The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-08-16

among the rocks. The bridegroom,
With his black lips aud burning forehead,
rushed past the stream without wasting
even look Quits reviving waters. Cur
ded either by the previous knowledccot
the outlaws haunts, or by an instinct
similar To thpt which leads the blood
hound to hs unseen prey, he threaded
the maze Of rocks with underwriting
accuracy, till N length the sound of his
: enemy's tcct--he crashing Of the bran
ches TIN; were laid hold of IN assist his
ascent---snd, finally, the rushing of
stones and fragments of the earth dis
! lodged by his feet, down the steeppatch,
convinced him that he gained upon the
object of pursuit, and that few more
Efforts Of his strong AMI youthful limts
! would place the fell destroyer before
his eyes. In the mean time the outlaw,
avoiding the steep breast Of the mouu-
tain, turned short into a rocky pass
which cuts though the ridge, and which,
although dry AT that time, III winter forms
the bed Of torrent. In few minutes
more, he found himself within sight Of
place that, on former occasions of rs
great nee, had Stood him in lieu Of
friends and fortress aud, With renew
ed energy, he rushed down the steep
declvity which forms the east side of the
mountain he had assembled blythe west,
and leads direct-to a snpularly stutted
rock. even n that time known hv the
name Of the Ravens Tower. On this
side, the mountain sweeps down for
more than half way in toerably
smooth declivi'y----but then slopS eu .
denly short, and with frightiul abrupt
ness descends, in an almost perpendicu-
lar manner, for the remaining space Of
nearly one hundred Il fifty feet, lis rug
eed and projecting points overhang the
tubuent river below in a manner which
precudes the possibility of a mans de-
scending alive and, although fordable
part OF the stream lies immediately nm.
der, the traveller is thus obliped In
make circuit of some miles before
Teaching it. The rock we have mem
toned, although seeming at little dis.
tance to form part of The steep--only
projecting in holder manner Than the
snrmounted by capital resembling
slightly the batlements Of fortress |.
yet, no nearer approach, is discovered
+ to be, in reality, quite distinct and sepa-
rate from the mass Of mountain. II raj
ses ITS gigantic form from the bosom of
the dark waters below IT distance of
n good many feet from the main land :.
but, III the corresponding sh pc of irS
LAM ward SIDE, and the strata of its sinh
stance, geologist mloht infer the of
a more intimate connexlon subsisrlnp Al
some remote period, and look upon if
as further token Of the great natural
convuIslon, believed 10 have once yis-
/ cd the elements of our pIobc--.
For neither rain, nor hail. nor thunder
Could wholly do away, aeen.
The marks Of thai which once had been
The outlaw whose fight We are rpla-
had good tlttle TO bestow his name ON
the Ravens Tower for he alone, even
: Ct all the desperate adyenfnrers VINO in-
: iestih part oithe country, HI strength
= oil iimp, steldIness of bfain, and bpld-
ness OF heart to leap across the chasn,
which sePer tes II from The mountain.
J Tins feat he had performed on several
occasions of imminent danger, and al.
ways successfully for, when once he
had gained the rock, nuural patb
; down the riverward side--alhouph one
: filled with danger even to him, and only
made available by the heath, brushwood.
and projecting stones, winch afforded
points OF precarious supported the
fearless ruilian ~ safety to The fork be-
low. Dn THIS occasion, however. there
was more danger to be unprecedented in
the leap than on any former one. The
= length OF his 1ight--which had lasted
: from the afternoon TIL tho sila1es OF
evening were beginning TO fall--had dc.
: prlyed his limbs of their wonlcd strenotI,
and elasticity; and, perhaps, even the
, few years oftoll, incompetence. and
crime that had elapsed since his last vis-
: II to the tower, nad cast that upon hi
head, to which, during tine progressive
5 infection ofthe burthen, he had been
lnsensible. 1t may be, too, thit the
dreadful deeds of the morning, so differ
J ent in their character from the usual
} feats of armS---whicb, however bloody
IN their consequences, appeared to these
, lawlesS men as something honorable,
aud praiseworIhy--may have sat with
more than common weight upon hl,
mind. But, however tins may be, it was
: with an unsteady step he approached
the brink Of the precipice 5; and when
a wild bird, which had built in the cliff
scared from her nest by tire intrusion
burst away WITH sudden scream, the
bold ont-law started aud grew pale ;
Ll..rluns II .n-.. d.. r... IL A.. L..