The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-23
AN INVISIBLE THING.

Captain Hill of the Union army, l de.
termined to take trip through the
northwestern part Of South America and
spend few months in visiting the
country where dozen volcanoes may
be seen at one time.
We visited Chimborazo, Cotopaxi,
Piuchincha and others, and then went
on to see the wonderful lava bed Of Cay
ambi, 10 miles long and at least 500
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 see
it. 1t lies way up the mountain side,
IA, 900 feet above sea level, and was ac-
cessible 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 on 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 q 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 q fruitless attempt to
smooth it out. He mast 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 out that no
one had lived in the convent for nearly
300 years, but that about 20 years be-
fore 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 in better condition
than the others. All the rooms had long
since become roohess except these, which
were directly underneath the low tower.
On our signifying our willingness to
be shown the rooms in the old convent,
the old man went into his hut and
brought out a rude wax taper, and with
out word led the way to the north end
of the ruin, where I 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 impassable.
At last our pilot came to a standstill
at the last doorway, the door, remark
ably well preserved, standing half open.
AS we entered. q monster bat whisked
by my head, then another and another.
Doubtless they had been interrupted in
their nocturnal forage.
Inside the little room there wan q
rude rustic cot frame made Of poles
with the bark still on.-the only fulni-
ture Of any description. The windew,
a small square hole, was closed with
iron bars almost rusted away. Instead
of panes of glass the spiders had substi-
tuted 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 point
from the first, except, perhaps, that it
was, if possible, more dusty and cob
webby.
We informed the old man that we
would spend the night in these old
He looked at us moment as If
then shook his head and
muttered something which took to
mean "God keep you safe. He set the
candle down on the floor and left Us to
ourselves.
We lit our cigars and sat down on the
pile Of blankets, etc., which we had
brought in with US and carried into the
inner room, and entered into converaa-
tion. But a strange perversity donli-
mated the current Of our thoughts. In
sensibly we yielded to the occult force
that swayed Us and INDUCED in glooray
speculation.
After some time spent in this sort Of
We retired to rest the cap.
tain going out into the outer room and
remaining where was, after an un-
successful attempt to remove the cot
frame from the inner room to the outer.
spread my blankets on the cot frame
and closed the door Of my cell, which
,reaked on it's old rusty hinges with
noise unearthly. It would not entirely
close, 80 worked it back and forth un-
til all the rust dropped off and it shut
quite easily, making scarcely sound.
: shot the bolt, taking no notice in the
feeble light whether or not there was
loop to receive it.
For q time felt much easier that the
door was fast and lay down and drew
the blankets up around me. l had just
begun to feel drowsy when slight
noise startled me and sat up.
The door stood open!
MY blood seemed to freeze in my
veins. My heart stood still; then it
started to beat so rapidly that could
hardly breathe. + had surely closed and
bolted the door, yet there it was open,
as I could make out by the dim light
from the cobweb curtained window AS
the cooling perspiration broke out at
every pore realized that had been
thoroughly frightened. I jumped up
and closed the door again and then
wrapped myself up in my blanket.
The room was ind arkness, except for
q gray streak from the window. I tried
to 90 to sleep, but in vain. Sleep had
entirely fed. I desperately drew my
arm across my eyes as if to shut out
even the darkness and tried to think Of
nothing.
While / was lying still as q corpse,
hoping that by perfect physical inac-
tion I should hasten mental repose, An
awful incident occurred. A something
dropped, as it seemed from the ceiling,
plump upcu my chest, and the next ill.,
slant / felt two bony hands enoircling
nv throat, endeavoring to choke me.
I am not naturally coward and am
possessed of considerable physical