Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-04-13
CHAPTER XIV.

The sun was up, very red and bold, as
we passed through Zurich; and where 1t
touched the great lake. the waters shone
scarlet as blood under the slanting rays.
Before us the Alps were heaying upward,
growing mightler every hour, with the
pinnaclss Of their strange frost Kingdoms
blushing In the early sunshine. BY eleven
o'clock we Mad left the open country,
passing into a labyrinth OF valleys,
crowned with pines, waiting black and
silent on their snow carpets, scored with
torrents and patched with frozen tarns.
Coire was reached by half-past one, and
the narrow gauge of the Thusis line car
ried us through meadows and brushwood
morasses until we crossed the upper
Rhine and drew into the station which
is set under the cliff bastions, outworks
Of the Alp citadeis beyond.
II was then three Of the clock. There
were still forty miles left OF our journey
"a ten hours drive over the passes to
the distant Engadins.
A carriage with three horses was walt
ing to our order without the station.
We entered 1t at once, and the driver
swung his team into the Tiefenkastell
road. Fifty francs from Graden had I'm
pressed him with the necessity for haste.
Yet our progress was insufferably tedi-
GUS. Once across the bridge, we dropped
into a walk. while our straining team
tugged heavily up the pass of Schyn.
To our left the ridge barred the view; but
on the right narrow valleys sliced deep
into the glittering heights above gave us
sight Of the stately peaks that senti-
nelled the eastern sky. In an hour we
had entered the forest Of Versasca-for
such, have learned, Is its name-and
80 climbed on through the dismal ave
nues Of pines till we passed through gal
leries and tunnels, hewn deep In the cliff
side. out Into the barren snow fields once
again
The sun was setting as we ratified over
the pavement Of the hill village of lief
enkasteH, that crouched In the shadows
Of the Albula Gorge. The dying rays
struck fercely on the distant peaks, I'M
I'll those pale Ice maidens found rosy
bushes for such reckless gallantry. 1t
was a spectacle Of Infinite grandeur. and,
despite my impotence, l leaned from
the window watching the light fade and
whiten into the opals Of the after glow.
I'VE can thank our luck that there's a
moon" said my cousin, as | drew back
/ into my corner. These drivers know
the road like a book, but l should like
our fellow to see where he's going In
the Berguner Stein"
"Is II dangerousT
"A ledge for a carriage way, and a
precipice for a ditch on the near side. Is
not particularly pleasant for the nerves
when you can't see your hand before
you"
"You have been here before. thenr'
"Oh, yesv' he said. and so we fell Into
silence.
1t was past six o'clock when we left
Fillsur, tiny group Of deep-eaved
houses. and dropped down the hillside to
the stream. As we rose the further slope
through a wood Of scattered pines, the
: moon came peering out from behind two
bare and lofty peaks that lowered above
US into the southern night, lighting their
Icy submits so that they gllttered like
blades Of polished steel. 1t was a scene
Of such melancholy desolation that as our
horses halted on the crest Of the hill. |
lowered the window, thrusting out my
head for better view.
In front Of us the white road curled
down into gorge. an ink-black wedge
Of shadow that drove into the distance
between silver cliffs bright with the
moonlight.
SIS this the place you spoke Off l
asked.