Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-01
awel, then, sgnor,'' said he, Il sm king here!

centuries. The spirits of the deep obey me;
seen
He leafed up from the ground There was
fearful fire in his eye, his nostrls were dilatted,
his pale face became as white as marble, and as
boodless. save that on either cheek there glowed
deep red spot.
"See:S he shrieked wildly and loudly; "spirits
of the deep arise! Ha.-yonder--see them!-
they are coming-in clouds-enrobed in thunder
garments-seep'
leaped up from the ground-i gazed 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 |, in hopes that mild tone might
make him calm. 'Signor, the winds obey you
Let us 60"
"Go! Wherel Is not this my homel Is nor
this my palacef Saw you not my servants! Yoc,
are Ely guest"
"Will you not sit down and tell ne about your
homer said |, shuddering.
"No! there are secrets that can never be spo-
ken. Can you understand thems Who are you,
a mortal that you dare TO ask!"
Ndlh6u ctONly tiiC pdSodBS VI
land-the bridge. But he saw me, and stood up-
or il. l could not go.
"Can this all be pleasantry!' thought I. An
awful thought passed through me, which froze ny.
hearts blood.
Pleasantly! There he stood, my wild compan-
ion, his eyes blazing, fixed piercingDy on me, his
hands clenched his mouth foaming, every sinew
in his body worked up. He Stood screaming
laughing. o, God was alone with a maniac
"You are to go with ne, he cied
"Where!"
"There. have come 10 carry you to my home"
He pointed with cold snaky smile towa I'd the
unfathomable abyss whence ascended the terri
bic column of nky and suffoeatng smoke.
gazed at him: for there was some elemen.t of
fascination in his CLASSY stare, which forced n e,
compelled me, to gaze. There was a cold smil e
upon his lips, which were all bloodless, and dis
closed, as they parted, his mouth and tightly shut
teeth
There is my home--there; and have come to
take you with me- Ha! ha! how happy You will
be! Gomez
Still g3zed; while my heart rthrobbcd with
slow but terrible pulsations.
He advanced one step toward me.
l looked all around. The spell was broken
which enchained my gaze. l looked Gll around:
at the blue SKY above the scorcb ed earth around
at the horrible chasm beneath. There was no
hope. Oh! could but leap the space which sepa-
rated me from the main cliff! Could but do it
but could not! There was no hope.
"What, do you not'answer?'' he cried suddenly
lashed into fury by my silence, and stamping his
foot in frenzy upon the rock ado you not an
sweer? Then must carry you with me!'
The maniac sPrang toSard me!
With all my energies reused into frantic action,
with every sinew braced, and every muscle con-
tracted, planted my foot backward, against a
small angular rock which projected above the
loose, sandy soil, and ondeavored 10 meet the
shock. With a wild scream, which arose thrill
ingly into the air, his eyes al bloodsho, his mouth
foaming, on he came. lie struck me-his arms
surrounded me in fearful embrace, his hot breath
came burningiy upon ray cheek. | stood firm;
for despair and all the bitterness of death had
given no place TO fear and timdity but had be-
slowed upon me the coolness of one in an ordi-
nary situation. ! 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 a moment of horror such as no mortal
tongue could ever tell A struggle with mani
ac. To be on a small surface of a rock, while,
three thousand feet beneath, lay the abyss Of uE-
told horrors! At this hour, my heart beats more
CorriE I,, C1-o, I thinL unop fir,o
Thus we stood, breast 10 breast, face to lace
the madman and I--he with Lis arms encrcIing
me; seeking to save myself. He pressed me
toward the edge of the cliF. He plunged his
feet deep into the ground; he laughed mockingly,
and screamed, as be tried to destroy me- Bet
against the rock my feet were firmly braced; and
| sought to hurl him from me. IIurl him from
me!-as well might the hungry tiger be hurled
! from his prey.
! Oh TIE sgony of that struggle! 1 know not
| how long it was but to me it seemed like many
hours. The wild eyes OF the mailman glared at
mine all the time and found it impossible TO look
away. His fearful face, all white, ali ghastly,
was upturned toward me. as he shouted in his
Gendish mock;ng laughter.
80 Heaven! y! horror! Can lhls5 VIII ihIs en-
dure for ever" cried | in the agony Of my fear,
The maniac howled with derisive shouts. I felt
that was growing weaker. But he was mad
man; and won'd he grow weaker also! A thou.
sand thoughts fed through me.
Suddenly the maniac gave one fearful plunge
I; was with the strength of giant that he seized
me. He raised me from my feet. The rock
saving rock-I had lost it: l was gone threw
my arms high into the air, and my scream of ter
ror ascended in unison with the maniac's mock.
ing yell.
"Down! down. to the bottomess. pi,! To the
home of fire and brimstone! To the endless hor
rors Of burning lakes!'' he screamed, as he gave
bound toward the edge Of the clif.
Inspired by a sudden gift of superhuman strength
by partial possession of even 4 madman's pow
er, caurlt him by the throat, and even on th'
very ,dIe, even when in sight of the abyss,
sp.ang back, re him back; brought him t
the grGund Falling heavily upon him. held hi
throat sul; ia fierce grasp, while his own arm
| we're ,gouad tiG!,l, around nv neck, and his leg
around mine. felt bis hot breath from his OpeI
mcuth a. IA caees Iay pressed against lis face
heard them CRATE br-shiy, and drew my hea
violently away, as lie sCs"hg to seize me with hi