The Argosy — page 159: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

From Salzburg to Gastein. 145 its quarters bodily ; every now and then a gust of wind would carry up a cloud that shut out everything, and left you in chaos. Long before Gastein was thought of, the cavalcade was so disguised by it as to be past recognition even by its best friends. Quitting Werfen, the valley continued to widen a little, and the road separated : one leading into Styria and Carinthia, the other, in due time, to the village of Bischofshoven. Here the Tannengebirge were left behind, and we passed into new, though not less wild and remark- able scenery. The continuous and somewhat monotonous chain of mountain was broken. The Salza was again crossed, and following the right bank of the river, a steep rugged ascent led to St. Johann. Beyond this, the road swept round, and passed through the valley by the nver side. The mountains here seemed to have taken form according to their own fancy, and some of them looked green and fertile. Wald flowers, beautiful and abundant, grew by the road side, interspersed with strawberry roots laden with unripe fruit. Here and there a little way up the slopes were clusters of the Alpine rose, not yet in full bloom. The rapid river bounded over its hard, shallow bed with an unceasing sound, the music of the mountains ; whilst at intervals a dull thud smote upon the ear, as a log of wood, floating down to its destination, came into contact with a huge stone jutting its head above the water. | Thus journeying, until the small village of Schwarzach was reached. Like many other of the best things that keep themselves retired and unknown, this village, perhaps of all, deserves the most mention, honour, and glory. It was here that in 1729 the leaders of the Pro- testant peasants met and bound themselves by a solemn oath that come life or death, victory or persecution, they would never renounce their faith. In the end, some endured martyrdom ; others, an immense body, had to fly for refuge, exiles, into foreign lands. The Salza was again crossed, and Lend in due time reached ; imme- diately after which you enter the pass leading to the valley of Gastein. The horses again rested, for the most difficult part of the journey was about to commence. It is rumoured that ere very long a railway may be constructed from Salzburg to Lend, thus materially shortening the distance to Gastein. But beyond this point it may safely be asserted that all the power and ingenuity of man will be unable to extend it. We now turned southward, and with the help of four horses commenced ascending the’Pass Klamm, the terrific nature of which it would be impossible to give an idea. The mountains on either side are steep and precipitous, in parts perpendicular, and at times almost closing in. Ascending higher and higher the channel grows deeper and deeper still, until at last you look far down into the yawning depths with an involun- tary shudder. The rugged road is cut out of the side of the precipice ; the 4 Q) so narrow that if two carriages happen to meet, one o me iy . PP CoOnnt ite ke nr