The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-08-19
strange and sinister light.

veil uicil, SISlloT, Sa'tl Hc, II am king
here ! | rule Noun, IEna!'
"Ycs :" answered little alarmed at his
words, and attempting TO smile.
"Ycs! am king hre. In me you see the
being who causes the lava to pour forth. and
overwhelm the regions below. | have lived
here for centuries. The spirits of the deep
obey me: s,cr'
lie lcapcd from the ground. There was a
fearful fire in his eyes, his nostrils were ,lilat.
cd, his pale face became rs white as marble,
and as bloodcSs, save that on either check
there glowch deep rcd spot.
'See!' he shricked wildly and loudly:
"spiritS of the deep, arise! lla-yondcr-sc
them they are colningin clouds-onrobcd
in thunder garments-sce ~
lcapcd up from the ground: | gazcd at
him.-IIc threw Oft his hat wildly, and it fell
far down the abyss. lie flung off his coat
and threw it away.
''Sisnor' said |, in hopes that mild tone
would make him calm. ''Signor, the winds
obey you. Let us 90"
''Go Where Is not this my home? Is not
this my palace? Saw you not my servants!
You arc my guest"
evil you not sit down. and tell me about
your home = said |, Shud,lrring.
''No there are secrets that can never be
spoken. Can you understand item Who
arc you, u mortal, that you dare to ask ~
al lad, ul
sage of land-thc bridge But he saw me.
and stood upon it. could not go.
Can this all he pleasantly z" thought L.
An awful thought passed thought me, which
frozc my healts blood.
Pleasantly! There he stood. my wild
companion, his eye, blazing. fixed picrcingly
on me, his hands clcnchcd, his mouth foaming
and every sinew in his body working up. lie
stood screaming, laughing. o, God | was
| alone with a maniac
"lou arc to go with me-" he cried.
"Whcrc Z"
There. | have come to carry you to my
home" He pointed with cold, snaky
smile toward the unfathomablc abyss whence
assembled the terrible column of inky and sui-
locating smoke.
gazcd at him: foi there was some element
of fascination in his CLASSY stare, which fore.
cd me, compelled me to gaze. There was a
cold smile upon his lips, which were all
bloodlcss, and disclosed, as they parted, his
mouth and tightly shut teeth.
There is my homc-thcrc; and I have
come to take you with me. fla! ha ! how
happy You will be! Gomez
Still sazcd while my heart tlrobbcd with
with slow but terrible pulSationS.
lie advanced one step towards me.
looked I'LL around The spell was broken
which exclaimed my gaze. | looked all around
at the blue sky above, at the scorched earth
around. at the horrible claSm beneath. There
was no hope. Oh could | but leap the space
which Sc! arat,d me from the main cliff !
could but do it-but | could not There
was 10 hope!
What do you not answer? Then must
carry you with me -
The maniac Sprang towards me-
With all my energies reused into frantic
action, with every sncw braccd, and every
muscle contracted, planted my foot back
ward. against small angular rock which
projected above the loose, sandy soil, and en-
dcavorcd to meet the shock. With wild
scream which arose thrilinely into the air
his eyes all bloodshot, his mouth foaming, on
he came. He struck me--llis arms surround.
cd me in a fearful embrace, his hot breath
came burning upon my Geek. stood firm
| for despair and all the bitterness of death had
! given no place to fear and tmldity, but had
bestowed upon me the GOODNESS of one in an
ordinary situation. threw my LIFT arm be-
meath his, my right passed over his neck
and round upon his back, thus seeking to
press him to the earth.
1t was q moment of horror such as no NOR
tai tongue could ever tell a struggle with
4 maniac To he on small surface of a rock
while, three thousand feet beneath, lay the
abyss Of untold horrors! At this hour, my
hearth beats more forcibIy even as think
| upon inc Time.
Thus we stood, breast to breast. face to
| face-thc madman and The with hi, arms
cl.crling me: | seeking to save mysolf-IIc
pressed me toward the edge of the cliff He
laughed nlockinsly, and screamed, as he tried
to destroy me. But against the rock my feet
We're firmly bracod; and held him tightly,
and pushed him, and sought to hurl him
from me. llurl him from ne as well
might the hungry tiger be hurled from his
prey.
Oh the agony of that struggle! know
not how long it was, but to nc it seemed like
many hours. The wild eyes of the madman
glared at mine all the time, and found it
impossible to look away. His fearful face. all
white, all gasl.cd, was upward toward nc,
as he shouted in his ficndish laughter.
80 Heaven! Oh! horror! Can this, will
this endure for ever o. cried i'll the agony Of
M fear. The maniac howlcd with derisive
shouts. felt that was growing weaker.
But he was mailman, and would he grow