The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-01-12
A STRANGE GUIDE.


strength, everything In him was reason
Tor grave suspicion.
was at nm inn in Val Tournanche, and
| wished to 20 70 Fiery where several
friends were to meet me; having rather
heavy valise | needed mule to carry 1t,
and also guide to show the way.
Butnot II single mule was to be had, and
the only guide could find, Swiss did
hot wish 10 carry any burden; 10 was in
danger Of missing my appointment.
The day before WINS To depart as was
standing about dusk III the door Of the inn
looking auXiOusly to zee whether any
guides or pOrters had returned from the
mountains, the landlord came TO tell me
that he Ind found my man.
Have you sent for himW
He Is here"
when did he conner"
'Iust now"
"Does he come from the valleyYn
'N0 sir; from the mountain
impossible. | should have seen him
coming, | have been watching for an
hourn
"Tbs man does not follow thesame path
nv the others.
'Whyf'
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, a forest Of black curly hair, q
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 ......
"Doyou wish to 20 to Fiery, und go up
first Mount CervinO2"
y have given up Mount Cervino unless
this evening | find u mulcteer who will
carry my valise,"
Twill carry It,"
"'rhen should need guide for Mount
CervinO.n
~ will come"
Would you be willing to carry my VA
lise up thereY"
"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 u swaggerer.
lofIered to show him the valise; but he
laughed at the idea, did not like him.
Are you regular guide2"
Certainly
"Have you n loenseW
mo, have u certificate Of honorable
discharge J was in the artillery"
what isyour name"
DO you want TO know all this for fifteen
francsY and he began to laugh sarcastic
cally. Very well, | will tell you my
name gratis. Myname is Giacomo Balmes.
Does that please your"
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 II ! have earned them" and after a
searching glance, "1he 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 ut 8 O'Clock in
the morning. Ny valise stuffed full
seemed to him mere straw He carried
il bound on his back with cords, like a
knapsack. He walked nimbly, whistling
quickstep. His gait had something
peculiar about it. did not know what ii
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
u kind Of path cut in the living rock, rough
and bare as u slab He entered it without
saying anything, and climbed like squir
rel.
Certainly by that way the ascent was
pleasanterand quicker.
When we help ourselves with hands and
knees, and every step must be studied and
measured, the mind does not notice til,
fatigue.
Az first in the steepest places Jacque,
turned around and offered me his hand
butbeing fresh ! refused his aid, proud t,
Aof Punterthe rough mountain. Then th,
pw began to walk by himself, abandon
me TO my fate. There was no real dan
but felt somewhat indignant at see
him so high on the rocks Sometimes
hsnt on my steps, forgot him, and wher
= = being alone