Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-10-05
'Ohi yes, I am here always
ALWAYS! What a strange fascinati,

always! What a strange fascination
it has for you'll
1t hasl it hasr said the gentleman
'Ohl q fearful, land his voice grew
low and hollow-'a terrible fascina
tionr
wassilent.
Il will tell you,' said he, sitting close.
| ly by my side, and turning his eyes full
towards me; 4 do not wish you to in.
form any one. Promise me that yor
viii not
had not noticed his eyes before, but
I saw now that within their depth:
there cleaned a strange and sinister
light.
/ promised him, and at the same
time uneasily drew back farther from
the edge.
Wei, then, signor,' said he, 4 am
king herel l rule Mount Ema!'
'Yesi' / answered, little alarmed al
his words, and attempting to smile.
Yes l am king here. In me you
see the being who causes the lava to
pour forth, and oyerwhelm the regions
below. I have lived here for centuries,
The spirits of the deep obey me; seeP
He leaped up from the ground
There was fearful fire in his eye, his
nostrils were dilated, his pale face be-
came as white as marble, and as blood
less, save that on either cheek there
glowed a deep red spot.
'Seep he shrieked wildly and loudly
spirits of the deep, arise! Ha!-yOn-
der-see them!-they are coming-in
clouds-enrobed in thunder garments
seel' .ts4LIs .--.-
1 leaped up from the ground; Igazed
at him.
He threw off his hat wildly, and it
fell far down in the abyss. He flung
off his coat and threw it away.
'Signor,' said 1, in hopes that mild
tone might make him calm, 'Signor, the
winds obey you. Let US GO
GO? Where? Is not this my home?
Is not this my palace? Saw you not
my sentinels? You are my guest!'
viii you not sit down and tell me
about your home?' said l, shuddering.
No! there are secrets that can never
be spoken. Can you understand them?
Who are you, mortal, that you dare
to ask?
1 walked slowly toward the narrow
passage of land, the bridge. But he
saw me, and stood upon it. 1 could not
go.
Can this all be Ploasar,t-y9 tho.ignt
I. An awful thought passed through
me, which froze my hearts blood.
Pleasantryl There he stood, my
wild companion, his eyes blazing, fixed
piereingly on me, his hands clenched,
his mouth foaming, every sinew in his
body worked up. He stood screaming,
laughing. o God! I was alone with a
maniacl
You are to go with me-
'Where?'
There. have come to carry you 20
my home He pointed with cold
snaky smile down toward the unfath-
omable abyss whence ascended the ter
rible column of inky and suffocating
smoke.
1 gazed at him for there was some
element of fascination in his CLASSY
stare, which forced me, compelled me,
to gaze. There was cold smile upon
his lips, which were all bloodless, and
disclosed, as they parted, his mouth and
teeth. ..-...-
There is my home-there; and /
have come to take you with me. Hal
ha! how happy you will bel COmeE
Still 1 gazed; while my heart
throbbed with slow but terrible pulsa-
tons.
He advanced one step towards me.
/ looked around. The spell was
broken which enchained my gaze. l
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 separated me from the main cliff !!
Could I but do it----but ] could Retl
there was no hope. ly
What! do you not answer?' he
cried, suddenly lashed into fury by my
silence, and stamping his foot in frenzy
upon the rock. DO you not answer!
Then I must carry you with mel Q
The maniac sprang toward me!
With all nv energies reused into
frantic action; with every sinew braced
and muscle contracted, planted my
foot backward against small angular
rock which projected above the loose,
sandy soil, and endeavored to meet the
shock. With a wild scream, which
arose thrillingly into the air, his eyes all
bloodshot, his mouth foaming, on he
came. He struck me; his arms sur
rounded me in a fearful embrace; his
hot breath came burningly upon my
cheek, 1 stood firm; for despair, and
all the bitterness of death, had given
no place to fear and timidity, but had
bestowed upon me the GOODNESS of one
in an ordinary situation. l threw my
left arm beneath his; my right passed
over his neck and around upon his back,
thus seeking to press him to the earth.
/ 1t was moment of horror, such as
no mertal tongue could ever tell. A
struggle with maniacI To be on a
small surface of rock, while three