which we lay had eddied in its descent. Over our heads a huge mass ofsnow, hardened by water and frost, formed a roof; and around us stood walls of loose snow, though which came a light so faint as to convey the idea. of enormous thickness. I imiked in vain for an outlet—for smne spot through which I might discern a stronger light, as evidence ofa thinner covering. There was but one dead subdued colour—unvaried and per- plexing. I looked at the dog. He seemed to understand my appeal, examined attentively our limited prison, and by his most piteous whine told me but too plainly that there was no hope for us. Thorougth chilled by cold and terror, I unioosed the belt ofthe dog’s cloak, and, opening his wine-flask.endeavoured to fortify myself against my adverse condition. As soon as the dog found himselfdisen‘cnmbered, he went round and round our narrow apartment, snufiing the air at every step, and pausing Often, as ifintent to catch some sound from ' the exterior world. At each tour, he gave me a look of ".ii'nexpressibie sympathy, and, uttering his low wail of sorrow, sat down, as if to devise some new plan of in- vestigation. At times he startled me by sudden, iin- petuous and prolonged barking, in a sharp shrill tone, as if he endeavoured to send his voice to the outer air, while his mering neck gave to his bell a ceaseless vibra- tion. Nowandthen be dug furiously at the loose snow,’ until encumbered and tired, he sought for breath by re- treating to the middle ofour room, and panting heavily. ‘ I laid myself down at his side, and said, “Poor fel- feilow, you fell itito this snare by your effort to rescue fe‘, and now we must perish together; who will die first} know not, but—” And here I paused, for there rushed on my mind the thought ofthe possibility ofbeing j made, after death, the means of thehorribie subsistence of my canine associate; and then I began to shake with terror iestthe kind and faithful dog might, hangs his very nature under the pressure of hunger, antfprove, even during life, an enemy not less (ire-'tdfuiylhaii the wolf, which I had once supposed him to be. A terrific idea, once established in the mind, comes back often on very slight invitation, and I felt a dread which made me rush to the edge of the snow and bury myself in itsl fleecy bosom. The dog pursued me, and, pulling me back several times, seemed at last to lose his patience, and, by a low growl, quieted me through very apprehen-l 3100.

There was then a long silence. I sat scanning the face of the dog for signs of coming ferocity, and he watched me, lest I should escape into the loose snow and roll outofbis reach. There was terror in my face, and through his mild look I thoiiglitl could sue the. growing traits of hunger and cruelty. Poor fellow ll how much I wronged him.

Suddenly he sprung to his feet, threw forward his long ears, and stood listening. He advanced to the edge of the snow, and, inclining his head, placed his .ear'ciose to the bank on the side opposite to the rock. A sharp, quick cry announced that he heard something, and, in a moment, the snow from his feet began to fly about my head. As fast as he removed a part, the iti- cumbeut mass would fall into its place, so that it was a

counterclaim arsenals.

steps of what seemed to be a ladder. Immediately ti rope was thrown over the outermost one, and lowered. conformable to signals from the party in sight. It was too much to the right, and was therefore drawn tip again, and the place of the ladder changed by unseen hands. This apparently perilous enterprise was repeated several times before the rope descended opposite to us: Ala-s! alas! what was my despair when I found that ll swung off three or four yards beyond the edge ofthe precipice. There it dangled in the air, which seemed to take plea- sure in swinging it in every direction but that which I desired. ’ A sound from above again directed my eyes upward, where I'saw the head of a man projecting Over the lad- der, and its owner engaged in the attempt to give the rope its proper motion. Finally, after some time, it began to oscillate toward me, and I tirade several efforts to reach it. “ Don’t touch it, young Woman,” said be above; “ you may be pulled off or slip. Let the dog catch it. Look out, Ernst! There, now he has it! Hold on, fellow! Let the young, woman have it, boy, but keep hold. Now, putyour feet in the stirrups at the end ofthe rope. slip your arms through the loops above l That’s wrong l you’ve got the back strap in front! Put on the loops as you would a jacket, and grasp the rope. Keep sliold, Ernst, untii'tlie young ivoiiiziii is fixed! There .‘IIOW, hold fast, and don’t mind a few mouthfuls of snow; you’ll be safe enough in a few iiiinritcs l” tist as everything was ready for my frightful ascent, when my disordered fancy was full of fears of weak ropes, falling snow banks, and slipping assistants, and Iliad commended iiiyscif in prayer to the only safe Guiniz in so fearnt an emergency, I bctliought me ofiiiv four-footed friend, and endeavored to extricate myself, that I might tie the rope around him, and let him as-

