Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-11-25
A TALE OF MID-AIR.

morning he lay in bed sick, and, burn,
ing with fever, watched anxiously fol
the return of his son, Jehan, who was
gone to fetch physician. At length q
horses tread was heard, and soon after
wards they entered. He examined the
patient closely, felt his pulse, looked al
his tongue, and then said, Patting the old
mans cheek, 1T will be nothing, my
friend-nothingl' but be made sign tc
the three lads, who, open mouihed and
anxious, stood grouped around the bed
All four withdrew TO distant corner
the doctor shook his head, thrust'out his
lower lip, AMI said, Sir a serious ailaek
very serious-of fever He is now
in the height of the fit, and as soon as il
abates, be must have sulPhate of qui.
nine.' 1-.. ~.
'What is that. doctor?'
'Quinine, my friend, is a very expen-
sive medicine, but which you may pro-
cure at Sallanches. Between the two
fits your father must take at least three
francs worth, | will write the prescrip-
iton. You can read, Guillaume.' ol
'Yes, Doctor
'And you will see that he takes it!'
Certainly sTe'1'.'
When the physician was gone, Gull
laume, Pierre, and Jehan looked at each
other in silent perplexity. Their whole
stock of money consisted Of franc and
half, and yet the medicine mus. be
procured Immediately. n 7
LISTEN said Pierre. Il know meth
cd of getting rom the mountain before
night three or four five~franc pieces
'From the mountain?'
Il have discovered an eagles nest in
cleft of a frightful precioice. There
is a gent eman at Sallanches, who would
gladly purchase the eaglets; and nothing
made me hesitate but the terrible risk oi
taking them; but that's nothing when
our fathers life is concerned. We may
have them now in two hours
Il wi rob the nest,' says Guillaume
No, no, let me, said Jehan, Il am the
youngest and Iightest.'
Il have the best light 10 venture, said
Pierre, 'as il was who discovered it,
Come, said Pierre, 'let us decide by
drawing lots. Write three numbers,
GuiIlaume, put them into my hat, and
whoever draws number one will try the
venture -f..
GuiIlaume blackened the end of q
wooden solinter in the fire; tore an old
card into three pieces; wrote on them,
one, two, three, and threw them into the
hat. ID vi = +.- go -'-4i' I. s.
How the three hearts beail Old Ber.
nard lay shivering in the cold fit, and
each of his sons longed to risk his own
life, TO save that of his father.
The lot fell on Pierre, who had dis
covered the nest; he embraced the sick
man.
I'VE shall not be long absent, he said,
'and it is needful for US to 90 together
What are You going 10 do?'
'We will tell you as soon as we come
back
GuilIaume took down from the wall
an old sabre, which had belonged TO Ber-
nard when he served as soldier; Jehan
sought thick cord which the mountain
GERS use when cutting down trees; and
Pierre went towards an old wooden
cross, reared near the cottage, and knelt
before it for some minutes in feryen'
prayer.
They set out together. and soon reach
ed the brink Of the precipice. The dan
ger consisted not only in the possibility
of falling several hundred feet, but still
more in the probable aggression of the
birds OF prey, inhabiting the wild abyss
Pierre who was to brave the perils
was a fine athletic young man OF twenty
two. Having 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 eagles of lighI
yellowish brown color, and his hear
beat with Joy at the sight of them. He
grasped the nest firmly in his left hand
and shouted joyfulIy TO his brothers, q
have iheml Draw me up
Already the first upward pull was Civ
en- 10 the cord, when Pierre felt himself
attacked by two enormous eagles, whose
furious cries proved them to be the pa
rents of the nestlinps.
Courage brotherl defend thyself!-
don't fear!'
Pierre pressed the nest to his bosom
and with his right hand made the sabre
play around his head.
Then began terrible combat Th'
eagles shrieked, the little ones crieC
shrilly, the mountaineer shouted ant
brandished his sword. He s'ashed IN,
birds with lis blade, which flashed lik,
lightning. and only rendered them still
more enraged. He struck the rock, an,
sent forth shower of sparks.
Suddenly he felt jerk given to tn
cord that sustained him. Lookingup b,
perceived that, in his evolutions, he ha,
cut it with his sabre, and that half th
strands were severedl
Pierre's eyes dilated wildly, remain
ing for moment imuova5le, and thel
closed with terror. A cold shudder pas
sed through his veins, and he thought Q
letting go both the nest and the sabre.
At that moment one Of the eagle
pounced on his head, and tried to tea