Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-12-09
THE MARITIME ALPS.

than prudent discovered that not long
ago They had started from the charm
ing inn Of La Girandola, perched on q
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
10 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
clarion. 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 u troop
on the march. battalion Of chasseurs
de montague. with gray doimans and
trousers and leggings. As they ad-
vanced. the tourists distinguished clear
iy the column developing its spirals on
the side Of a steep spur. mounting from
the depths Of the valley Of Luceran to-
ward the peak OF La calmette. On
point to the left group halted. forming
the vanguard; the main body OF the
troop climbed slowly. followed by q
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. depioyed on
.Ass..s Rs.ai
toward the principal peak The mus
ketry ratified. backed mp 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 fight
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 mp
the steep slopes At last they reach the
summit. What lungsl what legs they
havei
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 misadvsnture. promises to help
A them.
II cannot have you taken back to the
plain today he says 10 them. ''fou
will have to stay with us until tomor,
row, and follow us to our camp tonight.
"Oh.r said one OF the ladies' that ID
impossible. We cannot walk another
step"
sDo not be alarmed, ladies" replied
r, tho officer "Our pannier mnles vii
carry you. We will put you mp com
fortably In the bivouac and tomorrow
we will 20 down TO LA Bollene, wher'
you will find carriages for Nice
The proposition was promptly accept
ed The bngle sounded the signal 10
departure. and the ladies were placed Of
the backs of the ambulance mules. nc
conlpanied by the men Of their party
and intrusted to the care OF the docto
: OF the battalion. For n time the roa
was fairly good. An hours marc
brought them TO the woodcutters caml
a group of huts inhabited by the me-
At. who work for the forest Here tn
W. mules straps were frightened. their shos
examined and their burdens CAREFUL
- put in order. for the last part OF the rca
IN the hardest. The woodcutters cam
Ia the last point where there is any w
ter, and so. before starting. all the an
mails are given drink. and all the pot
- roursls and other receptacles are tilled
The zigzag and very precipitous pat
mounting mp a steep incline formed
loose fragments Of rock. is hampered
roots and branches OF trees. Their ST.
shows that they are accustomed to .
mountain. its steep paths and It's raret
air. Their lungs. like their muscles, a
. strengthened by these repeated exercis
in the woods, on the heights and acre
- the glaciers all through the fine mont
~, Of the year
Farther on the ground gets bare; I
path runs over the rock itself; the
zags are so short that they have scarc'
the length OF n mule. The animals
vance but very slowly. and by the I'll
the ambulance reaches the plateau
soldiers have already been there sol
- time. and the bivouac has been rapi'
formed.
The officer In command comes
ward TO meet tho tourists. and to th
great surprise proposes 70 conduct th
TO their hotel. They follow him. !
q males stop at the extremity OF the
uGt teau. where the woods begin. Un
the trees n bivouac has been install
for the tourists A gourbi OF
branches viii protect them from
eoolness Of the night. The entranc
MI decorated with bouquets OF mount
lNL flowers.
.Here Is your homo for one day,
DANES says the officer. I'VE wiz
- Won the mule litters, and with some
and q fug you win have fairly Q
anu Portable bed"
I'VE accept the lodging. but not
beds. We will not deprive your sicl
caves u have no sick" replies the ON
saxy sax There Is nobody In the amouia
!, and The ambulance h, 90 to speak, nse