ioug time belbre he made a channel of any length.

Finally he succeeded in estabushing a road long enough , ‘ f

to hide him from view, but now and then he backed into the chamber to rest and recover his breath.

As he lengthened his road, and restei so as to

no noise, I began to hear wlnt had probably attracted his attention. the vultures ofthe Alps, to whose i)’)tlil‘l{: and uncouth .note I had often listened as we ascended the mountain. Then .I remembered that the people of these wild and dangerous hills believe that by some strange insiinsti .‘these birds, are able_to tell the whereabouts of buried' travellers, and watch above for the movements or ineli- ings, by which they may find their dreadful prey. You may suppose that I listened with intense attention to the augmenting sounds, as they came more and more dis- tinctly to my ear, announcing the ncaier and still nearer approach of my companion to the outer air. At length I heard a sliding noise, as of snow moving over a roof, 3 heavy plunge, and then my ears were almost stunned by the strange sounds that broke into riiy chamber. I ‘ heard the low murmur of moving snow-wreaths, the) wild outcryof the startled r'ivens, the sharp and cease- .less bark ofthe dog, and the mingled babel sounds of a restless world. Seated, as it were, at the-botiom of a great ear, the sounds came to me in gigantic proportions, and almost stunned me.

I became bewildered through hope, and terror, and mighty sounds, and know not how I reached the air; but a cold fresh breeze playing on my face brought back my shattered senses, only to fill me with new causes of dread and sorrow. Iwas at the side of the dog, on the edge of a precipice exieriding downward for miles, as I supposed, and above me frowned a mountain of snow projecting so much above as to make me wonder why it did no descend and crush us. It seemed as if the avalanche had pushed over the precipice, on the edgeof which I stood,and had been broken there, while .thetvast ruin that lay scattered over the distant rocks atold 'ofa fearful plunge and a wide destruction.

[looked in vain for any signs of succour. 1 could see only snow, and rocks, and ravens. I could hear only the sounds of falling masses, detached from the heap above, as they thundered downward into the wild abyss, far, far below. The air, too, was piercingiy cold, and I began to experience that sense of drowsiness which, in these Alpine regions, is said to be the forerunner of a fatal lethargy. Iwas in despair. Hope deferred and often disappointed had made my heart sick, and I crept 'back into my den, prepared to lie down and die. The .wermth ofthat snow-chamber reanimated inc, and a , dread of my fourfooted associate acted as a constant sti- .muiant,’and made me incessantly attentive to his wild and ceaseless barking. At length he paused, and, with an exciting cry, rushed into my resting-place, and over- whelmed me with caresses. Then away went he again, resumed his barking, repeated his cry ofjoy, and returning

‘ to me, indicated plainly his desire thatI should creep out again. I accordingly followed him, and, directed by his eye and certain imperfect and distant sounds, perceived that some dogs, accoutred as be had been, were perched on lateral rocks at a distance below us. In a few ini- riutes Icould see the figures of the good fathers of this haspifium emerging from behind them, and with a glass

milk? v whole day in the cold air, .in

It was the scream of birds -—-of, I thought, .

ceiid before’ine. Iiow, thought I, could he get up if I did not lend him the aid of my hands! My attempt was observed above, and the marmzniar, for it was be, charged me to desist. ” 'that are you afraid of? Don’t stir, or you are lost." I looked up, in hopes ofuiakirig him understand me, but he was gone, and iii a moment after I was swinging iii the air, and looking down on the poor dog, \vhoin [thought I was leaving forcvvr. He knew better; and, waggingmis tail and yelpiug with delight, be secured to enjoy the flight which was to me so full of terror.

