Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-06-17

as far as the top. Here's Agapho, he will do. How much will you charge
the senors, Agapito?"
Five dollars" promptly replied the pee A general burst of
laughter reduced his price to $500 and the bargain was struck.
At four o'clock next morning we had a cup of coffee, packed our luggage,
consisting Of pocket comb, and sailed forth in the wake of Agapito.
Pretty little Macuto, her head in the lap of the mountain and her feet
laved by the surf lay deep in slumber, but the lights of a score of fishing
boats twinked o. the sea. The town once was a favorte resort of the
weLtodo people of Caracas, but % counts her guests by the dozen, for
she never has recovered from the destruction and terror caused by the earth
quake of 1899.
Our guides course at the start seemed 81 haphazard that the doctor
inquired somewhat anXiousy if he was familiar with the route.
Yes, indeed" was the reply. 81 spent seven months o. this mountain
not long ago as oft the revolutoniss led by Gen. Matos, s. know all
its trails"
So we scrambled IN in the darkness unprotesting. Above us doomed the
mighty bulk of Ell Picacho, forming with his brother peak to the east La
Shla, and the connecting heights, the range of Galpan owe which we must
pass. The path was rough and steep and twisting only by the
goats" said l.
81 am one" replied the doctor, grimly.
Halt an hour of clambering and we struck a better defined trail.
This is the path taken by donkeys" explained Agapito.
that Amory Preston led a band of armored and armed men by this trail
to Caracas in the night! If l only had breath enough I'd tell you about it,
but wait until We reach a resting place"
Higher and higher by devious ways w e went and gradually the stars
faded out, the brighthued birds began o whistle and sing all about us and the
richness of the tropical foliage through which W e we're pushing was revealed.
Then a shaft of sunlight found it's way through a cleft in the mountain
range and struck FL Picacho full on his rocky head. Facing about on a
projecting orner of the path, We had spread before us the vast panorama Of
Caribbean sea inc Venezuelan shore line. Still the lights of the fishing
boats twinkled family and hundreds of pelicans we're busly gathering their
share of the spoil of the waters. Swimming owe the waves, they would
wheel suddenly, pdse themselves, straghten out and descend like a falling
arrow, then settle on the surface and calmly glup down the unfortunate
fish, that seldom escaped the swift plunge.
We were still sheltered from the suns rays, the breeze was cool and
knees became Wobby. BY ten O'Clock the spurs OF climbing we're shorter
than the periods of rest and vel a n army of ants crossing the trail was
excuse enough for ten minutes of relaxation. At a hut perched O n a jt-
ting roc we encountered IN aged peon leading a goat and there ensued
a animated discussion Of the routes,b between Agapto, Nannys master and
the mistress of the house. AS a result our guide swerved far to the west
down through a beautiful ravine, seemingly undoing the climbing of an
hour, and again upward O what was supposed to be a better trail Nanny
and her owner followed, but the little beast looked so Disguised with our
slow progress that we let her ass ahead. and IA her no more
Passing through the tiny village of San Jose with its garden patches
terraced IN steep hilsides, W e caught sight of a white house that seemed
to be at the top of things, so far as route was concerned.