Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-08-17

IOdu. Ilcfe, pduSliS OIL iHhldnt III uOuO,
whether to fly to the nearest house. or
go on in pursuance of her original deter
mination. she indislinctly caught the form
of her pursuer, who had struck into .he
road some distance below her, and thus
cut off her chance Of return. Nerving
herself once more for the trial. she pass
ed on up the road for her first destina
tion. now about two miles distant. with
no other means of distinguishing her way
than what the occasional flashes of light
nIng afforded.
Although the rain Immediately over.
head had now sensibly abated, yet the
deep earth jarring roar on the left, as il
from the incessan. pouring of cataract,
plainly told that the storm was still spen.
ding its force with unexampled fury on
the mou,ains. And the proof of this soon
became visible 10 our heroine in the rap
idly increasing torrents that came rushing
down the steep activities, overhowing
the road and threatening at every step to
put an entire stop to her progress. Arri-
wing at length at the northerly outlet OF
the valleywhere the mountains shut down
so close to the pond as to leave little more
than space for the road TO pass between
them, she came abreast Of one Of the
mountain ravines where at ordinary
times u small brook crossed the road. Ii
was now swollen to rushing river be.
fore which no human strength could have
stood an instant. To attempt TO pass this
she saw was madness; and as she heard
the splashing footsteps of her pursuer but
short distance behind her, despair now
for the first time sent its chill to her
heart. But while standing on the brink
OF the dashing flood. which at every mo
ment rose higher and higher. hesitating
whether to commit herself to the raging
element, or the scarcely less dreaded pow
er of her pursuer. flash of lightning
revealed to her sight a shelving rock, jut-
ting out from the side of the hill few
rods back. and SO aloof from the road and
screened from il by intersecting boughs,
as to afford her. she believed. if reached
unseen. a good concealment from her in
defatigable enemy. and safe retreat from
the waters which were now rising around
her with the most frightful rapidity.-
Making directly for the hill and scram
bling up the slanting rocks at the foot
with the inspiring energy of despair. she
gained the place and dropped down ex-
hausted on the spot. just as another fash
partially revealed to her sight the form
of the old man hurrying by. and rushing
to the brink of the stream she had left
on instant before. Recoiling from the
view of the threatening and impossible
torrent, and throwing one wild glance
around him. in which horror for the sup
posed fate OF his victim, and alarm for
his own safety seemed equally mingled.
he hastily retreated back along the road
Butbefore he had proceeded many rods, the
gathering and pent waters above. as if
suddenly bursting through their opposing
barriers. in mighty torrents came rushing
down corresponding ravine beyond the
ridge at little distance to the south,
and wholly cut Off his retreat. Mean
while the noise on tho mountain every
moment grew louder. The deep. distant
roar. as of pouring torrents. which had
for some time been heard. now became
mingled with the tumultuous crashing of
falling forests, the Kissing washing sounds
OF disturbed and changing volumes of
water. and the slow, heavy, intermitting
jar of vast bodies of matter just begin
ming to move. Nearer and nearer it
ca p,o-a,,d now tho oarth chooL co q NJ, ! N u :
ly to its lowest foundations, as with
gathering impetus. the mighty mass came
rolling down the steep sides Of the noun
tain directly towards the spot where the
terror struck girl lay concealed, and her
no less affrighted pursuer. few yards
below was running to and fro. vainly
looking for some chance to escape. Now
it became rapidly light. as from some
steady kindling blaze above, which grow
ing more luminous and dazzling every in
slant. soon cleaned fiercely along the
surface of the bubbling pond. and flash
ing broad and bright over the opposite
mountains. lit up the ampitheatre Of en-
circling hills. from the darkness of mid
night TO the splendors Of noon. day
Starting TO her feet May looked around
her in mute CONSERVATION.
Nearer ard more deafening rose the
tremendous din above-roaring. crash
ing. grinding along. with conclusions
that made the solid earth bound beneath
her feet, down came the avelanch with
fearful velocity towards her. In an 9th.
er instant the mighty mass. dividing on
the solid ledge beneath which she stood.
began to rush by her on either side. in
two vast high turbid volumes, revolving
monstrous stones, and hurting trees over
trees in their progress, and like some
huge launch. driving with amszina force
into the receding waters of the pond
while at the same time, the forest around
and above her, waved, shook, topled and
fell In awful crash on the rocks over her
heod. She saw, she heard no more, but
sank stunned and senseless on the ground.
And, passing from the insensibility occa.
stoned by the shock into profound sleep
which without full recovering of her
consciousness. Immediately stole over
her the moment her over-strained facul-
ties ceased their exertion. She lay till
the great struggle of the elements was
over, and the storm passed by. At
length. however. she slowly awoke. The
dreadful tumult that last assailed her
k,,g ghad