Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-11-07

horse, looked toward ME, then fed forward
on his feet, casting away his nTmor MS 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 heat Of the inner fires, or perhaps
by that of the sun in hot seasons, know
not, and it's freezing in the winter months
or in tho cold of the nights. AT least there
is such cap Oh Xaca, measuring nearly q
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 one 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 rs 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 l
feared greatly lest this should chance to
| De Garcia, for I did not desire to lose my
| vengeance thus. Therefore twice when l
saw him in danger shouted to him. tell
ing him where to put his feet, for now
was within 90 PAGES of him, and, strange
to say, he obcyed me without question, for
getting everything in his terror of instant
death. But for myself I had no fear, for
| I knew that should not fall, though the
place was ono which / had surely shrunk
| from climbing at any other time
All this while we had been travelling to-
| ward NacG'- fery crest by the bright moon
light, but n.'I the dawn broke suddenly
on tho mountain top, and the flame died
away in the heart of the pillar of smoke.
1t was wonderful to SEQ the red glory
that shone upon tho ice cap and on us two
| men who crcpt like flies across it, while
the mountains breast and the world be-
low were plunged in the shadows OF night.
.sNow we have better light to climb by,
comrade!" called to De Garcia, and my
| voice rang strangely among the ice ellis,
| where never mans voice had echoed be-
| fore.
Now, I thought, he will surely make
| stand, for could he have found courage 1t
had been easy for him to kill me with his
sword, which he still wore, as climbed
| from the ice to the hot lava. 1t seemed
that he thought Of it, for he turned and
rlared at me like O devil, then went on
again, leaving me wondering where he be-
lieyed he would find refuge Some 8OO
PAGES from the edge of the ice the smoke
| and steam of the crater rose into the ar,
and between the two was lava SO hot that
| in places it was difficult to walk upon it,
Across this bed, that trcmbled rs passed
| over it, went De Garcia somewhat slowly,
for now he was weary, and followed him
at my ease, getting my breath again.
"At length, Dc Garcia!" said. Now
let us make an end You have your sword.
Use it if you can. 1t will be easier to die
fighting
II cannot" he groaned. My doom is
upon me.
LAS you WILL" and came at him,
sword up.
He ran from before me- moving back
ward and keeping his eyes fixed upon
mine, as 1 have seen rat do when snake
is about to swallow it. Now VIC were upon
the edge of the crater, and looking over
saw an awful sight, for there, some 81
feet beneath us, the rcdhot lava, glowing
sullenly beneath a shifting pail of smoke,
rolled and spouted like q thing alive. Jets
of steam flew upward from it with
screaming sound; lines of noxious vapors,
many colored, crcpt and twisted on its
surface, and hot and horrid stencil pol
soned the heated air. Here indeed was such
a gate as 1 could wish for De Garcia to
pass through to his own abode.
looked, pointed with my sword and
laughed. He looked and shrieked aloud,
for now all his manhood had left him, so