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seemed as though placed as a resting place, previous to entering a gloomy-looking defilewhich led to the hermit’s abode.
The Scene became singularly wild and sombre. A very narrow path led through thisrocky pass, which they trod with great caution. Though it was but little after noon, thegloom was gradually increasing as they advanced, produced by large masses of overhang-ing rocks, which seemed suspended in the air above, and crowned with thick foliage thatcompletely overshadowed the path. As they proceeded, the gloom became positive dark-ness, but as the traveller looked forward, he saw the dull twinkling of a solitary light,which seemed to proceed from the extremity of their unpleasant and oven dangerouspathway. The guide informed him that the light was placed there by the hermit, as adirection to his lonely retreat, yet some accidents had occurred to the few who had ven-tured thither without a guide.
The passage now became exceedingly steep, and seemed as though it had been cut intothe rude resemblance of a staircase. When with great fatigue they had nearly reachedthe summit, a most extraordinary cry was heard, which, reverberating among the recessesof this wilderness, conveyed a strange feeling of awe, amounting almost to terror. Look-ing to the place whence the sound proceeded, he saw by the little light which the lampafforded, a large dog standing on a projecting fragment of rock, almost perpendicularlyabove, and again making the dull echoes resound with his wild cry.
Innnediately afterwards, the traveller beheld a human figure, bearing a lantern, ascend-ing to the spot on which the dog was placed, who crouched humbly at his feet. It wasthe hermit. The visitors had now approached near enough to distinguish objects clearly,and the entrance to the hermitage became visible. It was apparently hewn out of.therock, and almost covered by the dark foliage that covered the mountain. The appear-ance of the recluse was as singular as his dwelling. Ilis apparel consisted of a rough,dark-coloured dress, reaching from his neck almost to his feet, and girded round thewaist with a broad leathern belt; a lantern was suspended to his side, which it rarelyquitted on traversing the dismal precincts, of which he appeared the undisputed proprietor.His beard was not literally as white as snow, but his appearance was so venerable as toexcite respect.
He welcomed the visitors to his retreat, through the entrance already mentioned. Itwas a dark apartment, with a deal table, on which lay some of the implements of the arthe cultivated, which was that of watch-making. In one corner was a mattress, whichserved him for a bed; and there was a small cupboard, in which was some bread anddried grapes, and a jar of oil for his lamp.
After some conversation, the hermit led the way through a gallery cut in the rock,and the sudden change was almost bewildering. It was like emerging from the gloomof night to the bright glories of day. The apartment was of good size, likewise cut outof the rock, the front of which was open to the light, at a very considerable elevation upthe mountain. Below was the town of Sion, with its rocks and castles; the river Rhonewinding through a beautiful and picturesque country, and the summits of the snow-captAlps rising one above the other as far as the eye could reach.
After further intercourse, the guest expressed his desire to know the history of thehermit, and added, “ Be assured that, in doing so, it is that I may offer you consolationor assistance, although perhaps inadequate.”
The old man laid his hand gently on his visitor’s arm, and with a benignant expres-sion of countenance, replied :—“ My kind young friend, I am obliged to you for yourcompassionate feeling; be assured that I do not attribute your curiosity to unworthymotives'; but you are young, in time you will learn that no slight or common-placemisfortune could induce a man to forsake his home, his country, all, in fact, that mankindooVet- in this World, and retire to a solitarv cave; Vou will learn that assistance to such
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