Year: 1860

as breathlessly they gazed upon their guidei
descent. "Should his hands fail him, or thu
rope break, he would be lost, and we too; fol
we could neither advance norretrace our way


At that moment the sharp twang Of the cord
and cry Of horrer from above, announced thai
the line had indeed been parted; and with ia
ees OF dismay they beheld Andravi fall few
yards beyond the end of the dangling rope, the
remaining portion still in his clutchl 1t was o
sight of terror, but relieved IN part by their be-
holding him frantically grasp at stunted tree
which projected from rock IN his descent, and
contrived to maintain bis hold while, but this
delay was brief; his grippe relaxed, and he fell
again into the snowy vale below.


From the heigth which his spectators were,
and owing to the dazzling effect Of the snow, II
was impossible to judge of the distance between
the tree and the spot upon which he had falleni
ard they strained their despairing eyes afler
him, at the imminent peril of their own footing
to watci, il the too jealous idiot 'hould move
again, or remain dead where he FELL


To their joy he arose at once, and without
looking up, as though his miscnance were. OF
common occurrence or Of no particular impor-
tance, they saw him search the snow around
him, for the necklace for which no had .yentu-
red 50 mach Soon they saw him stoop, and a
faint ejaculation which assembled, intimated that
he had found it. ASST


But now the wonder wss how he was to as
cend again. No path was visible on any hand,
and the cope was swinging high beyond the
tree.


Clasplng the chain around his own neck and
drawing knife from his belt, Andravi began
to ascend the ragged wall, with the aid of the
weapon--cutting, as he assembled, step by step,
here and there, in the ice or earthly crevice, a
temporary hold for hand or foot until, by pain
fiIy protracted efforts, which exhibited iron
endurance as we'll as dauntless heart, he had
elevated himself high enough to admit Of tying
the broken end of the rope around his waist,
and from that perilous position between heaven
and earth, he was now cautiously drawn up, by
the overjoysd and amazed party above.


Long were the praises and congratulations
which greeted the Idiot, as he stood once more
in safety among them; and as he flung himself
upon the rock to rest awhile, and holding out
the necklace witk grim smile; its fair owner
re fused to receive it.


"No, keep it as a trophy Of yonr heroism,
brave iellow!' she cried, at is valuable; bat
poor return for the hazarl and labor you un-
derwent, and the wonderful courage you have
shown"


Guiding the travellers safely to their next
point Of destination, and receiving other sub
stantial tokens of their admiration, Andravi re-
turned home, where The fame of the exploit
soon followed him--an illustration OF many
similar acts which, during he ten pears of his
adventurous life among the Alps, made the Id
lots name iluStrous among the mountaineers
and himself an object of curiosity to travellers.


Yet, there arrived from all climes people OF
many ranks, none ever came who seemed to
know aught OF his previous history or who
could satisfactorily solve the mystery which
hung about him. -


70 all, he was the same quiet, lstess, unin-
telligible creature as guide, but generally
mute and iucoherent--save in his acts, as an
Alpine pioneer, and towards the humble inhab-
itantS of the district where he had been found,
and where he continued to dwell


The rewards he received from travellers he
distributed, as if by instructive gratitude to the
neighhors who treated him so kindly; clinging
to them and to that mountain region with a
majestic attachment which bound them to him
the more and made him seem sort of spirit
OF the spot by whose side no peril could be
fall.


Sometimes with scany supply of food, he
would be absent for days together, and when
tracked and found by his footprints in the snow
he would be heard mumbhng to himself or alb
sorbed in contemplation Of some lofty noun
tainway, as if he expected the sonno one.


But this mode of life was very soon to have
an end. tf @


AS wild storm as ever heaped an avalanche
filled decetful valley, or buried blind trav





and whsted through their dirmal gorges in
frishtfu fury, and bewilderng turmoil. An
draw went forth, for such times he seemed
to love.


Beneath snowy cliff, from whose ever hoa
ry sides a series of many mountain paths was
visible le-nisht having not yet having added to
the terror of the tempe5t-Andravi took his
stand; nor had he waited long beforo he saw a
muflcd traveller approaching, toiling through
the snow toward him. s-a-,--. ...


The Idiot remained motionIess and. mute
and the stranger stared at the statue like form
al he advanced, and announced that he had lost
his way,


'Guide me if you can, man. I'm wealthy
and will reward you amply. You seem to
doubt; but the name Of Adrain Lorett carries
belief with it in his own country. Why do
you stareso? Speak to me.' alt


A frantic, and tiger like leap upon the stran-
ger, were the answer of Andravi, who bore the
straggler fiercely to the earth. while his cry
was echoed from every hill around.


But if the IDIOT was agile, the stranger was
no less SO; and though taken by surprise, as he
| fell he drew pistol, and instantly discharged
it at the head Of the wild looking assaiant.-
The ball whistled harmlessly by, and the So.
rer weapon of the IDIOTS grasp, was employed
to as deadly purpose. The stranger felt that
he was being dragged to the edge Of the preci-