The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-10

Copyright, lSO/s by X. r. emo & 20.
are clad in verdure, the central range,
as it may be called, is arid, rocky and
desolate. OF comparatively uniform
height, the mountain tops rise majes-
tically into the region of perpetual
snow There are, practically speak
ing, no passes, only here and there a
goat track, dizzy enough to eontem-
plate, of a 1nountaineer's zigzag path
which leads nowhere in particular,
and in the neighborhood Of Brayle
sheer rock rises perpendicularly from
the mountain road which runs through
the village. So to my story.
Supper finished and brier pipe set
going, I suggested another log on the
fire, more wine-it was very thin wine
and harmless-and Mustapha's tale.
The man had drunk at my expense or
do not think he would have told the
legend.
tsIt's little 1 know" he said. ttEvery
one knows nearly as much, only they
do not believe. Long ago, long before
Brayle existed, somewhere near here
there was pass from this side Of the
mountains to a country beyond. There
was constant intercourse between the
people on this side of the mountains
and that country, whose Inhabitants,
though different, were friendly. The
men We're strong and warlike and the
women more than beautiful, far supe-
rior to ours, it is said, and the wealth
of the country was enormous. In the
kings treasury were stored gold and
silver and precious stones, greater
! wealth than man could name. 1t was
pleasant country, too, warm and sun
1faiT7 oh
and sheltered it, They were a strong
people and therefore dwelt in safety,
contented people and therefore happy.
A day came when the pass was no
more. 1t was a year of fierce storms,
such as had not been known until that
time nor have been since. Mountains
split asunder and changed their shapes.
and when the storms were over the
pass was gone. The mountain walls OF
it had split and fallen in, shutting that
fair land out of the world forever
1.-THE legend improves with every
telling said the landlord.
-.And it's all le," said one of the
other men contemptuously. Eve been
lost day and night upon the noun
tains and know every inch of them
that is to be known. It's all a tale
Mustapha is a stupid dreamer"
was the only one he cared about. His
companions jeers he had heard often
enough before.
at thought it all tale once" he said
when made no comment 81 know
better now. There was until lately a
wise woman in Brayle, and she told
me that, though the pass was destroy
ed, there remained secret entrance to
this fair country through the noun
tains and that she had seen armed
men going there. I did not believe
it,. and laughed, but now laugh no
more. have seen these strange men
more than once"
where? ' L asked.
"On the road you will take tomorrow
If you travel to the east. viii show
you the place.
Very well; you shall show me to-
morrow We will start early, Mus
tapha,'' I said as 1 prepared to go to
rest for the night.
ST shall wake at dawn" he answer
ed
"And you will return?'' asked the
landlord.
'We shall be back before sunset,
| ready for an excellent supper" I an
swered.
Back before sunset! I little knew
night before saw Brayle again.
II was a brilliant but cold morning
when we entered the new country. On
/ the way I chatted with Mustapha.
| Frequently asked him about various
/ places of which he had told me.
/ questioned him about the legend and
| of the strange men he had seen. He
/ showed me the fall which he had pre-
| vious1y described, where he had hid
and where he had had adventures. We
! came to rough places, sharp turns and
| yawning declivities. Sometimes had
! to crawl, and often 1 grew dizzy and
sick. We reached what looked like
| platform. Suddenly heard Mustapha
shrek. He tried to retrace his steps
| and failed. In trying to make my own
footing secure 1 fell forward. I be-
gan sliding downward. To the left
there was straight, sharply defined
| black line and nothing beyond it, and
| there was the sound Of rushing water
| I succeeded in keeping myself from
| being drawn to the left, but 1 accel-
Grated my speed The way was hard
and smooth, and I dashed down, going
r Easter than tie rolling mass before me.
| It was on a lower level than I was,
and I got abreast of it as it came to
the straight black line. Then-good
God, it was horribleI AS I passed it