The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-08-22


ward set on the head of Juan, dared the peri
Ions lean. He fell short; his head was DASH
ed against the opposite rock, and his horror
struck companions, gazing down inlo 'io
dark depth beneath, saw his body strike a,
pniust the crags on its way TO the Doltoui vi
The abyss. The smuggler escaped, ana the
spot where the tragical incident occurred was
thenceforward known as, sic ISdm de Con-
trebdRdilT."
Refore our guide had finished his narrative,
we were unanimous in our wish to VISIT us
scene, which we reached by the time ne liuu
brought the tale 10 Il conclusion. IL was COT
tninly n most remarkable chasn, whose en-
istence was only to be accounted Tor ny rel
erence to the volcanic agency of which ahu ,
dant traces exist in Southern France. Inc
whole side ofthe rayne was cracked and rent
ass,inder, forming narrow ravine OF vast
depth, in the manner ofthe famous Mexican
barrancas. In some places might be traced
sort of correspondence on the opposite SIDES;
n recess on one side into which projection
OH the other would have nearly fitted, couia
some Antieus have closed the assure. ms,
however, was only here and there; generai'y
speaking, the rocky brink was worn by the
action oftime aud water, and the rock compo-
sing it sloped slightly downwards. The chhsm
was of various width, but was narrowest al
the sDot at Itch we reached it, and really
did not appear so very terrible leap as Cadet
made it our to he. On looking down, con,
fusion ofbush covered crags was visible; ana
now that the sun was high, narrow stream
was to be seen, flowing, like line OF sllNer'
ut the bottoms; the ripple and rush OF me wa
ter repeated by the echoes ofthe raVlhe, as
cending to our cars with noise like that OF Il
cataract On Il large fragment of rock, a few
! 81, I.;,, riIIplV carved Il
date, and below it two letters. They were
the initials, so our guide informed us, OF the
unfortunate douanier who had there met ms
death.
We had remained for half II minute or so
raZing down into the raviue, when Ashley,
who was on the right ofthe party, broke ST.
lence.
"Pshaw!" said he, stepping bnck from the
edge, '.that's no leap. Why, I'll jump across
it myself"
For heavens sake!" cried Dora.
"Ashley" exclaimed, "don't be fool
But il was too late. What mad impulse
possessed him cannot say; hut certain / am
! from my knowledge of his character, iha' II
was no foolish bravado or schooIboy desire 10
show off, that scduced him TO so wild freak
/ The fact was, bu for the deph below, the leal
did not look at all Formidable; not above toui
or five feet bnt in reality ii was deal Wider
II WAS probably this deceittul appearance
and perhaps the feeling which Eng'lsh'neI
are apt to entertain, that for teats OF strength
| e. agility no men surpass them, that convinc,
ed Walter of the ease with which he could
Jump across. Before we could stop him, he
took a short run, and jumped.
4 scream from Dora was echoed by an eN'
clamntion of horror from MDermot and my
self Ashley had cleared the chasm, ana a.
lighted on the opposite edge, but 1t was sheiV
ing and slippery, and his feet slid from unde
him. For one moment ii appeared as II 1T
would instantly be dashed TO pieces, but II
falling he managed to catch the edge OF thu
rock which at that place tormedan angle
There he hung by his hands. his whole bod.
in the air. without possibility otraisIng nm
self for below the edge the rock was smooti
and reccding, and even could he reached
he would have found no foot hold. One DIES
perrte effort he made to grasp n stunted ant
ieafless saping that grew in crevice at no
more than foot from the edge, but it failed
and nearly caused his instant destruction
Desisting from further effort he hung motion
less. his hands convulsively cramped to tn
ledge ofthe rock which afforded so slipper
and difficult hold, that his sustaining HIM
self by it mt all seemed miracle, and coul
. only he the result of uncommon muscula
power. 1t was evident that no human strengt
could possibly maintain him for more than
minute or two in that position; below was a
abyss, a hundred or more feet deep-to all az
t pearance his last hour was come.
MDermot and stood aghast and helpless
gazing with open mouths and strained eye
] balls at our unhappy friend. What could W
do? Were we to dare the leap, which one ia
more vigorous than ourselves had unsuccess
| fully attempted? 1t would have been coul
2 ting destruction, without chance of savin
= Ashley. But Dora put us to shame. On
scream, and only one, she uttered, and thel
, gathering up her habit, she sprang uuaide
= from her mule Her cheek was pale as tn
a whitest marble, but her presence otnind wa
= unmpaired, and she seemed to gain courag
: and decision in the moment of peril.
: "Your cravats, your handkerchiefs" cried sh'
christening, as she spoke, her long cashmel
u scarf Mechanically M'Dermot and mysel
: obeyed With the speed oflight and We
!, mans dexteritv, she knotted together he
scarfa long silk cravat which gave, McDe
s mots handkerchief and mine, and securing
d how know not q stone ut either eXtremit
II ofthe rope thus formed, she threw one end c
It it with sure aim and steady hand, across II
" ravine and round the sapling already reterre
+. to. Then leaning forward till | feared ST
IS would fall into the chasm, and sprang TO
I, ward to hold her back, she let go of the ot
l. er end Ashley's hold was already grown
IS feeble, his fingers were torn by the rock, Il
e blood started from under his nails, and
@ turned his face towards us with a mute pray
/, for succour At that moment the tv
l. ends of the shawl fell against him, and he j
1t stinctvely grasped them. 1t was nome
g offearful suspense. Would the knots so has
d " made resist the tension ofhis weight? Thu
u; did so. He raised himselfby strength ofwri
y The sapNng bent and bowed, but his hal
a was now close to it. He grasped it; anoth
N powerful effort, the last effort of despair, al
90. i,o ln,- nxhnnsind and almost senSelesS npl