That was a frightful ascent. I knew not who go- verned my progress—I saw the dread atyss far below me, and above me rc~lcd that slender ladder quivering as the grating rope. wound over its last step. The nio- tioii of the rope, like that of a huge pendulum, was ler- rific—noiv I seemed as if flying off into the sky, and

then I was plunged into the snow of the brink, untii,|

blinded, suffocated and stuniied,l even wished to be once more in the Cold, diiii clirinibt‘r, from which so lately I Would have given worlds to escape. At length,

'I was drawn up to the ladder, and so much indeed above

it that the loops round my shoulders were on a level with it, but I was too’iriucii flitiIlebiCti and terrified to seize the ladder or incline myself forward; and there my pro- gresswas arrested, and I swooned away. The unex~ pectcd difficulty was obviated, asI ilftCHl'ill'ti learned, by withdrawing the ladder, and dragging me through

itbe snow uiiiil I reached the solid ground, on which

were assembled the excellent inert uho had passed the devising and executing means for the rescue of several persons who, like myself, had been in imminent peril. Iwas afterwards told thatgrcat difficulty was expe- rienced iiicxtricaling my good (iggwfl‘tlll! liismeriious po- sition. The rope, it seems, to which they had subse- quently attached a basket, did not vibrate in such a manner as to bring it within the reach of the dog, even with the utmost efforts ofthe maruinrizm for that purpose. The bits-kit was lllt‘ll removed, and the rope and loops lowered, lint with no better result. The increased wind swayed it too much, and, although it came within a few feet of the dog, he could not seize it. The day was wearing late, and every body suffered so much from cold, that the good men of the monastery began to seriously think of leaving poor Ernst to his fate, or at least to a night’s sojourn in the dim chamber on the cliff. To this thcmurniuiisr Would not consent. ilis finest moron was in peril, and be resolved to rescue him, even ifo|)- iiged himself to descend. Before doing so, he crept again to the end ofthe ladder, and began to swing the rope. Foiled a second time, he said, as he afterward observed, tlioughtiessiy, “ Can’t you jump at it, Ernst 'l" Ina moment the spring was made, and the dog was swinging violently backward and forward, whilst the star- tled murmiiu'er' nearly lost his presence of mind and his place on the ladder. “ Run him up, quickly. He has only his teeth to hold by. He has the rope—iip—iip l” The dog was saved, and ilt'l'e he lies. Murannicr, let me have the pleasure ofkooping liiiii beside rue whilst I

am here. I hope to see ilill) often, (is there is here a melancholy annual duly—a visit to the tomb 0! my father. lie often said that he would like to lie near his

friend, General Desaix, whose monument tiiceis you on the stair-case as you enter the monastery; and it was a strange fate that brought him here to die near his illus- trious friend. They fought side by side in Egypt; and, when Bonaparte returned to France, leaving Desaix in command, only the presence of my father could console the general for the absence of his commander. Even he could not long prevent his repining. IIc yearned for his chief; and, having patched tip a hasty treaty with the Beys, returned to France, asked instantly for leave to join the army of Italy, and, as you know, reached the glorious fieltbof Marengo only the day before the battle. In that battle, to the winning ofwhich Desaix contribu- ted so uiucb, he served his country for the lastitinie, and fell into my father’s arms at the very. moment when the retrieved field rung with the shouts of victory. The their first consul, to show his sense of his merit and ser- vice, caused him to be placed on the summit of this mighty mountain, Europe; and here also repoSe, by choice atid chance, the remains of his friend, my father. CONCLUSION.

