Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-12
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A Thrilling Tale.
BY SIR WALTER SCOTT.

BY SIR WALTER SCOTT.
1t happened several years ago, that was trav-
ersing the highlands along with much beloved.
hut now departed friend; one of the true men of
the old school; one who was rich in classical and
Legendary lore but still in sterling and mo-
raj virtues For it has been my lot to possess
friends and companions from whom | was ever
gaining till my store has become somewhat bulky
Alas there are so many deserters fsom the 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. My friend and
were among the thickly strewn mountains
and ragged rocks of the widest branch of the
highlands, where there is remarkable natural
ravlne, a fearful pit or dungeon, descending deep
among the yawning rocks. 1t is as if a volcano
had boiled there, but in course of time spouted
out all lts IaVa forming strange adjacent peaks all
around thus leaving the furnace or crater dry and
empty. 1t is terrific throat, wide open, on the
very edge of which one may stand and look down
to the very bottom.
There is "a mode of descent into its depths which
visitors may command. This is by means of rope
and windass as it were into coal pitt which are
fixed and worked from prominent brow of the
highest frowning peak. To the main rope ma
chine is attached, called cradle by four shorter
cords, that tie to its distinct He hat de-
sends takes his seat in the cradle, within the
stretch of the four divergng cords that meet over
his head.
a rough old Highlander presided at the wind
lass, who appointed my friend first to go down.
Ere the cradle came up for me again, present-
ment OF some horrid accident about to happen to
one of us began to take hold of my nature, and
could not resist inquring if all was right with my
friend below. "Hoo, surely" was the answer;
"And the cradle will be for you in minute We
are as heavy as twa o him." ais the rope fral?'
mo very rotten ava; the last ane was rottener
atore 1t brake, an let man ia, was the alarm
ing reply ''Was he killed." Killed! though he
had hundred lives, he wad haze been killed he
was smashed to pieces on yon rock" quoth the
hard hearted Celt Inow examined the rope, and
it appeared to be much worn and old. "How old
is it," inquired l. "Just five years auld the last
was month aulder before it brake, was his next
peace of tantalizing information With some
irritation of manner | put the question to him
why new one had not been provided before any
risk could attend descent and to make things
worse, he provokingly announced, eve are to get
anew ane the the morn yen likely be the last to
try the auld."
But already the cradle waited for me to stepinto
It, | could not disappont my companion by not
doing as he did; and ashamed to seem to hesitate
before the hardy Highlander, at once took my
seat. 1t was perhaps to encourage me- that he
said, as he let off ga far heavierman than We gaed
down yesterday" "Then he strained the rope
cried l; but it too late to return, and after all
l got safe down. The shone brightly, and
made every intrcacy, even in the deep crater,
clear and open to the eye The floor might allow
hundred and fifty people to stand on it at once;
and consists of fine sand that sparkles with peb-
bles, which have dropt from the surrounding rocks.
The face of these rocks is also gemmed by thou
sands of the same sort, that gittered beautifully
in the sunbeam; all which has naturally suggest
ed the idea of work of epchantment, for it is
called the tairys Palace. But confess, though
palaee, it had few attractions for me; for besides
the disheartcnings the Highlander filed me with,
ere my descent my friend, now that was down,
though without any mischievous intent, crowned
my fears, by giving with startling effect, the fol-
lowing narrative:
"a young man assembled from this, but
when he came to the top, he incautiously stood
upright in the cradle, and then moment ere it
was landed being impatient to get out of it, he
made adventurous leap for the breast of the rock
But the cradle being still pendent in the air,
without stay, few back on the impulse of his
spring, and fearful to think let him fall between
1t and the landing place"
"Horrble most horrible' was my natural ex-
clamation.
But continued my friend, "keep your seat in
the cradle till it be firmly landed the rock, and
all will be SAFE"
He ascendeda and prepared to follow. Thought
of the young mans leap and fall j; figured to my
self the spot were he alghted, and the rebound be
made when he met the ground never more to rise.
L took my seat, my limbs smote one another, and
my teeth chartered with terror. When descend
ed kept my eyes bent downwards, and was en-
couraged the nearer got to the bottom. But on
my ascent, though l looked all the while up
wards, was tremblingy alive to the fact that
was getting into higher danger. | held the spread
cords as with the grippe of death, never moving my
eyes from the blackened creaking main rope
"There there it goes % gasped the words; for
did not see ply of the triple twisted line
snap asunder as it happened to touch pointed
piece of granite And when once cut and li5er-
ated, did the ply not untwist and curl away from
its coils? Did not another ply Immediately
follow in the same manner, leaving my life to the
last brittle thread, which also began to grow at
tenuated, and to draw so fine, that it could not
long have borne its own weight l was speech
less; the world whirled round, became sightless,
and when within one short foot of being landed,
fell II fell into the grasp of my friend, who see
ing about to tumble out of the cradle from stu
por, cpportunely snatched and swung me, cradle
and all, upon the rock. When strength returned
ran from the edge of the precpice, still in the
utmost trepidation, shaking fearfully, and giving
unintelligible utterance to the agony of my awe
struck soul. And if my hair did not undergo an
immediate change of color was not without such
an apprehension; for certainly it stood on end
during my ascent from the floor of the Fairy's
Palace.