The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-10-07

abyss whence asceudcd the terrible column
Of smoke.
!gszed at him; for there was some elc-
ment of facinaton in his CLASSY stare, which
forced me, compelled Inc to gaze. There
was a cold smile upon his lips which were
all bloodlcss, and disclosed as they parted,
his mouth and tghtly-shut teeth.
"rhcre is my home--there, and have
come TO take YOU with me. la hal how
happy you will bel Comc"
Still / gazcd; while my heart throbbed
with slow but terrible pulsations.
He advanced one step towards me.
looked all around at the blue sky above,
at the scorched earth around, at the horrible
chasm beneath. There was no hope.
Oh could ! but leap the space which sep
arated me from the main cliff. Could but
do it - but could not There was
no hope.
"What do you not answers" he cried,
suddenly lashed into fury by my silence and
stamping his foot in fury upon the rock
"Do you not answer then must carry you
with mel"
The maniac sprang toward me
With all my energies reused into frantic
action; with every sincw braced and mus.
Gle contracted, planted my foot backward,
against a small angular rock which projected
above the loose sandy soil, and endeavored
to meet the shock. With wild scream
which rose thri!lingly on the air, his eyes all
bloodshot, his mouth foaming, on hc came.
He struck me; his arms surrounded me in a
fearful embrace; his hot breath came burn
ingly upon my check. stood firm; for
uiy .,tI al ,ly e l.,,l, Iol
given no place to fear and timidity, but had
bestowed upon me the cooncss OF ono in an
ordinary situation. threw my left arm be-
meath his; ny right passed over his nccl;
and around upon his bs. k thus seeking to
press him to the earth.
II was a moment Of horror such rs no
mortal tongue could ever tell. 4 struggle
with maniac to be on q small surface of a
rock, while three thousand feet beneath lay
the abyss Of untold horrors At this hour
my heart beats more lorcibly even as
think upon the time.
Thus we stood breast to breast, face to
face the madman and /, he with his arms
eucirc.ing me, ] seeking to save myself
lie pressed nc toward the edge of the cliff.
lie plunged his feet deep into the yround
he laughed mockingly, and screamed, as he
tried to destroy me.
But against that rock my feet were firmly
braccd, aud held him tightly, and sought
- hurl him from me lIurl him from me
as well might the hungry tiger be hurled
from his prey.
Oh l.! the agony Of that struggle! ! know
not how long it was but TO me il seemed q
great many hours. The Wild ewes of the
mailman glar,d at mine all the time, and
found it impossible TO look away. His fear.
fnl face all white, all ghastly, WAS upturncd
towards me ms he shouted in his hondish
mockiug laughter.
"Oh, lIcavon' Oh, horror! Can this,
will this endure forever" cried |, in the ago.
ny Of my fear The maniac howlcd with
dcrisiye shouts. felt that | was growing
weaker But he was maniac and would
he crowweaker also \ thousand thoughts
fed through me.
Suddenly the maniac gave one fearful
plunge. II was with the strength Of giant
that he seized me. lie raised lac from my
feet The rock, the saving rock, had lost
it, was gone. threw my arms high into
the air and my scream Of terror rose in uni
son with the maniac's mocking yell.
"Dowu down TO the bottomless pit, Tc
the home Of the fire and birthstone! TO the
endless horrors Of burning lakesW hC
screamed as he gave u bound towards the
edge Of the cliff.
Inspired by a sudden gift Of superhumar
strength by a partial possession of even a
madman's power, caught him by the throat
and even when in sight ofthe abyss, spranp
back; | brought him TO the ground. Fall
ing heavily upon him, | held his throat still
in fierce grasp, while his own arms wcr,
wound tightly around mine. | felt hi.
breath from his open mouth as my check
lay pressed against bis face; i heard then
crate harshly and drew my head violently
away as he sought to seize me with his sharl
teeth.
In our frantic struggles on the ground W,
rolled wildly about in the dust from sulphur
and pumicc.stoRe assembled around us in suf
locating clouds | was half frantic. was
struggling for lie. ! caught up handn
of the fine choking dust and rubbed it VIC
lcn,ly over his open mouth. 1t went into
his nostrils and lungs. lie gave n sudder
jerk forward in agony. Amid the clouds o
| dust around could not see where we were
He held Inc by the hair as he sprang; n mo
mcnt after, and fearful force was strainin!
there. Another moment, and arose Will,
wild and high rose the shrek Of the maniac
as he fel! down-down--into the abyss =
hnickorbocier for 1ugust.