IfI felt an' interest in the beautiful girl before, the feeling deepened as she proceeded in her story. until, at its close, I was too desperately smitten to be able calmly to bear the name of a separation. But events did sepa-

eyeing us carefully. «I could then see them making sig. male, as if to persons over our heads, and after a time I could hear sounds above, but as if at a great dis- tance. Isaw that efforts .vvere making for my rescue, but I could not perceive any possible mode of effecting an escape. The dog seemed to- think otherwise, for there was a triumphant expression in. his benevolent face of a most encouraging nature, and I. felt, despite myself, a part of his confidence. -

_ , Following his upward look, and attracted in the same direction by failing fragments, I saw, to. [my surprise, pagoda; over the edge of the snow-cliff, two ‘or three

n.1,».

rate us, at least for a time. How that happened, and when and where we agagn met,‘may, ifthis sketch should be well received by the lovers of romance and devotion. make'the subject ofa tale scarcely less remarkable than thatofthe envnax IN THE snow.

—

A Tiiuitu Ralcns.——Wliile the UuitedStates’ squadmn was lyingat Cape Palmas. the commodorennd several of his officers being on shore, Governor Roberts , with them, they received information that the daemony mood was then taking place at a native town quite near the cape. Most of our readers, perhaps, are acquainted with the nature ofthis piece of hea‘thenish barbarity; When a native

dies, his townsmen conclude that he died of witchcraft, and

in the highest consecrated spot of

of drinking sassy- '

there is always ready at hand some one to originate suspi- cion respecting the supposed murderer. The poor Victim on whom these suspicions rest is apprehended, and before an immense multitudeis compelled to drink draught after draught ofan infusion of the bark of sassy-wood, as It ts termed by the natives. This bark possesses strong potson- ous qualities, and the poor sufferer in a few hours dies a painful and horrid death. The practice is not unfrequently used to get rid of some useless member ofthe community, who they imagine has lived too long already. So it was in thevcrise above referred to. A poor old man was accused of having witched the deceased, and he must pass through the dreadful ordeal. They had assembled, and he had already drunk ii large quantity of the infusion, when Commodore_ : Perry and his party hastened to the spot. Seeing them ap- proaching, and conjecturing that a rescue was intended, the natives thrust the poor half dead victim into a canoe, ptit in a couple oftheir best paddlers, and away they were hearing him air the lagoon which extends several miles down the coast. Brit the benevolent intentions ofthe party were not robe so easily baffled. Commodore Perry caused two of their head men to be seized, and declared his purpose of taking.r them on board his vessel, and there keeping them, unless the poor fellow was immediately returned, and his freedom secured to him. This produced the effect imme- diately. Tire man was returned—providentiully relieved by some antidote administered by a physician, restored, and set

i . at liberty.

, lunexss Conan BALLOON—Tile curiosity of the scien- ‘iiifin world in Paris hasjust been raised to the boiling point ,i by the construction ofa Vast balloon ofcopper, which is so 'fin' completed as to beexhibited to the public. The con- istrnctoi- ofthis huge work is M. Marey-Mongee; and should l his unticipatioris be realised as to the practicability of em- ,ployin;.r this balloon for purely scientific purposes—as an ielnctric and magnetic phenomena—M. Arago will introduce i it to the French Institute. This balloon is completely com- } post-id of shoots of'copper, the 200th part ofan inch in thick- Moss. The idea ofthe construction of a inegtl balloon ori~ jginarod with Lane in 1760; and subsequently, iii 1784, ano- llimr metal balloon was constructed by Guyton de Morveau. r: In the pl‘t‘st’llt balloon, the sheets ofcopper, united by bands, Elike the ribs of a melon, have been soldered by de Riche— v nroiit’s aiilo genous process. They occupy an extent of 1,500 yards. The balloon itself is about teii yards in diameter, and contain 800 pounds of'hydrogen gas. It is stated in the ff’nrisiiin journals, that M. Dupuis Delcourt, the celebrated lFreiicb aeronaut, will shortly make an ascent in this balloon. ,i'l‘hc main object proposed by its constructor, M. Mnrey- ffilmyge, is the power of directing balloons by a system which 'lie has developed in a memoir submitted to the French Aca- dcmy. One ofthe advantages gained by the substitution of ,copper for silk, or other fibrous material, is that the metal j will prevent the escape of gas, so that the aeroriaut may re- frnnin a long time in the air, and thus be enabled to study fthe constant atmospheric currents.

