The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-09-06
VcovoLUDED PROM rInsr pAaEA

: listening.
Water ?" asked Ellen. Paulett
s shook his head, yet they had all pressed
forward, as they grew a laundering
ssullen sound. There was a valley and
ridge of rock before them, and they
- had to Chamber first down the rugged
; 2 precipiee they were upon, then to cross
= the valley, and then to struggle up the
opposite side, a trembling motion grow
; ing pereeptible as they advanced, before
they stood on a sort of broad ledge, which
they perceived at the angles that jutted
zsSout, went down strait into a depth, and
q ropposite which was another broad table
land of rock, between which and that
they were upon was a rent, wider and
narrower, various parts, and running
along as far as they could see to right
and left. Paullett rushed on to the
brink, and stood looking. He put his
hand out to keep Ellen back when he
heard her close behind; but she sprang
to the edge, and when she had seen, turn
ed to catch Charles in her arms. Rush
ing past was a torrent, but not water
It was dark, thick, pitchy it sent up
hot steams to the edge; it was one of
the secrets of nature, laid bare when the
ocean was taken away. Fire seemed
Ito be at work below, for occasionally it
would boil with more violence. and rush
on with an increated, increasing noise,
- then s~ullenly fall back to the first gloomy
sound. It beWildered the senses; and
though it could threaten no more than
death, yet it was death with SO many
horrors around it, that the body and
mind both shrank from it. How was
sit possible, to, cross it Yet there
. way lay over it ; for behind was certain
q destruction, and before it was not prov
ed impossible that they might find the
element of water. Paulett felt that it
would not do to Iinger on the brink; he
drew his family away from the sight,
andhe himself went upand down to find
{ some narrow place, and some means by
which to make a bridge over the abyss;
and it was not till their assistance could
avail him that he returned for them, and
brought them to the place where he
hoped to get over. It was a fearful
point, for in order to reach a space mar
row enough to have a chance o~fthrowing
a plank over, it was necessary to go
down the broken side of the precipice
.ssome twenty feet, and there, high above
the seething lava, to Cross on such a piece
sof wood as could be got to span the alb
lzyss, and then Chamber up the rugged
Opposite side. Paulett had been down to
the point he selected, and had got tim
Der, which a wrecked vessel supplied. to
s1he edges so that Ellen and Charles might
Epush a plank down to him, and he might
Ary at leastto eastit to the opposite bank.
His head was steady, his hand strong;
not one of them spoke a word while he
stood below, steadying himself to receive
the plank. Ellen's weak arm grew pow
erfnl her wit was ready with e~xpedients.
to aid him In this necessity. Her frame
and spirit were strung to the very utter
most, and she was brave and silent. DO
ing all that could be done. No word
was spoken till Paulett said, al have
done it :" and Ellen and Charlet had
seen him place the plank, and secure it
on his own side ofthe abyss with stones.
Then they held their breath, beholding
him cross it but his firm foot carried
him safely, and he heaped stones on the
other side also. He came over again,
sprang up the side, and now smiled and
spoke.
"After all it is but q mountain tor
rent, Ellen" he said; and the water
would have destroyed us like yonder
;sseething food; yet We have crossed
many a one and feared nothing. Now
Charles shall go over then Alice, and
he shall take care of her; and then my
Ellen The ground beyond is better
we shall get on well after this"
: Ellen took the girl in her arms, and
stood not trembling, not weeping seeing
Eo11 foa1fno avaru nation oil Uaa SOTO
that time again, Charles was on the OPP
post bank, and his father waved his
hand to Ellen. He came backfor Alice
whom her mother tied on his shoulders,
for hands as well as feet were wanted to
scramble down and up the banks. And
now Ellen followed to the brink, and
forgot in watching her husband and child
pass over, that the black torrent was
seething beneath her eyes. When they
were quite safe, she felt again that it
was there, and that her eyes were grow
ing dizzy, and her hands i~nvoluntarily
grasping about for support. She did
mot take time to feel more, but sprang
upon the plank, and over it, and found
Pallets hand seizing hers, and drawing
her up the opposite bank.
leeAnd once there, with all the three
ronnd her, she burst into tears-tears
which had not overcome. her through
many emiseries-and embracing them
alternately, blessed them that they were
all SO far safe. Paulett suffered this
emotion to spend itself before he said
that he must cross the plank again. To
bemore at liberty to assist them, ne had
left the diamonds on the other side, till
they should be over. Ellen offered no
remonstrance. The times had so school
ed them all, that selfish or unreasonable
thoughts either did not come at all, or
were suppressed at once and she did not
oppose, even with a word, this necessary
step. But the renewal of fear, after the ex
cited energy had subsidized, did her more
harm than all that had gone before and
she stood on the bank exhausted, palpi-
Eating again, while Paulett made the pas
sage. He himself was wearied but he
had reached the plank, and was upon it
on his way back in safety, when one of
those ebullitions which stirred the dark
fluid began roaring down the cleft rock,
and with stunning noise sent up dark and
elouding vapor. Paulett seemed suffo-
-cating-he could not be heard-he could
but just be seen-he reeled Has he
fallen? Oh, he has fallen No-nol
he has got his footing again; he forces
himself up the bank he is safe-but the
diamonds are In the bottom of the pit.