The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-02-28

aOio circumstances night Weii nave aI)-
palled the stoutest hearted mountain
eer. In the darkness they would be IL
creased a thouSandfo.d.
Along the base Of the mountain the
trail was not difficult, although it was
pitch dark under the trees which, ex-
cept where the mighty cliffs rose sheer
in the air like huge buttresses OF the
range, covered the mountains for the
whole expanse Of their great altitude
Alvarado made his Wy upward with
out trouble or accident at first, and be
made good progress for several hours
in spite of darkness.
1t had been long past midnight when
he started, and it was not until day
break that he passed above the famll-
lar and not untrodden way and en-
tered upon the most perilous part Of
his Journey. The gray dawn revealed
to him the appalling dangers he must
face.
Sometimes clinging with iron grasp
to pinnacles Of rock he swung himself
along the side Of some terrific preci-
pice, where the slightest misstep meant
a rush into eternity upon the rocks
thousand feet below. Sometimes he
had to spring far across great gorges
in the mountains that had once been
bridged by mighty trunks Of trees, long
since moldered away. Sometimes there
was nothing for him to do but to
scramble down the steep sides OF some
dark canyen and force himself through
cold torrential mountain streams that
almost swept him from his feet. Again
his path lay over cliffs green with moss
and wet with spray, which afforded
most precarious support to his grasp
ing hands or slipping feet. Sometimes
be had to force way through thick
tropic underground that tore his cloth
ing into rags.
Had he undertaken the ascent in a
mere spirit of adventure he would have
turned back long since from the dan
gers he met and surmounted with such
hardship and difficulty. With the pale,
beautiful face Of Mercedes to lead him,
and by contrast the hateful, cruel coun-
tenance Of Morgan to force him, ever
before his vision, the man plunged up
ward with unnatural strength, braving
dangers. taking chances, doing the i'm
possible-and Providence watched over
him.
It was perhaps 9 O'Clock IN the morn
ing when he reached The summit
breathless. exhausted, unhelmed, weap-
onless. coatless, in rags; torn, bruised,
bleeding, but unharmed-and looked
down on the white city of Caracas set
in its vewant environment like hand
full Of pearls in a goblet of emerald.
He had wondered if he would be in
time to intercept the viceroy, and his
strained heart leaped in his tired breast
when he saw. few miles beyond the
town On the road winding toward the
Crinoco country. body Of men. The
sunlight blazing from polished helms OF
pointed lance. tips proclaimed that they
we're soldiers. he would be in time,
thank God.
With renewed vigor be scrambled
down the side Of the mountain-and
this descent fortunately happened to
be gentle and easy-and. running with
headlong speed. he soon drew near the
gate of the palace. He dashed into it
With reckless haste, Indifferent to the
protests Of the guard. who did not at
first recognize in the tattered, bloody,
wounded. soiled specimen Of humanity
the gay and gallant commander. He
made himself known at once and was
confirmed in his surmise that the vice
roy had set forth with his troops early
in the morning and was still in reach
ing distance Oh the road.