The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-02-02

FEBRUARY9g2, L
moment. "You needn't grip so hard!
Catch hold of the pole. will you? and let
go of my arms" 81
He gave short hard laugh, but never
stirred. e-eea -si7y 'zf
II suppose we're about two thousand
feet high" says he, and it seemed to me
that he had something between his teeth.
'If either of us was to fall, he'd be
a dead man before he touched the
ground" s..a.a % aae;
would have given the world at that
moment to be able to see his face; bat
what with my own head being downwards;
and all his weight hanging to my arms,
had no more power than an infant.
"John!" I exclaimed, "what do you
mean! Catch hold Of the pole, and let
me do the same. My heads on fre!" =
"Do you sec thisi" said he, catching
my arms couple of inches higher up, and
looking right into my face. 'Do you see
this?n rf-.f-,-
"It was large, open clasp.knife, and
be was holding it with his teeth. His
breath seemed to hiss over the cold blade.
'I bought it this EVENING" hid it Ia my
belt-I waited till the clouds came round
and there was no soul to see. Presently
shall cut you away from the balloon. l
took an oath that you should never have
her, and I mean to keep it p' ",
! "A dimness came over my eyes, and
Everything grew red. I felt that in an
other minute should be insensible. He
thought was SO alresdy, and, letting my
arms free, made a spring at the pole
overhead. y g3afat, ~ ts# ~ h
That spring saved me- Our wrists
j were bound together, and as he rose be
drew me along With him; for was faint
and giddy that 1 could make, no effort fol
myself. a''.''e,
i I saw him hold by the pole with hi,
left hand; ssw him take the knife in bis
4 right; I felt the cold steel pass between hi:
wrists and mine, and then Is* ~ r )
And then, the horror of the moment
gave me back my strength, and,I clung te
the framework just as the thong gave
way. a '.' 4. lii,
i We were separated now, and I was still
secured to the trapeze by one ankle. He
, had only his arms to trust to-and the
knife ,...-.,s SIR 60 sEa!.o8 Co
+ Oh, the deadly, deadly strife that fol
, lowed it sickens me to think of it. Hi
only hope now lay in the cursed weapon
and so, clinging to the woodwork will
one hand, he stroye to stab me with tn.
other. ubtat to Il 1tGG eG5
J 1t was life and death now, and I grew
desperate. To feel lis murderous clutcl
, upon my throat, and, in the silence of tha
hideous struggle, to hear the report of (.
! champagne cork--followed by peal of
! careless laughter--overhead x r X :
, Oh, it was, worse than death, hundred
8 times overt ...t, ...-.
Il cannot tell how long we clung thus
each with hand upon the others throat
3 1t may have been only few seconds
t but it seemed like hours to me. Th.
, question was simply which should be stran
] gled first. e.,ss nc
K. Presently his gripe relaxed, his. lips be
came dead white, and a shadder RAJ
: through every fibre of his body: He hat
, turned giddy! s - q OF moai g
Then a cry burst from him--a cry lik,
' nothing human. He made false clutcl
: at the trapeze, and reeled over. Icaugh
e him, just in time, by the belt round hi
K waist. ts5aG Gan7-2doi sa5t'
a "It's al! over with me-" he groaned be
s tween his set teeth. "It's all over wit
n me! Take your revenge!" Then his hea,
: fell heavily back, and he hung, a dea,
!, weight on my arm.i 30 2'.''-
: did take mysrevepge; but it was har,
s work, and I was already half exhausted
x How l contrived to hold him up, to .un
bind my foot, and to crawl, so laden, n
# the ropes, is more than can tell; but m
presence of mind never failed me for a
+ instant, and IUsuppose the excitemen
" gave me sort of false strength while j
e lasted. At all events I, did it, though
e now only remember climbing over the bas
IS Network. and seeing the faces of the gen
J; tlemen all turned upon me as I sank t
d the bottom of the car, scarcely more aliv
than the burthenl in my arms. @oJ '.o
q He is . penitent man now, an Au.
tralian settler, and, as l am told, well
If do in those parts. .,.,,,s., eat ffe
k + This is my story, and I have no MOI
e ito tell. 81 .alohP" oiN>''''' -
4 -..,i ----1-alaaos
/ @A An old gentleman who had
n neighbor rather addicted to telling larS
e stories, after listening one day toIseyer
IT which quite. taxed his credulity, boaste
% that he himself could tell q bigger one still
!. and proceeded to relate. the following: !.
ID Said he, one day as I was quite at I'll