The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-07-28

switch he carried in his hand, "is that
beam rotten onen
81 shouldn't be over for'ard to trust
myself on it, sir" said the mana fat,
dumpy parsonage.
"You wouldn'ts No; should rather
think not" responded Lord Swinden, a
smile Of supreme disdain sweeping
across his features, as he surveyed the
"old fellow" from head to foot. "But
tell me did you ever know anybody to
walk upon it, ehe"
ooh dear, yes. Only last summer a
young Oxonian ran from end to end Of
it, as | seed with my own eyes," e
"Did he"
"True," put in Deschamp. III re-
member now it was Manners, of Bra
zennose; and didn't he brag about it :"
Himn exclaimed Lord Swindon,
with a toss of the head "that fellow,
poor Miiksop! Not" continued he hasti-
ly, that it is anything of feat Phoo !"
Not a featw murmured his COM
panions; and with one accord they
stretched forth their necks, and gazing
down the dam abyss, shuddered at what
they beheld. Well they might. The
beam in question rose at the height of
about one hundred feet, and naught
beneath it was there but a gloomy
chasm, only broken in one or two places
by crumbling beams. and not even one
of these was by many feet near it
"Oh, Swindon, how can you say so?
II can say it, and l dc" snappishly
replied the fiery young man, his brain
heated with wines. sand at any rate,
what that fellow Manners has done, 1
can do So look OUT w
Thus speaking, he recklessly stepped
upon the beam, and despite the re-
monstrances of his companions, was in
the act of proceeding along il, when
his arm was firmly grasped, and low,
deep-toaed voice exclaimed,
my lord, do you court horrible
death Do not thus risk your life for
naught."
The individual who thus unhesita-
tingly interfered was evidently un-
known to all present, being casual
visitor TO the castle, who had just joined
the group. With an imprecation, the
mad-cap Jerked his arm away, and
sprang forward along the beam. lis
surface was rough, rounded, and un-
even; and as he ran along, swerving
from side to side, every instant in dan
ger of being precipitated downward,
with the awful certainty of being dash
ed 10 pieces, his friends could hardly
restrain themselves from shrieking with
terror, though such course would pro-
baby have had the immediate effect
of dlscomposing the equilibrium oftheir
rash companion, and so induce the ca
tastrophe they fully anticipated, with
out the power Of prevention. Had the
adventurer's presence of mind one
moment failed-had his self-possession
and confidence wavered or forsaken
him-had his brain sickened or his eye
turned dim for single second-had
he tripped against any of the knots pro-
jecting from The rotten wood which had
mouldered away around them-at once
he would have been hurried into dread
eternity.
But an unseen hand sustained him,
and safely he reached the extremity of
the beam, ruthlessly wrenched the
trembling owl from his perch, waved
it aloft in triumph, and then with
proud ejaculation. began TO retrace his
steps with it shrieking aad fluttering
in his hands. When he reached the
centre of the frail beam, which creaked
and bent terribly with his compare
lively small weight, he paused, drew
himself up to his full height-air above,
air beneath, air all around, naught but
air-and deliberately tore the head of
the owl by main force from the body.
Having perpetrated this cruel deed, he
tossed the bloody head among the
breathless spectators, and sharply dash
ed the writhing body into the void be-
meath his feet. He coolly watched its
descent, until it lay a shapeless mass
on the stones below; then, with slow
bravoing mein, he walked back to the
terrified party, and boastingly inquired
of them whether Manners could beat
that.
q My lord" solemnly said the stran-
ger, "you have not performed the act
Ul SduO oud JOu hdfC
committed a desperate deed on one of
Gods helpless creatures. You ought
to thank him, from the depth of your
soul, my lord, that He saved you from
the penalty you incurred"
"What do you sayw fiercely de-
manded Lord Swindon. Do you dare
to insinuate cowardice against mew
aud with flushing brow he assumed
threatening attitude.
aI know not, my lord, whether you
are brave or not; but what have wit
messed was certainly not an exercise Of
true courage" was the passionless
reply. 4
" And yet Fll wager a cool thousand
that you dare not do it."
aTrue, dare not do it; for | am in |
capable of offering deadly insult TO
my Maker"
aFine words!D Then, carried away
by the excitement of the moment, he
added, with an inscIent look and gesture
" You are lying cowardm
Listen. NV Lordu answered the |