The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-04-01

''iofc mentioned IL WIS M longer an
ndlsinet murmilr, il was the roar III n ca
taraet, and shuddefed and grew cold 10
| thhk ~ The fate II which WIS hurryinu.
without hope 10 succaur, or a twig 10 catch
At Ia sate me from destruction. In 4, few
monehts, ! shonld in al probability be
dashed To atoms On he rocks, or hrlmrd
amid the boiling waves of ne waterfall. |
slchened nj the thought of Il. had heard Of
death. had seen linn IN various forms.
had been IN camps where hr RACES but
| 1ctar I'll NOW did he srem 81 Terrible
Sill the beautiful face of nature which had
tempted me 10 my fate was Tire same. The
clear sky, the moon, the sivrry and neecv
clouds We're above me-, and high in the hea
ycGs, with the sane dazzling brightness.
shohc the Star of evening, and in their tran
qnlllIiy seemed 10 drri,lc my misery. My
BRAIN Wis oppressed with an unusual
weight, and i calmy moisture burst out o.
yer my limbs. lost all sense of surround
ing ohIecis Il mist wasoNermvc the
sound OF the waterfall roarrd in my ears
aud seemed TO penetrate thro' my brain.
! Then strange tances took possession of
my mind Things, of whose shape cnnld
form no idea, would sei4e me. and ,birl
me around I'LL sight and hearing Md
| Then | would start from the dclnsiup as
from dream, and again the roaring of the
cataract would ring through my ears.
These feelings succeeded each other with
indetatsablerdpldily elapsed, forayery few
minutes only could hay. from the
time became insenslble Ia the time of my
reaching the water fail Suddenly, seem
| nI alnn,r III, - 4,
ness, and in moment, | felt that | was
descending, or rather driven headlong with
amazing violence aud rapidlty, Then
shock as if my frame had been rent in a
toms succeeded, and all thought or rccoI-
lection annlhialed. | recovered in some
degree, to fad myself dashed Into Va
rtery abyss, from which was again vomi-
te forth To be again plangrd beneath the
waves, again cast up. As rose to the
suiacc, | saW the stars dimly shining thro'
the mist and foam aud heard the thunder
of the Filling river was often, as well W.
! can remember, partly lilld from the wa
ter, but human nature could not bear such
a situation long, and | became gradually
unconscious of the shocks which sustain
ed. heard no longer the horrible noise,
aud nsenslbiity afforded me relief from
my misery.
II was long before ! again experienced
any sensation. At last lawo,c, as il SEEM
ed to me, from a long and troubled sleep.
But my memory WAS totally Intellectual To
explain To- me what or where | WAS. So
great had been the effect of what had un-
dcrgone that retained not the slightest
idea ofmy present or former existence. ]
was Ike "A man newly born, in full posses
sion of all his faculties felt all that con
seriousness Of being, yet ignorant of It's orr
gln, which imagine IA creature placed in
the situation have supposed would expe-
Renee. | know not whether make my
sill lnteIIl3iblc in this imperfect narrative
of my adventure, but some allowance, !
trust, will BIZ made in consideration of the
novel situation and te, lags which have to
describe.
looked around the place in which was.
lay on bed of Goa, sc materials, in
small but airy chamber. by slow d, grccs,
! fcgancd my IDEAS OF my own existence
and identity but | WAS still totally at Il
loss to comprehend by what means came
into such situation. or my sailing on
the ryer-of my fears and unpleasant sem
sations, aud Of being dashed down the Falls
of Ohopye, retained not the slightest re
collection. | cast my eyes around, in
hopes ol seeing some person who could
give me some information of my situation,
aud of the means by which | WAS placed
in lt--but no one was visible. My ncXt
thought was To rise and seek out the mia
bltauts of the house but, ON trial, ] found
that my limbs We're not able To assist me,
and patience was my only alternative.
After, this, rcIapscd INTO my former in
sensibility, in which state | continued a
considerable time. Yet had some coca
,ional glimpscs oil whdtWas passing about
ne. ! had some floating "reminiscences of
n old man, who thought had been with
IL, and more perfect ld1a OF female
Mm, which had fitted around me-
Dne day, as | laid half sensible ON my
bed, | saw this lovely creature approach
me : felt the soft touch Of her fingers on
my brow, aud though the pressure was as
light as may be conceived from human
fingers, it thrilled through my veins, and
fingered in my confused remembrance the
sound of her voice, AS she spoke in slow
tone few words To the old man, was mu-
sic to me--hcr bright eyes tempered with
the serenity of pure and bameless mind,
beamed upon me with such am expression
of charity and bencvolence as had never
before bchcld. During the whole time of
my illness, those white fingers, those bright
blue eyes, aud the sound of that voice,
were ever present 10 my disease, lmagd a
ton, and exerted soothing influence over
my distempered feelings.
AT length the darkness that had obscured
my mind and memory passed away; was
again sensible, and could call to mind with
some little trouble considerable part Of
the accidents that had befalcn me. StiB
however, Of my reaching the edge Of tie