Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-10-08
DEPOSITS FROM stoo UP TAKEN,

nor was It difficult 70 understand why
this was SO. The slope faced the
northeast, and all day long the hot
equatorial sun lay upon it, prevent
ing any moisture from gathering.
One way or the other we must go.
We could not stand long inactive
without becoming so chilled that we
could not go either forward or back.
Which course should we take?
The answer was plain. To retrace
our way was impossible. The jour-
ney had been hard by day. Now,
when the thin, shifting moonlight
rendered it difficult to calculate dis
tance, and black chasms Of shadow
flung themselves athwart the path,
the idea was not to be entertained for
an instant. Food, warmth, shelter
lay before us; to retreat meant to
perish of cold and hunger and IA
tigue.
For several minutes we stood in si-
lence, gazing out upon the slope.
Shall ne try it," said I at last to
my guide.
It was the first time in our ac-
quaintance of two months that I had
ever seen him show hesitation; gen.
orally he was prompt in his decisions.
But this time he realized the danger
better than did, and before replying
he stopped, picked up bit Of rock,
and flung it out into the middle OF
the declivity. It started a miniature
avalanche, which swept rapidly down
and disappeared over the edge of the
precipice.
The most terrifying thing about it
was that after the rocks fell we could
hear no sound for several seconds,
and then only faint rumble thous-
ands Of feet below. It was a warn
ing of the fate that mis-step might
bring upon us.
/ But nothing was to be gained by
delay, and at last we decided to at
tempt the passage. TIE one thing
that gave us hope Of getting over in
safety was the appearance here and
there of boulder, apparently pro-
jecting from the solid ledge beneath,
rearing it's head above the surround
ing debris like little island.
Manuel went first, putting his feet
| down very carefully, one after the
other. followed, stepping exactly
| in his tracks. Once started, there was
| no turning back. did not fully re-
talize the treacherous nature of that
rocky slope until we were upon it.
/ We were fifteen minutes traversing a
fspace of fifty feet.
The farther we got out the sorrier
I grew that we had come. The whole
mass. The displacement of one bit
| of rock impaired an impulse to the
| next below, and took away it's sup
port from the next above. A single
| false step, slip on the part of either,
would involve both in fearful ca
| tastrophe.
| We did not say word to each 9th
er. All our energies were needed for
crossing the slope. The fatiguing ma
/ ture of that cautious tread I cannot
/ tell you. Every muscle was tense to
rigidity, every nerve keyed high; our
/ eyes were strained to detect the
smallest motion, and our ears were
! alert to catch the slightest sound.
Seventy-five feet out we reached q
| boulder that rose above the single.
It barely afforded footing for us both.
| We did not dare to remain long upon
it, for the temperature was far below
the freezing point, and we were stiff
with cold. After few minutes Man
uel made a sign and once more we
took up our perilous journey.
We had gone about fifteen feet
when my guide, who was two yards
in advance, gave a sharp exclamation
There was harsh rafting sound.
/ run, senor, run!" Manuel shout