Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-06-17

as far is the top. Here's Agapto, he will do How much will you charge
the senors, Agapfo?"
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 one pocket comb, and sailed forth in the wake of Agapto.
Pretty little Macuto, her head in the lap of the mountain and her feet
aaved by the surf, lay deep in slumber, but the lights If a score of fishing
boats twinkled o the sea. The town once was a favorte resort of the
welEtodo people OF Caracas, but now 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 Sc haphazard that the doctor
inquired somewhat anxiously if he was familiar with the route.
YES indeed" was the reply. 81 spent seven months o. this mountain
not long ago Is one of the revoutonits led by Gen. Matos, SO I know all
its trails"
So we scrambled on in the darkness unprotesting. Above us doomed the
mighty bulk of Ell Pfcacho, forming, with his brother peak to the east La
pass The, path was rough and steep and twistng-"used only by the
goats" said l.
81 am one" replied the doctor, grimly.
Half an hour of clambering and W struck a better defined trail.
This is the path taken by donkeys," explained Agapfo.
Il am one of those, ALSO" muttered the Medicine Man. "And to think
that Amory Preston LEI a band of armored and armed men by this trail
to Caracas in the night! fl 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 went and gradually the stars
faded out. the brghthued birds began to whistle and sing all about us and the
richness of the tropical foliage through which we were pushing W as revealed.
Then a shaft of sunlight found it's way through a cleft in the mountain
range and struck Ell Picacho full on his rocky head. Facing about on a
projecting corner of the path, we had spread before III the vast panorama of
Caribbean see and Venezuelan shore line, Still the lights of the fishing
share oft the spoil Of the waters. Swimming yer the waves, they would
wheel suddenly poise themselves, straighten out and descend like a falling
arrow, then settle on the surface and calmly gMp down the unfortunate
fish, that seldom escaped the swift plunge.
We we're still sheltered from the suns rays, the breeze was cool and
Agapito moved at a leisurely gait, but our hearts pumped hard and our
knees became Wobbly. BY ten O'CLOCK the spurts OF climbing were shorter
than the periods of rest and even an army of ants crossing the trail was
excuse enough for ten minutes of relaxation. At a hut perched O a jut
ting rock re encountered al aged peon leading a goat, and there ensued
a IN animated discussion of the routes, between Agapio, Nannys master and
the mistress of the house. AS a result our guide swerved far to the west
down through a beautiful ravme, seemingly undong the climbing of a
and her owner followed, but the little beast looked so disguised with or
slow progress that we let her pass ahead, and saw her no more.
Passing through the tiny village of San Jose with its garden patches
nerraced on steep hilhddes, we caught sight If a white house that seemed
to be at the top of things, 10 far as or route as concerned.