Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-11-06
AN INVISIBLE THING.

Captain Hill of the Union army, de-
terminsd TO take a trip through the
northwestern part of South America and
spend few months in visiting the
country where a dozen volcanoes may
be seen at one time.
We visited Chimborazo Cotopaxl,
Pinchincha and others, and then went
on to see the wonderful lava bed of Cay
ambi, 10 miles long and at least 900
feet deep.
While at the latter place we learned
of an old monastery which, so tradition
has it, was deserted at the eruption OF
Cayambi in 1891. We determined to soc
it. 1t lies way up the mountain side,
$4,000 feet above sea level, and was ae-
sessible only by the most tortuous OF
bride paths it had ever been my fortune
TO travel over However, with the as
sistance of guide secured at the small
mountain village at which we were
staying, the ascent was successfully
made.
At the close Of the second day our
tired mules turned the last bend in the
steep mountain path, and there before
us lay the ruins of the old convent to-
ward which we had been climbing for
two days, hardly distinguishable from
the rough and rugged cliffs and rock
heaps appearing OH every hand.
We dismounted and sent the guide
forward with the beasts and luggage.
When we reached the convent gate, the
guide was talking to an old man, who
at once made place for us. The old
fellow was bent and wrinkled, the skin
of his face looking like an old piece Of
crumpled parchment which had been
put aside after fruitless attempt 10
smooth it ont. He must have been at
least 100 years old.
We asked if we might spend the night
there, after telling him the object with
which the journey had been made.
From his reply we made ont that no
one had lived III the convent for nearly
200 years, but that about 20 years be-
fore "a party of travellers had visited
there and had remained few weeks
sketching and hunting, and that they
had occupied the rooms at the south
end, which were then III better condition
than the Others. All the rooms had long
since become roofless except these, which
were directly underneath the low tower
On our signifying our Willingness to
be shown the rooms III the old convent,
the old man went into his hut and
brought out rude wax taper, and with
out word led the way TO the north end
of the ruin, where | made out "a massive
black door which opened inward. En-
tering, he lighted his primitive candle,
turned to the left and led the way down
a stone floored corridor which the cob
webs made almost impossible.
AT last our pilot came to a standstill
at the last doorway, the door, remark
ably we'll preserved, standing half open.
As we entered, monster bat whlsked
by my head, then another and another.
Doubtless they had been interrupted IN
their nocturnal forage
Inside the little room there was a
rude rustic cot frame made of poles
with the bark still on-the only furni'
ture of any description. The window,
"A small square hole, was closed with
iron bars almost rusted away. Instead
of panes of glass the spiders had substi
tuted "A network which almost shut out
the stars
Communicating with this cell by
means of short passageway, nearly
closed up with rubbish. was another
room differing in no essential poin
from the first, except perhaps, that i
was, if possible, more dusty and cob
webby.
We informed the old man that w,
would spend the night in these ole
rooms. He looked at us a moment as i
astonished; then shook his head anC
muttered something which | took Il
mean God keep you safe. " He set thu
candle down on the floor and left us Z,
ourselves.
We lit our cigars and sat down on tn,
pile of blankets, etc, which we haC
brought in with us and carried into TIT
inner room, and entered into converse
ton. But strange perversitv domi
mated the current of our thoughts In
sensibly we yielded TO the occult fore
that swayed us and INDUCED in gloom.
speculation.
AlltI sOHio tlllo Spun III WIS SUI "
conversation we retired to rest, the cap
tain going out into the outer room anC
j remaining where l was, after an un
successful attempt to remove the co
frame from the inner room to the outer
i spread my blankets on the cot fran
and closed the door of my cell, which
creaked on its old rusty hinges with
noise unearthly. 1t would not entirel,
close, so ! worked ii back and forth un
til all the rust dropped off and it shu
quite easily, making scarcely sound
] shot the bolt, taking no notice in tn
feeble light whether or not there was
loop to receive it.
For time felt much easier that tn
door was fast and lay down and drew
tho blankets up around me- ] hid IN