Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-11-21

resistance OF tue fcrocious redtor whose tremen
douS strength and colossal dimensions frequently ex
ceedfng n'ne ieet from wing 10 wng,) rendered an
encounter win INN IN dizzy precipce most hazardous
Franz it must be confessed in addition IN his gcne
rous desire TO befrend Clara and her lover was ANNA
ted bv That hereditary hatred which every Swiss herds
man en'ertains towards the most sang unary euemy of
ms HOOKS, and under the irresistible influence Of both
sentiments, he was half way up the cliff ere he had cool
ness 10 reflect on Claras certain alarm and possible
hepiessness should false step the life of her pro
tector.
Poor Clara whose want of success had made her
watch with tenfod interest the motions of Franz had
on observing him pick up something eagerly returned
towards e spot with all the animation of hope; her feel
'ngs therefore, may DO better conceived than descrb
ed, when, INSTEAD of communicating her the oynl
result Of bus search she her guide her sole
oepchucnce The chosen companion OF her pous pilgrim
age apparently DESERVING his helpless charge and leav
ing her 10 PERISH perhaps miscrably, in spot whence
her unassisted escape could only be by miracle.
| suspicion finds small harbour in a truly generous
'nnd and thoughts ct trcachery gave almost nstantan
cous place TO apprehensons little less cruel and anx
iety the most intense for the an enterprise the
nature OF winch she soou guessed from the nd.
cations which had prompted it. Again she raised her
eye towards that perpendicular rampant of prmeval
rock, to whose pcrs she had been far less sensible
while engrossed by the choice of her footsteps and
tbe dlcues oil her path, than now, when standing
IN all the powerlessness OF her SEX and situation she
saw them again braved. and for her. by being whose
disnterestcd sacrifice of his life might perhaps add re-
morse 10 the other horrors of her death in the wider
ness
During ofhose terrible hours which exhaust the
sensations and suferngs of years. she watched hi. ad
veDfurous, but frequently interrupted progress. till his
manly form, often hid altogether from her gaze bv pro.
Jection of rcck tufts of rhododendron and Juniper
at length re-appeared shrunk almost TO pigmy dimen
sIons yet standing conspicuous and resolved on mar
row ledge overhangiDg the abyss beneath and but
few feet below the before invaded throne of the
mountain tyrant.
all the rightul tales she had heard from her cradle
OF the Hammer Geyer (who in the pastoral legends of
Switzerland, is invested with somewhat of the mvste.
rious attributes, and awful character of the Roc or
Sinorgh of Eastern fcton,l flashed on her mind; and
when She saw his human antagonist level the rifle before
sung over his shoulder, and deliberately take aim at he
creature one fell swoop of whose wing would suffice 10
dIsiodge hIn from his perous post she wildly shrieked
out those entreaes to dest, which might could they
have reached him. have shaken the nerves of the ntre
pid mar ksman.
His piece was at his head-it vas an awful moment
to look up again was beyond her power-shc nvoun-
tay closed her ears; but escape the report of shot
by thousand mountain echoes TO neal of
thunder, was impossible, and in sort of s,upor she
awaited IFS result. few seconds only eIapsed-tbe
crash OF boughs indicated falling body but whether
!nat OF the inoraly Wounded bird his mangled and
bleeding invader, she burst 10 ascertain The
corSe, rehouDdng from shelf above her. fell at her
very sldea few drops of life blood stained her garment
1t was the eagles!-Tears fell like rain and mingled
with 1t, whose fount had the event been otherwise
might have been driet. by madness!
To be COntinued.)