Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-08-08
A THRILLING TALE.

lcal and legendary lore, but still more
IN moral and sterling virtues, for it has
been my lot TO possess friends and com.
panions from whom | have been ever
gaining, till my store has become some.
what bulky. Alas! there are so many
deserters from corps, by this time, who
shall no more return, that wish to
cherish the persuasion, that to be gone
and be with them, will be far better.
Ny friend and | were among the
thickly strewn mountains and ragged
rocks of the widest branch of High.
lands, where there is a remarkable ra-
vine, which we visited and explored.
1t is rather more than a ravine, fear
ful pit or dungeon, descending deep
among the yawning rocks. 1t is as if
volcano had boiled there, but in the
course of time had speuted out his la.
va, forming strange adjacent peaks all
around, thus leaving the furnace or
crater dry and empty.
1t is terrible throat, wide open, on
the very verge of which one may stand
| and look down to the bottom.
There is a mode of descent into Its
depths which visiters may command.
This is by means of a rope and wind
! lass, as it were into coal pit, which
are fixed and worked from a prominent
brow of the highest frowning peak
To the main rope machine is attach
led, called cradle, by four shorter
cords, that tie to distinct corners. He
that descends takes his stand or seat in
the cradle, within the stretch of the
four diverging cords that meet his head.
A rough old Highlander presided at
the windlass, who appointed my friend
first to 60 down. Ere the cradle came
iup for me again, presentiment of
some horrid accident about to happen
to one OF us began to take possession Of
my nature, and could not resist en-
quiring if all was right with my friend.
''Hoo, surely" was the answer. "And
the cradle will be up for you in min
ute; we are as heavy as twa O. him."
SIS the rope frail!" "No very ava;
the last one was rottener; it broke and
let a man ia, was the alarming reply.
"Was he killed, say you9" ''Killedl
though he had hundred lives, he wad
hae been killed; he was smashed to
pieces down on yonder jagged rock"
quoth the hard hearted Celt. Iexa-
mined the rope, and it appeared much
worn, and to be old. eEHow old is it,"
Inquired |. "Just five years old; the
last was month aulder before it
brake" was the next piece of tantaliz-
ling information. With some irritation
of manner, | put it to him, why he had
not been provided before any risk could
attend descent; and to make things
worse, he provokingly announced, 1--WE
are to get a new ane in the morn; yen
! likely be the last ane to try the audi"
| But already the cradle waited for
me to step into it; could not disappoin.
my companion by not doing as he did;
| and ashamed to seem to hesitate before
the Highlander, at once took my seat.
1t was perhaps to encourage me, that
he said, as he let me off, ga far heavier
man than you gaed down yesterday"
''Then he strained the rope" cried |;
but it was too late to return, and after
all | got safe down. The sun shone
brightly, and made every intricacy in
the deep crater clear and open to the
Ieye. The floor might allow hundred
and fifty people to stand on it at once:
, and consists ola fine sand that sparkles
with pebbles, which have dropped from
the surrounding and impending rocks.
II The face of these rocks is also gemmed
) by thousands of the same sort, that
/ glittered beautifully in the sunbeams,
/. all OF which has naturally suggested
: the idea of a work of enchantment, for
it is called the Fairy's Palace. But
: confess, though palace, it had few at.
fractions for me; for besides the dis.
. heartenings the Highlander filled me
with, ere my descent, my friend, now
t that / was down, without any mischie-
? vous intent, crowned my fears, by CIV
ing, with startling effect, the following
narrative:
A young man once assembled from
this, but when he came to inc top, he
n ! ,le..u.lvusly STOOD bolt upright in the
q cradle, and the moment ere it was land
d ed, being impatient to get out of it, he
d made an adventurous leapfor the breast
,e ofthe rock. But the cradle being still
4. pendant in the air, without stay, fleC
E. back on the impulse of his spring, ant
as fearful to think, let him fall between j
and the landing place." "Horrible
most horrible!' was my most natura
,lf exclamation. "But," continued m,
It's friend, "keep ye your seat in the era