The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-08-07
FOR THE BOYS g. GIRLS.
4 TALE OF MID AIR.
mn INTiINEEkS PERIL.

n hor>..', tread was heard. and soon after
wards the doctor entered He examined the
patient closely, felt his pulse, looked at his
tongue. and then said, patting the old mans
cheek 1t will be nothing my friend-noth-
ing" But he made sim to the three LAOS.
whoopcn-monthc1 and anxions stood grouped
around the bed All fOnr withdrew to dis
tant corner; the doctor shook his head, thrust
ont his lower lip, and said
IT'S serious attack-vcrv scrious-of
fever. He is now in the height of the it.and
as soen as it abatcs he must have the sulphate
of quinnc'.
What is that, doctor,"
"Qnininc, my friend, is very expensive
medicine. but You may procure it at Salan-
chcS. Between the two fits, your father must
take at least three francs worth ! will write
the prescription You can read, Guillaumc ?"
"fcs. doctor"
And you will see that HI takes it,"
"Certainly."
When the ply stefan was gone, Gullaume,
Pierre and Jehan looked at each other in ST
lent perplexity. Their whole stock of mon
rv consisted of a franc and half. and vet
the medicine must be procured Immediately
Listen" said Pierre, 81 know a method
of getting from the mountain, before night,
three or tonr five franc pieces"
From the mountain ?"
Il have discovered an eagles nest in the
rl"h Of a frightful precipice. There is a gen
''man at Salanches who would gladly pur-
chase the eaglets: and nothing made me hes
ita'e but the terrible risk of taking them but
that is nothing when our fathers life is con-
cc7nrd We may have them now in two
hours"
II will rob the nest said Guillaume
Az" no, let me. ] am the youngest and
lishtcsi," said Jehan.
Il have the best right to venture" said |
Pierre. "as it was who discovered it."
Come" said Pierre, "let US decide by
drawing los. Write three numbers. Gull
lanme, put them into my hat, and whoever
draws number one will try and procure the
ct.ctS."
Gulllaumc bl.ckened the end of wooden
splinter in the fire, tore an old card into three
pieces, wrote on them ore. two three, and
threw them into the hat
How the three hearts beat Old Bernard
lay >hivering in cold fit, and each of his sons
lon"rd to risk his own life to save that of his
father.
The lot fell on Pierre. lie embraced the
sick man.
I'VE shall not be long absent, father" he
sand land 1t is ncedful for us to 90 together"
." hat are YOU gHn. to do"
I'VE will tell You as soon as VIC come
back"
''uIlaume took down from the wall an old
sabre, which had belonged to Bernard when
IL" served as soldier; .Jchan sought thick
cord which the mountalnecrs use when cut
ting down trees; and Pierre went towards
An old wooden cross, reared before the cot
tase, and knelt before it some. moments in !
icrvcnt PRAYER.
They set out together, and soon reached
the brink of the precipice. The danger con:
sisted not only in the possibility of falling
several hundred feet, but snll more in the
probable aggression of the birds of prev in
hahltng the wild abyss
Pierre, who was to brave these perils,
fine athletic Young man of twenty-two IIav-
Ing measured with his eye the distance he
would have to descend. his brothers fastened
the cord around his waist, and began to let
him down. Holding the sabre in his hand
he safely reached the nook that contained
the nest In it were four eagets Of yellow
l>h-brown color. LIS heart beat at the sirht
OF them. He graspcd the nest firmly in his
hand' and shouted .joyfuly to his brothers
Il have them. Draw me up.
Already the first upward pull was given to
the cord. when Pierre felt himself attacked
by two enormous eagles, whose furious cries
proved them to be the parents of the nest
linr>
Courage, dear brother, defend thvsclf,
DO not fear
Pierre pressed the nest to his bosom. and
with his right hand made the sabre play
around his head
Then brran n Terrible conI,+ TL,
'hr'rked' the little ones cried sfrilly, the
m"untalncrr shouted and brandished his
sword. He slaShcd the birds with its blade
whl"h flashed like lightning, and only rem
drrvd them still more enraged. lie struck
the rock. and sent fort shower of sharks
Suddenly he felt a Jerk given to the cord
that sustained him. Looking up. he perceiy-
ID that in his e,olutions, he had cut it with
ii'> sabre, and that half the strands werc soy
,rri
Pi.rrc'S eyes lated wildly, remained for
moment immovable, and then closed with
horror. y cold shudder passed through his
WINS. and he thought of letting 20 both of
~. nest and OF the sabre.
1T that moment one of the earlcs bounced
al his head and tried to tear his face The
>,.A"varl made a last effort, and defended
himself bravclv. He thought of his old IA.
tier. and took courage
Upward, still upward. neanted the cord
friendly voices eagerly uttered words of tri-