Year: 1869

Then he breasted his way out into the chasm,
but it was only to return again as quickly
as possible. Never cataract ragged more
fiercely than the surging water there. Gut
ting little inches in the ice wall, he climbed
beyond the reach of the water, and trenl-
bling awaited his fate. The waves rose
rapidly, higher and higher, he had climbed
until his head rested against the top of
the little caye-could go no further. And
yet, the waters rolled upward around him.
They reached his waist-surged higher to
his breast-crept up to his throat, and des-
pite all his efforts, began to trickle into his
mouth. In another moment he would be
strangled by them; his hold would be torn
away and his body dashed hther and thith-
er against the sharp points of the ice. so,
God Save me! Save mel" burst from
him in the terrible agony of the instant
the moment of time that lay between him
and death.


A noise like thunder shivering crash
-resounded through the chasm. 1t ap-
peared as if the very foundations of the
world were tottering beneath him. Now,
indeed, he felt that his end had come. No !!
terror was changed to rapture. The water
rushed out of the cavern with the most
amazing velocity he could descend and
stand upon the bottom without fear. How
this had been accomplished he was forced
to wait, until morning, to determine and
with the first beams, he saw great fissure
had been opened, through which the i'm
prisoned waters had found their way to the
valley below. This unlocked for preserva-
ton again inspired him with confidence
rendered more firm his trust in God.
Through that tunnel he saw his way to
freedom. 1t was small to be sure, but he
could enlarge it and he worked diligently,
until his strength utterly failed. The ibex
was entirely devoured He had split the
bones and sucked out the marrow; he had
gnawed them over and over again to ap-
pease his hunger. For two days he had
not tasted morsel of food. The hatchet
slipped from his hand when he endeavored
to strike blow, and he was forced to
abandon the undertaking. There was moth
ing left for him now but to die.


| Another day passed and no help came.
He lay crouched in the corner wishing that
the end would come and that swiftly. His
eyes were already filmed and his heart beat
family. Then, strange noise aroused
him. He looked aloft and saw q chamols
vainly striving to defend itself from the at
tacks of two old vultures that were strik-
ing at it with wing and beak. 1t was an
unequal contest and, at length, the animal
driven to desperation, attempted to leap the
broad chasm. The effort was noble one,
but it failed of success. The chamois
missed its footing, and fell, bruised and
helpless, at the very feet of the starving
man. In an instant, his knife was plunged
into its throat, and the warm blood was
drained by his eager lips. This gave him
new life, and renewed his labor. 1t was
almost herculean task. More than once
he fell fainting beside it. But hope was
very strong within him. Still, he would
have utterly failed, had not heaven assisted
him.


Again, the fohn was busy at it's work of
destruction again the windows of heaven
were opened; and the Grains descended,
and the floods came" and accomplished
more in a single night than his hands could
have done in months. With the morning
light, he crawled through the now large
tunnel; but when he reached the outer end
found, to his horror, that he was Oh the top
of mighty prccipice. His blood boiled !;
his brain seemed on fire his heart beat as
if it would break through ribs and flesh.
He was if possible, more desperately i'm
prisoned than before. How was he to get
down? Through his bewildered mind sud
denly flashed the thought Of the skin OF the
ibex and the chamois, and he was not long
in making rope of them. He then cut u
deep hole in the ice, drove down his aipen-
stock, fastened one end to it, and, swinging
himself off, reached the bottom in safety.


With a cry of joy and prayer of thank
fulness, he hastened along the we'll known
path and when the bell of the little chap
ell, that reared its gilded cross in the Mat
ter valley, was tolling for the evening
prayers, he staggered like drunken man
into the very midst Of the astonished
worshipcrs, even as the voice of the good
priest was repeating I" God is everywhere
with me; and everywhere, even in the
threatening dangers his voice speaks to me
in tones of comfort, and says, Call upon
me in the days Of trouble, and l will de-
liver thee, and thou shalt glorify me = =
staggering toward the altar, to kneel at it,
he fell fainting into the arms Of his wife,
who again nursed him to health strength
and manhood.