Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-18

hs precartous journey along the precipice, with all
the GOODNESS, resolution, and mistaken determination
OF mind winch was most essential to a task where all
must depend upon the frmness of nerve. But the
formidable accident which checked his onward pro-
gress, was OF a character so dreadful, as made him
feel all the bitterness of n death, instant, horrible,
anu, as 1t seemed, inevitable. The solid rock had
trcinbled and rent beneath his footsteps, and although,
by an effort rather mechanical than voluntary, he
had withdrawn himself, from the instant ruin atten-
ding its descent, he felt as if the better part of him,
his iirmncss OF mind and strength of body, had boon
rent away with the descending rock, as it feb thuu-
dering, with clouds of dust and smoke, into the tor
rents and whirlpools of the vcXed gulf beneath. In
fact. the seaman swept from the deck OF n vessel,
drenched IN the waves, and battered against the
rocks on the shore, does not differ more from the
same mariner, when, at this commencement of the
gale. hc stood upon the deck ofhis favorite ship, proud
OF her strength and his own d~exterity, than Arthur,
when commencing hs journey, from the same Arthur,
while chnging to the decayed trunk of On old tree,
from which, suspended between heaven and earth.
he saw the fall ofthe crag which he had so nearly
accompanied. The effects of his terror, indeed, were
physical as well as moral; for n thousands colours
played before his eyes; he was attacked by a sick
dizziness, and deprived at once of the obedience of
those limbs which had hitherto served him so ud-
mirabiy; his arms and hands, rs If no longer at his
command, now chung to the branches of the tree,
with a cramp-like tcnncity over which he seemed TO
possess no power, and now trembled in a state OF such
complete nervous relaxation, as lead him to fear that
they were becoming unable to support him longer
In his position.
An incident, in itself trifling, added TO tho dis
tress occasioned by this alienation of his powers.
All living things in the neighbourhood had, as might
be supposed, been startled by the tremendous fall to
which his progress had given occasion. Flights of
owls, bats, and ether birds of darkness, compelled
to betakc themselves to the air, had lost "" time in
returning iGo th"i- tc"eEs OF IVY, or the harbour at
forded them by the riffs and holes of the neighbour
ing rocks.-Onc of this ill-omencj fight CHANGED TO
be 4 iant7,ergeier, or Alpine vui,ure, Il bird larger and
more voracious than the eagle himself, and which
Arthur had not been accustomed TO see, or at least
to look upon closely. With the instinct OF most
birds Of prey, 1t Is the custom of this creature,
when gorged with food. to assu,Ie some station OF
inaccessible security, and there remain stationary
digestion has been accomplished. and activity returns
with the pressure % appetite. Disturbed from such
a siatc'of rtpose, one of these terrific birds had rs-
eu from the ravluc 10 which the speeies gives lis
name, and having circled unwillingly round with a
gliastiv scream and tagging wing, 1t had sunk down
upon the pinnacle Of a crl%, not four yards from the
tree in which Arthur held his prccarinus station.
| Although still in some degree supplied BY terror. il
seemed encouraged by the motionlesS state of the
Young man TO suppose him dead, or dying, and sat
there and gazed at him without displaying any Of that
apprehension which the ficrcest animals usually en-
terrain from the vicinity of man.
AS Arthur, endeavouring to shake of the incapa-
citating effects OF his panic fear, raised his ewes TO
look gradually and cautiously around, he encountered
those ofthe voracinuSand sbscene bird, whose he'd &
neck denuded of feathers. her eyes surrounded by an
IRIS "a an orange taWuy Colour, and q position mOTS
horizontal than erect, distinguished her as much from
the noble carriage and graceful proportions of the
eagle, as those Of the lion place him in the ranks of
creation above the gaunt, ravenous, ggsly, yet das-
tard wolf.
Asi if arrested BY a charm, the eyes Of young Phi
iipson remained bent on this ll-Olnened and III iaynur-
cd bird, without his having the power to rsmuve them.
The apprehension OF dangers, ideal AZ veil Is real,
weighed upon his weakened mind, disabled as II was
by the circumstances Of his situation. Tie near ap-
proach Of q creature not more I~oathsornc 10 the human
race, than averse TO come within their reach, seemed
as oinlnous as II was unusual. Why did it gaze on
HIM with such glariug earncstncss, projecting rs dis
gnsting form, as if presently to alight upon nus person.
The foul bird, was she the demon Of the piaca "a
which her name resGrrcd2 and did she conc TO exult
mat an intruder on her haunls seemed involved amid
their penis, with little hope or chance of deliyerance,
Or was 1t a native vElture of the rocks, whose sora-
CITY forcsaw that the rash traveller was soon TO be.
come It's victim' Could the creture, whose senses
are SAID to be so acute, argue from circumstances the
strangers approaching death, and wait, ike n ravcr
or hooded crow by n dying sheep, for the esrlics, Oh
portunily TO commence her rayennus bnnoue,, W.
he doomed to fcelits beak and talous before ms boart,s
blood should cease to beat? Had he already Lost the
dignity OF humanity. tho awe which the bc,pr E,rmrd
IN tue image Of his Maker, inspires into all inferior
{. atures' ~
Approximations 50 painful served more than all Tint
reason could suggest, TO renew, in some Degree. th,
elasticity OF the young mans mind. j. waving his
handkerchief, using, however. the creates, prccap,inn
IN his movements, he succeeded in scar inr Inc vrl,urc
from his vicinity. 1t rose from the resting place,
screaming larshly and %dolefuLy, and sailed on is ex-
banded Pinions to seek a place of more nndistnrbeJ /
repose, while the adventurous traveller felt a sensi.
bic pleasure at being relieved Of its disgusting pre-.
scnce. -
With more collected ideas, the youur man. vlo
could obtain from bis position u partial view Of the
platform be had left, endeavored to testify his safctv
to his father, by displaying, as high o. he could. tho
banner by which be chased OF the yuIiurc. III
Them too, ne heard. bat at a less distance The burt Of.
tie great Swiss hoin, which seemed 10 announce
so'nenear succour. lie replied BY shouting and wa,
wing his nag, 10 direct assistance to Lie SPOT wleroi il
was SO much required; and, recalling his Ecultez.
winch had almost deserted him, he aboured mentaIly
TO recover hope, aud with hope the means sad moi.y,
for eXerIou.
a faithful Catholic. he eagerly recommend d him.
sen IN prayer Ia our Lady Of EinsiedI,n II, and maxim,
VOWS OF pT,oP.tiailon, besougbt her intcrc,s.lon. that
u y might DC covered from his dreadful condition.
."Cr gracious Lady," he concluded b. ors,n -
Il my doom 70 Loser my life like 4 hunted loN ar.i(s. ,I.
savage wilderness or tottcring craes, restore A. t.,
Ma So.