The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-31
SUMTER. S. c., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 81 1884,

SUM
snow. For a moment ne Iesi5a5ed, anu /
heard the heavy breathing Of his horse in
the great stiffness Then he turned and
faced the slope, driving his spurs into the
brute's sides The snow was hard, for
here the frost bit sharply, and for awhile
though it was so steep, the horse travelled
over it better than he had done along the
pathway. Now, as before, there was only
one road that he could take, for we passed
up the rest Of a ridge, plait, as it were,
In the garment Of mountain, and on
either side were sleeps Of snow on which
neither horse nor man might keep his foot
ing. For two hours or more we followed
that ridge, and as we went through the
silence of the haunted volcano and the lone
illness of its eternal SHOWS it seemed to me
that my spirit entered into the spirit OF
my quarry, ard that with its eyes saw
all that was passing in his heart.
Now the snow grew sleeper, and the
horse was almost spent, forhe could scarce
II breathe ataso great q height. In vain
did Dc Garciadrive his spurs into its sides;
the gallant beast could do no more. Sud
denly itfen down Surely, I thought, he
will await me now. But even Iihad not
fathomed the depth Of his terrors, for De
Garcia disengaged himself from the fallen
horse, looked toward me, then fed forward
on his feet casting away his armor as he
went that he might travel more lightly.
By this time we had passed the snow
and were come to the edge Of the ice cap
that is made by the melting Of the snow
with the heatof the inner fires, or perhaps
by that Of the sun in hot seasons, I know
not, and its freezing in tho winter months
or in the cold Of the nights. At least there
is such q cap on Xaca, measuring nearly a
mile In depth, which lies between the snow
and the black rim of the crater. Up this
ice climbed De Garcia, and the task is not
of the easiest, even for ono Of untroubled
mind, for man must step from crack to
crack or needle to needle of rough ice, that
stand upon smooth surface like the bristles
on hogs back, and woe to him If one
break or he slip, for then, as he falls, very
shortly the flesh will be filed from his
bones by the thousands OF swordlike points
over which he must pass in his descent to
ward the snow Indeed many times
feared greatly lest this should chance to
De Garcia, for I did not desire to lose my
vengeance thus Therefore twice when I
saw him in danger shouted to him, tell
ing him where to put his feet, for now
was within 20 PAGES of him, and, strange
to say, he eobeyed me without question, for
getting everything in his terror of instant
death. But for myself had no fear, for
I knew that I should not fall, though the
place was one which I had anrely shrunk
from climbing at any other time.
All this while we had been travelling to-
ward Xaca's fiery crest by the bright moon
light, but now the dawn broke suddenly
on the mountain top, and the flame died
away in the heart Of the pillar Of smoke.
It was wonderful to see the red glory
that shone upon the ice cap and on us two
men who crept like flies across it, while
the mountains breast and the world be-
low were plunged in the shadows Of night.
ssNow we have better light to climb by,
comrade!' I called to De Garcia. and my
voice rang strangely among the ice cliffs,
where never mans voice had echoed be-
fore.
Now, thought, he will surely make a
stand, for could he have found courage it
had been easy for him to kin me with his
sword, which he still wore, as climbed
from the ice to the hot lava It seemed
that he thought Of it, for he turned and
glared at me like devil, then went on
again, leaving rue wondering where he be-
ieyed he would find refuge Some 300
PAGES from the edge Of the ice the smoke
and steam of the crater rose into the air,
and between the two was lava SO hot that
In places It was difficult to walk upon it.
Across this bed, that trembled as passed
over it, went De Garcia somewhat slowly,
for now be was weary, and followed him
at my ease, getting my breath again
'sAt length, De GarciaP' I said ''Now
Let us make an end. You have your sword
Use it If you can. 1t will be easier to die
fighting
.sI cannot, [" he groaned- ''My doom is
upon me"
.'As you WILL" and came at him,
sword up.
He ran from before me, moving back
ward and keeping his eyes fixed upon
mine, as have seen q rat do when snake
is about to swallow it. Now we were upon
the edge Of the crater, and looking over
saw an awful sight, for there, some 80
feet beneath us, the redhot lava, glowing
sullenly beneath a shifting pail Of smoke,
rolled and spouted like thing alive. Jets
of steam flew upward from it with
screaming sound; lines of noxious vapors,
many colored, crept and twisted on its
surface, and q hot and horrid stencil poi
soned the heated air. Here indeed was such
a gate as I could wish for De Garcia to
pass through to his own abode.
I looked, pointed with my sword and
laughed. He locked and shrieked aloud,
for now all his manhood had left him, so
y
- =