Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-23
The Fearful PrecipIce and the Rescued
Maiden.

Maiden.
Some ten wears ago spent the long vaca-
ton on the northwest coast ofIreland; some
what disappointed with early failures and
with myself | affected the solitary. tried
hard at twenty to get up the then impossible
character of foolish, old, misanthropical
Timon. | soon, however, discovered the un-
pleasantness and impracticability of this.
The wild precipices and mountains of that
Grand coast exercised my demon, and the
limitless full Atlantic beating restlessly on
its iron bounds, reused me to action. Pres
emily dropped into the doings and crafts OF
the rough fishermen and cragsmen OF the
neighborhood; and soon gaining their hearts
by some unusual feats | acquired the high
character of being "a gay, ventersome lad
no unworthy fame.
NV rather confident address and courage,
such as they were, underwent peculiar
trial when, and as | least expected, was
living in the vicinity of the celebrated swing
ing bridge, Carrick-a-rede. The troops of
tourists visiting it reminded me of the world
from which was, / fear, after all, an un-
willing exile The danger of crossing the
bridge with my dog and gun afforded some
excitement. The glorious views Of shore,
sea, and isles delighted me; the deep messy
heather on the headlands made a luxurious
couch for reading or DOING upon under the
summer sun.
One day from my favorite eyrie / had
watched gay party descending the slope to
the bridge mixing and changing colors rs
they went, like the view in kaleidoscope |
could distinguish laughter and sweet voices
pleasantly ringing out and confess 1t needed
the solace of my favorite book and all my
fortitude to render me contented in my soli-
tude up among the sea gulls.
| had resumed my lost place and stretched
myself very comfortably on the moss Of my
tail, outstanding pillar-like cliff, when sud-
denly my old dog Tasso rushed close to me,
and fixed his big dark eyes anxiously in the
at that moment, for piercing scream smOte
us. The sea-birds darted out from the rock
face, and after short silent flight, cried at
their shrillest and loudest. Could | be de-
ceived! 1t was surely human Another
scream if possible more intensely painful. II
was woman's voicel
Can it be-" thought, "some of them ovel
the cliffl'
Grasping my gun, rushed down hill, a
men only run to save life. Again and again
as | flew over the broken ground, | felt thu
same bitter cry striking as it seemed, int
my very heart. A few bounds over the sip
perry sea-grass along the edge of the preci
pice, and stood at the head of the ladde
which leads down to the swinging bridge
Heavens! what sight
Right in the midst of it was young, fair
haired girl. With her two small, whit
hands she desperately clutched the slende
cord which the fishermen use as balance, 0
guide; the pressure Of her whole weight drov
It out from the floating strip Of board o
which she stood. Sometimes with her hand
spread out she swayed face downward, ovC
the abyss withits white, raging waves huI
dred feet below; sometimes the wind and Il
double oscillation laid her backwards, wit
her hands clenched upon that wretche
worthless cord and her pale, sharp ia
straining upward, as her long hair stream'
out, pointing down to the sea. The bridi
itself was shaking and swinging, giving for
that clank and moan peculiar to it in storm
writing about like some serpent strugglil
with the poor girls efforts. On the platioT
of the rock beneath the ladder stood the II
of the party, each in different attitude
silent, Mortified expectancy, incapable of
slightest attempt at rescue.
At a glance this ueYer-to o-oe-fogotten see
wns all understood. Another scream, anotl
look of wild appealing despair from the Pr
girl. and was out upon the narrow plaI
Under the double motion and weight
ropes shook and were depressed, 20 tina
could scarcely walk; the ratlins on which
foot-boards lay, strained to the utmost
sharp angles clearly mar ked against the ru
ing white and green underneath.
There was no time to think or pause. W
ranid strides | came on. | could hear
praying now; but saw also she was fastlos
her consciousness; her courage and siren
had given away under the reaction of he
she was about to faint | measured the
rible vacancy into which she was about
fall headlong. was prepared to abide
desperate plunge the bridge would give
moment she dropped.
In the last extremity of fear and hope
shouted in a voice that stirred my own be
too
Courage, brave girl courage, one nom
moreP
Just then / was within six feet of ]
standing on six inches wide of deal plt
that bent like whalebone, my only hold
loose swinging cord from rock TO rock aeI
the gulph, below a black walled chasm
rugged rocks, with dizzy whirl of roar
foam between them. Judge, then, my
may and astonishment, when l saw this 3
as spoke, leave hold Of the hand-rope,
walk nnassisted toward me along that I
row shaking path hung out in the air
could not credit my senses; il was unhe
Oft was too daring--it was impossible
any human being. Before | could recover
decide how TO act she had flung herself u
me, her arms about my neck, her WI
weight resting upon me like lead. co
scarcely retain my balance, and could
attempt to relieve myself l felt she
about to faint--I felt, for, from her positiC
could not see | knew no human DO
could save US II she did. Moved, then,
my own life as well as hers, whispere,