cannot escape. We have moth
ing to do but to walt for him. lie will have to
come down.
All OF which was perfectly true.
Adetachment crossed the strenm and stacked
it's arms at the foot Of the mountain which
ebio' wa 'hJhh~ w iiii hS II -
small level Mace a few yards wide between
the bottom Of the hill and the bank OF the rag
ing stream. On this bit Of level ground the
soldiers lay In the sun and smoked. while the
officers stood In n group and watched the
climbing man going steadily upward.
For u short distance up from tho plateau
there was stunted grass and moss, with dark
points OF rock protruding from the scant soil.
Above that again was a breadth Of dirty snow.
which. now that the sun was strong. sent little
t%rlckling streams down to tho river. From
there to the long ridge OF the mountain OK
tended upwnr the vast smooth slope of virgin,
pure and white. sparkling in tho strong sun
light. as IL 1t had been sprinkled with diamond
dust. A black speck against the tremendous
field Of white. the giant struggled on, and they
could see by the glass that he sank to the knee
In the softening snow.
Now" said the officer. The is beginning to
understand his situation"
Through the glass they saw Samson pause.
From below 1t scanned as II the snow were as
smooth as n sloping roof. but even to the naked
eye a shadow crossed it near the top. That
shadow was a tremendous ridge of overhang-
ing snow more than 100 feet deep. and sam
son now paused as he realized that it was in
surmountable. He looked down and undoubt-
edly saw a part Of tho egiment waiting for
him below. He turned and plodded slowly
under the ovcrbanging ridge until he came to
the precipice at his left. 1t was 1000 feet
sheer down. He retraced his steps and walked
to the similar precipice at the right. Then he
came again to the middle Of the great T which
his footmarks had made on that virgin slope.
He sat down in the snow.
No one will ever know what Il moment OF
despair the Breton must have passed through
when he realized the hopclcssness Of his toll.
Thu nT9nn ,vhn rpna -nvi.y b-,ruh A.
glass at him dropped his hand to his side and
laughed.
The nature OF his situation" he said. has
at last dawned upon him. 1t took along time
to get an appreciation Of it through his thick
Breton skull"
Let me have tho glass n moment" said
another. He has made UP his mind about
something"
The officer did not realize tho full sicniH-
canoe OF what no saw through the glass. In
spite OF their conceit their skulls were thicker
than that OF the prosecuted Breton fisherman.
Samson for IL moment turned his face to the
north and raised his hands toward heaven.
Whether it was an appeal to the saints he be-
loved in or an invocation to the distant ocean
he was never more to look upon. who can tell?
After a moments pause he flung himself
down the slope toward the section OF the re gi-
ment which lounged on tho bank of tho river.
Over and over he rolled. and then in place OF
the black figure there came downwards n
white ball. gathering bulk at every bound.
1t was several seconds before the signin-
canoe OF what they were gazing at burst upon
officers and men. 1t came upon them stimuli
taneously and with it a wild panic OF fear. In
the still air Il low sullen roar arose.
An avalanche! An avaianchc!' they cried.
The men and officers We're hemmed in by
the boiling torrent. Some of them plunged IN
to get to tho other side. but tho moment the
water laid hold OF them their heels were
whirled into the air and they disappeared
helploSsly down the rapids.
Samson was hours going up tho mountain,
but only seconds in coming down.
There was one mingled shrek which made
itself heard through the sullen roar OF the
snow. then all was silence. The hcmmed-in
waters rose high and soon forced their way
through tho white barrier.
When the remainder OF the regiment dug
out from the debris tho bodies OF their COM
rides they found n ilXcd look of tho widest
terror on every face EXCEPT one. samson him
sell. without an unhroken bone in his body.
silent rs calmly as II he rcsted under the blue
waters on the const Of Brittany.