i STRIKING A Bananas—Curran, when Master ofthe Rolls lin lreland, was going one day to a. levee at the Castle. There 'was a great press of'carriages, when, all at once, he was startled by the pole of the carriage which followed liirii crashing through the back of his. He hastily put his head out at the coach window, crying to his coachinan, “Stop, stop, the pole of the carriage behind is driven into us 3” “ Arrah! then its all right again, your honour,” said Pat ex- ultingly, “for I’veyust druv my pole into the carriage before.” This, as a sample of the Irish bull, Curran used to recite as perfect. ——_—=——=—‘_~ CANADA.

Mosrnsxn, May 7.—We learn from Beauharnois, that the whole ofthe men employed on the Canal struck for wages on tho lst inst. It appears that at the time of the strike the men were working for 2s. 6d. a day—the hours being from liaifpast 5 o’clock to seven. Their demand was for 2s. 9d. a day, which the contractors, on deliberation, ‘ingreed to give them, and it was then supposed thatnll would go on well. Instead ofthis being the case, they immediately afterwards demanded 3s, which the contractors refused to give and in consequence, the works have been suspended till the lst June.

May 14.

FURTHER DISTURBANCES.—-DARING ATTEMPT TO MURDER.

‘vVe are sorry to say that the villain who attempted to us- sassiiiute Mr. Secard is still at large. No trace ofthe guilty party has yet been discovered. We regret to learn that Mr. Secar'd, whose arm, we have already informed our readers, was amputated, passed a bad night on Sunday.

We are deeply grieved to say, that threats of'assassination have been thrown otit against other gentlemen connected with the works upon the line ofthe Canal. In addition to these threats, :1 Bill was posted, on Sunday morning, upon the section on which Mr. Secard was shot, denouncing all Americans employed on the works, and was in the following words :—

Yxsitms, take notice and clear offthe line of the Lachine C anal, as Captain Daylight is still on the ground, and ii number more as good marksman as he, with plenty of‘powdcr and ball, :3) girl” off the lines without any filrlllel'llollce, or here is your

ti .1".

[Here is introduced the figure ofa coffin, and also ofa man in the act of shooting, with the words “ we will send you to Hell,” written under it.]

People are asking themselves whether such things can possibly be real; they find it impossible to realise the almost incredible truth, that one foreman had been shot in broad day-light, because one ofthe workmen was discharged, and that ]others are living in daily dread of being murdered, while ‘ written denunciations of the massacre of a whole class are posted in rbe midst of htindrcds of men. Well may those doubt, whose only experience of such things is derived from perusing the accounts oflndian atrocities in ages long gone by. Well nray they ask, whether it is possible that men speaking the English language could be found, at the pre- ‘sent day, so utterly cruel, so absolutely hardened against the commonest feelings ofu common nature, so dead to the pre- cepts ofour Saviour and the commandments of'the Almighty God, as to combine together for the purpose of murder. lit a country like this, too, where the necessaries oflife, in pro- fuse abundance, are within the reach of every little boy even, who chooses to work, and where the luxuries oflife may be obtained by a little extra industry and labour, there is great difficulty in convincing oiie’s self of the actual ex- istence ofsuch a horrible state ofthings. What is the mo- tive which can actuate these men ? It cannot be want -—it is not oppression! Every man here is free to employ himself according to his fancy and capacity, and employment of some kind is always to be met with. They cannot think that a Contractor is to be compelled to employ men when he does not require them, nor that he is to be compelled to retain a man whom he does not want. As well mighta Con- tractor insist on labourers being compelled to serve him, whether they be willing or not. What is the remedy for this state of things? There is but one remedy—stop the whole work from one end of Canada to the other, and dis- charge the present workmen.