Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-07-01

/ was a fearful light in his eye, his nostrils
were diIated, his pale face became white
as marble, as bloodless, save on either
cheek there glowed a deep red spot.
See : he shrielked wildly and loudly:
spirits of the deep, arise. Ha1yonder
see them--they are coming--in clouds
--enrobed II thunder-see =
had not noticed his eyes before but
| saw now within their depths there gleain-
ed strange and sinister light.
[ leaped from the ground gazed at
him.
He threw oa' his hat wildly, and it fell
far down the abyss. He flung off his coat
and threw it away.
Signor,' said in hopes that mild tones
might make him calm Signor the winds
obey YOU. Let US gor
Co. Where9 Is not this my home2
Is not this my palaces Saw you not my
servants. You are my guest"
Will you not sit down and tell me
about your home?' said shuddering
No, there are secrets that can never
be spoken. Can you understand them?
Who are you mortal that you ask2
l walked slowly toward the narrow
passage of land, the bridge. But he saw
me and stood upon it, ] could not 90.
Can this be pleasantly? thought 1. An
awful thought passed through me, which
froze my hearts blood.
Pleasantly! There he stood, my wild
companion, his eyes blazing, fixed pier
cingly on me, his hands clenched, his
mouth foaming screaming, laughing =
| ., God | was alone with maniac.
! Iou go with me!'
! Where?'
There, | have come 10 carry you to my
home. He pointed with a cold snaky
smile down towards the unfathomed abyss
whence as ended the terrible column OF
inlly and sufocating smoke.
| | gazed at him for there was some Gle
ment of fascination in his glossy stare
which forced me, compelled to gaze
/ There was cold smile upon his lips,
which were all bIoodless, and disclosed,
as they parted, his mouth and tightly shut
teeth.
There is my hone-there; and I come
to take you. Tia: ha! how happy you
Will be. Come!
Still gazed while my heart throbbed
with slow and terrible pulsatious.
He advanced one step towards me.
| l looked all around. The spell was bro
ken which enchanted my gaze. l looked
all around at the blue sky above, at the
scorching earth beneath. There was 10
hope. Oh! could but leap the space
which separated me from the main cliff!
! Could | but DO it-but | oould not! There
was no hope.
What! do you not answer?' he cried,
/ suddenly Iashed into fury by my silence,
and stamped his foot in frenzy upon the
| rock. Do YOU not answer! Then | must
carry you with me
/ The maniac sprang towards me!
With all my energies reused into fran
/ tic action; with every sinew braced and
muscle contracted, planted dmy foot back
ward against a 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 tloodshot, his mouth
foaming, on he came. He struck me;
/ his arms surrounded me in fearful en-
1 brace; his hot breath came turning upon
/ my cheek. | stood firm, for despair and
all the bitterncss of death, had given no
! place to fear and timidity, but had bestowed
upon me the coolness of one IN a ordina-
ry situation. | threw my left arm be-
meath his, my right passed over his neck
and around upon his back, thus seeking
! to press him to the earth.
! 1t was q moment of horror, such as no
mortal tongue can tell. \ struggle with
Il maniaci To be on a small surface Of
| rock, while three thousand feet beneath
! lay the abyss Of untold horrors! AT this
/ hour my heart beats more forcibly even
as | think upon the time.
/ Thus we stood, breast to breast, face to
I face, the madman and HE with his
arms encircling me, seeking to save my
self. He pressed me toward the edge of
| the cliff. He plunged his feet deep into
the ground he laughed mocllingly, and
screamed as he tried to destroy me. But
against that rock my feet were firmly
braced, and | held him tightly and sought
to hurl him from me, 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 me it seemed
i like many hours. The wild eyes of the
madman glared at mine all the time, aud
! found it impossible to look away. His
fearful face all white, all ghastly, was up
/ turned towards me as he shouted with has
/ tiendish, moclling laughter.
Oh, heavens. Oh, horror. Can this,
/ will this endure foreverE cried | in the
agony of my fear. The maniac howled
with derisive shouts. | felt that i was
growing weaker. But he was a maniac,
and would grow weaker also. A thou
sand thoughts fled through me.
Suddenly the maniac gave one fearful
plunge. Il was with the strength Of a
giant that he siezed me. He raised me
from my feet. The rock, the saving rock,
| | had lost it was gone. / threw my
hands high into the air, and a scream OF
terror ascended in unison with the mani
ac's mocking yell.
| Down down! to the boromlcss pit =
/ To the home of fire and birthstone TO
the endless horrors Of burning lakes. he
screamed, as he gave bound forward TO