Smyrna times., 1858-03-18
r J. HERRING.
MISC IITIAN ECU $
An Awkward FIX,

An AWKWARD FIX.
| Many years ago, when yOungster, paid
my first visit TO Clifton. My mothers weak
Aealth confined her to the house: nv father
was frying himself and L!s crew on the Coast Of
Guinea, tor the supposed benefit OF the negroes,
and mad left one school, and no other had as
yet been decided on for NE. What more pro-
pit,ous conjunction Of the planets could be de.
sired by a young gentleman Of cntcrprsinr
character, IN rude health, aud with decided
taste for vacaboudIz.nL! | had soon thorough.
Iy explored the Downs, and, bciur specially
charged not to 90 near the Gifts, they Wcrc Of
course, the most interesting and constantly
visited portions Of my ncghJorhood with re-
suits more profitable 10 the tailor and shoema-
ker than 10 ny personal appCaraLcp Though
the ellis by the Q acrvatory were nearer home
and more trequented than was desirable,
nevertheless, IN very short tlmc discovered
not far from the pathway, Il narrow ledge or
shelf accessible from the top, and running
across the face OF the ellis in the direction OF
ihc Cant Cave.
Now to see this Giants Cave had often de-
Srcd but pocket-mou"y was too precious and
the passage through the Observatory too legiti-
mate TO induce visit en regie-here, how
ever, was chance Of al once gratifying nv Gu.
rlosity; hravIET a risk against which | had
been repeatedly warned, and invading a desired
territory by tor ddGn path, in defiance of con-
SiIiuted authority, was resolved to get into
the Giants Cave over the face Of the cliff
Some considerable time elapsed, and many re-
conno;Sanccs were made, before | found the
coast sufficiently clear f,r my proposed experl-
mcnt. 1t late in the autumn, a rainy.
gus'y and uncomfortable morning. when few
sensible people thought Of pcrambulating the
Down, that ! first found myself on lhe head of
the cliff, with nobody in sight, and commenced
the descent. The ledge down to which scram.
blcd without much difficulty, is tolcrably wide
at first, but slopes outwards and Cownwards;
and being Ovcrgrown with weak slippery grass
| was obliged 70 crawl on all ours. The wind
was al my back, aud did not much incommodc
me; was not liable TO gddncss, and the chasln
At my right was sufficiently familiar to have
lost It's elect on my nerves, in the mperlectly
Developed state in which schooIboys are pro-
vded with these essentials.
As cravod or, the ledge narrowed: and
became b re of all but moss and .chcns: at an
angle where the cliffs pointed towards the
river, and then rcccded, it broke off abruptly
crcpt to the projection, within my reach, and
that, by clmging closely to the inequalities of
the rock, | could drag myself round to il:
steadily ana carefully 1t was done; the ledre
was now very narrow; crawled on again
little further, aud it ceased altogether; | could
see the opening to the cave but short distance
ahead, but between me and it was nothing but
perpendicular face Of stone, without a hollow
or projection to which could cling.
1t was perfectly evident that | could 90 no
further; and that, without attal ming my object
must turn back turn back the thought of
doing so had never passed my brain till that
mn ri,rbt l..
edge OF the preclpice, sinking nown 100 feet
to the roadway below, while my left side was
pressed against the rock, which rose above me
to turn on that tiny slippery shelf was impossi-
bic, unless | could stand bold upright. | made |
the attempt, but my head came in contact with
the rock, which projected SO far over that | |
could not even rise on my knees without top |
ping over. l must absolutely try to crawl
backwards and upwards, along the miserable |
little ledge which in the other direction was so
difficult and perilous. Slowly-oh! how slow
ly, inch by inch, moved back, making care
fully sure of the plant of each knee before al
lowed my weight to rest on it, until as passed !
back one foot, it went over the edge. | tried |
the other, kept close to the cliff, and cropping
anxlOusly, but found nothing TO rest on / !
could not see, but felt that had rot back TO
that salient angle of the cliff which divides the |
path. again attempted to raise myself but
in vain; the path appeared to have been cut
out of the perpendicular face of the prccipicc |
which was three feet above, and projects con-
sderably over it.
felt thoroughly and hopelessly beaten. My
hand aud knees were gra2ed and sore; my
limbs ached aud lay down on my face help |
lessly. ! thought Of home, of my poor mother
looking and listening anXiousy for my return,
slckenng with vain watching and growing ter
rors while lay there, doomed 10 certain death
by starvation, or falling asleep with WEAKNESS
aud rolling suddenly over into the gray depths
beside me. tried to pray, bat my thoughts
were too confused and wandering to be con