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Page 59
THE TOWER-MOUNTAIN
BY GUSTAVUS FRANKENSTEIN.
I.
Many years ago, I was roving in a land strange and wonderful to me. It
was a tropical country, and I was wandering alone among the grand
scenery of the mountains, and the luxuriant vegetation of the
hill-sides and valleys.
I had with me but few implements, and these, such as were light and
easy to carry. A hunting-knife, a small hatchet, a canteen and a few
marching necessaries made up my kit.
One day while rambling about, living on the bountiful supplies of fruit
nature provides in that charming region, I came to a deep lake
surrounded by steep hills. On the opposite side of this lake I could
see a narrow gap or cleft, which seemed to lead to the higher ground. I
therefore made a raft,--not without considerable trouble,--and paddled
it across the lake. I found the gap quite narrow at its entrance, but
it soon became wider, while far forward, at the end of the chasm, there
appeared to be a series of rude steps.
I fastened the raft to the rock, in doing which I had the ill luck to
drop my hatchet into the deep water, and, notwithstanding the evil
omen, made my way into the crevice. I passed over the rough bottom of
the chasm until I came to the steps; these I ascended. At a height of
about a hundred feet I came to a wall of rock, the top of which I could
just reach with the ends of my fingers. By a great effort, I got a good
hold of the edge of the rock, and drew myself up.
When I stood at last upon the upper ground, I saw before me the most
beautiful trees and flowers I had yet met with. On either side the
rocks retreated and rose steeply to the summits I had partially seen
from the lake below. As I passed on and surveyed the plateau, I found
it to be a valley about a mile in diameter, encompassed by precipices
more or less abrupt. With but little trouble I found a place of easy
ascent, and soon climbed to the top of the rocky wall.
The delight I now experienced surpassed everything I had ever known.
Spread out before me, as I stood upon an eminence somewhat above the
general level, was a vast expanse overflowing with vegetation and
extending for miles in every direction, whilst all round about rose the
mighty domes and pinnacles of snow-clad mountains. I stood in the midst
of the sublimest mountain scenery in the world. I could look down upon
the beautiful lake, and up at the giant peaks, and all about me upon
the fruitful verdure, whilst the atmosphere was charged with
delightful odors, and a pleasant breeze tempered the sweet warm air.
As here was a delightful climate, fruit in abundance, and scenery
soul-exalting, of whose glory one could never grow tired, I felt rather
pleased with the thought "Why not stay here? Why not remain in this
beautiful place as long as circumstances will permit?"
All nature seemed here so lovely that I resolved to wander no further.
While gazing around at all this grandeur and beauty, my attention was
particularly drawn to a group of lofty peaks which rose in the midst of
this smiling garden. The sides of the towering eminences seemed almost
perpendicular, and they were about three or four thousand feet high.
I soon gave up all hope of ever reaching the top, but in examining the
rock I found at its base a great cavern, so high and wide that a very
large building might have stood in it, with plenty of room to spare.
The sides and roof sparkled with crystals of all hues, and were
singularly and picturesquely variegated with differently colored veins
running through them; and, as the cave opened toward the east, with a
large clear space in front of it, nothing could have been more splendid
than when the morning sun shone full into the vast chamber and lighted
it up with dazzling brilliancy.
In that chamber I made my humble home.
Near one of the streams that flowed over the precipice into the lake,
grew several species of very tall grasses, with great bushy heads of
long silky fibers that adorned and protected their flowers and fruit.
Of these fine strong threads I made a hammock, which I suspended from a
strong frame bound together with these tough fibers, placing it a few
feet back from the mouth of the cavern. Thus, I had an excellent bed,
and if I should need covering there were plenty of palm-leaves at hand
for the purpose. But in that torrid climate there was little need of
extra protection; the air of the cavern was of just that delightful
coolness which refreshes but does not chill.
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