The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-07-28


ing the hoped tor succor. EastwardIy, for
Ia mile, the road stretched away. fhe sun
shining hot upon il quiet, Gull and dusty,
IFS monotouy unbroke save by the hickcring
shadows, or the fitting Of screaming ity.
West~ ardly up the hui, not living object
met his sight. Almost in despair, he halted
and for moment thought to yeld. but his
innate independence scorned the thought.
aud as the triumphant shouts Of his pursu.
ers reached his ear. up he started again. TO
continue the hnPcIessly prolonged rsce-but
his time twas with a feeling of despera.
ton, which exhibited itself IN his renewed
Efforts al f'ght'--His pusueIs were sure of
h'm now, they thought, for they new that
the preripice commenced at the top Of the
hill, on one side, and even # lie could out
run their horses up the ascent, that his
course on The clear road beyond was hut
short one. Bot he knew this too. and made
up his mind accordingly. Up he toiled-
one hundred, Two hundred, three hundred
yards, and the pack Of human bcagIes were
within rifle shot--but, although armed,
hey did not wish to bring hin down, as
they would have done wild beast--balfa a
mile more was passed, and they had exult
ingly shouted 10 himio "stop! and they would
treat HIN Wel!!'--for the precipicc was
within fifty yards of his right hand, and they
we're az close in his rear. Suddenly, seem
ngly not needing their cries Simon bound
ed through The brush. directly for the preci-
pice, to spot which could be clearly seen
from the road by all his enemies. Hating
"ne moment, and facing his pursuers. to
whom nov his intentions was evldent he
shOnted--''Hounds of hell! you shal! never
have my sinews to sell for gnd!" and with
bound be sprang f.on the rock into mid
air!
Great God!' screamed one Of the men
-speechIess, hardened and reckless though
they were. Springing from their saddles
simultaneously they rushed to the brow ofthe
oreclplce, expecting TO see his crushed and
mangled corpse at its foot. But few Yards
FROM the base OF the perpendicular rock. he
stood with his arms folded. unharmed, ga.
ziog up in dignifcd silence at his bafied
pnrsurers. In descent, twenty feet below
the top of the rock. he had seized, with the
grasp Of a giant. The plant, yet sturdy top
of hickory sapling, whose strugglings for
additional light and air had pushed itself
thus far towards heaven, snd shear sixty
feet further had he thus swung himself until
he Landed upon mother earth, uniniured,
from his perllous and desperate attempt.
Much as these desperadoes despised the'race
accursed,' and much as they coveted the
proceeds which they had expected 10 rea-
lze from their illegal traffic, they could not
but be struck with the almost providential
pl. ha ho1 do fha, H., l..
He was now beyond their reach, for they
had nothing Il gain by numbering him, and
what natural magnanmHy and sympathy
survived in their bosoms was aroused IN his
favor
Bill let him GO! he deserves 10 be free
after that" said one. and they turned their
steps homeward Simon remained among
the Mills, unnolested for several months,
and every few days, when it was clear and
dry, he might be seen on the top OF this hill
beneath giant oak, from whence he could
view the road for considerable distance
each way into whose branches he would
retire at the sight of any one approaching
There he was on his look out, one sunny
afternoon, toward the fall Of the year, sing
ing to himselfa doleful ditty TO one of those
tunes so familiar TO every negro, when from
his leafy screen, to which he had mounted
at the sound of wheels, peeping from his
covert, he deserted approaching from the
westward,a travelling carriage. with negro
on the box. His eyes moistsned. and his
face frightened up-and he quickly descen-
ded to the ground, and sprang 10 the road
side just as the horses were stopped Oppo-
site TO him by the surprised coscnman. The
occupant inside booked out eagerly to in
quire into the cause of The stoppage. when
his eyes fell upon negro, wan and almost
paIlId from distress
! "God bless you, massa!-don'l YOU know
me! Take Simon home-he's tired of be-
ing trse nigger!" And the asronished
South CarolInlan. who had been on a trip
to ST. Louis, recognized his most valuable
slave who had run away eighteen months
before.
The precipice is not at present as inacccs
sible rs 1t was then, as the earth has wash.
cd out in many places, between the rocks,
allowing passage up and down; but the
bent, twisted, and gnarled hickory. now a
stout trunk of tree, with it, head towards
The earth is still there n living witness to
attest the vicinity of the desperate Ne
GRo'S Leap