Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-04-03
A Students Adventure.

Marriages. Notices OF Funerals, and announcement
of Sermons, SO cents each. noyll-59
A Students Adventure.
Some ten years ago | spent the long va
cation on the northwest coast of Antrim;
somewhat disappointed with early fail
urcS and with myself, affected the solita-
ry. I tried hard at twenty to get up the
then impossible character of foolish, old,
msanthropical TimOn. ! soon, however,
discovered the unplcosantncss and imprnc-
tibility of this. The wild prccfpiccS and
mountains of that coast exercised my de-
mon, and the limitlcsS, full, Atlantic beat
ing rcstlcssiy on its iron bounds, reused
me to action. Presently ! dropped into
the dongs and crafts OF the rough fisher
men and cragsmen of the ncighborhood,
and soon gained their hearts hy some unu-
sual feats, acquired the character of be-
ing ''a gay ventursOmc lnd'-no un-
worthy fame.
NY rather confident address and courage
underwent n peculiar trial when and as /
least expected. ! was living in the vicini-
tv of the celebrated swinging bridge, Car
rack-R-redc. The troops of tourists visit
ing it reminded ME of the world from
which | was, after all, | fear, IN unwilling
exile. The danger Of crossing the bridge
with my gun and dog afforded some
excitement. The glorious views of shore
sea and isles delighted me; the deep messy
heather on the hcadIands made IuXurinnt
couch for reading or dosing upon under the
summer sun.
One day from my fnvoritc cyric watch
cd gay party dcccuding the slope to the
bridge mixing and changing colors as they
went, like the view in n kaleidoscope.
could distinguish laughter and sweet voic-
cs pleasantly ringing out; and confess it
needed the sOlnce of my favorite book and
all my fOrttudG to render ME contcnted in
my solitude up among the sea-gnlls.
had resumed my lost place and stretch
cd myself very comfortably on the moss
of my tall, outstanding, pillar like cliff,
when suddenly my old dog, Tosso, rushed
close to me- and fixed his big. dark eyes
anxiously in the direction of the bridge
We both trembIcd Mt that moment, for a
piercing scream smotc us. The sea-hirds
darted out from the rock face, and after Il
short silent flight outward, cried at their
shrilest and lOudcst. Could he dccciv-
ed! 1t was surely human Another
scream, if possible more intensely painful
1t was woman'S voice!
"Can it be-" thought, "somc of them
over the cliff"
Grasping my gun, rushed down the
HILL as men only run to save life. Again
anu uSdlIl, us IlCN ohSl NllN SI''NN'i
ground, felt the same bitter cry striking,
as it seemed, into my very heart. few
bounds over the slippery sea-grass along
the edge Of the pricipicc. and stood mt
the head ofthc ladder which leads down to
the swinging bridge.
Heavens! what II sight!
Right in the midst of it Was Il young,
fair-haired girl. With her two small,
white hands she desperately clutched the
FL, 81
balance or guide; the pressure of her
whole weight drove it out from the float
ing stripe of bourds on which she stood
Sometimes with her hands stretched out
. she swaved, face dOwnwards, over the
abyss, with its white raging waves II hun
drcd feet below; sometimes the wind and
the double oscillation laid her backwards,
with her hand Clenched upon that wretch
cd worthless cord, and her pale, sharp
face straiuing upwards, as her long h"Ir,
streamcd out, pointing down to the sea-
The bridge itself was shaking and sway
ing, giving forth that clank and moan
peculiar to it in storms, writhing about
like some some serpent Struggling with
the poor girls efforts. On the platform OF
rock beneath the ladder stood the rest OF
the party, each in IL different attitude OF
silent horriIicd expectancy, incapable OF
the slightest attempt at rescue.
At glance this never to o-be-forgottcn
scene was all understood. Another scream
another look of wild despair from the poor
girl, and was out upon the narrow plank.
Under the double motion and weight, the
ropes shook and were depressed, so that
could scarcely walk; the ratlinS on which
the foot boards lie, strained TO the utmost
in sharp angles clearly marked against the
rushing white and green underneath.
There was no time to think or pause
With rapid strides | came on. could
hear her praying now. But saw also she
was fast losing her consciousness, her
courage and strength had given way under
the reaction of hope; she was about to
faint. | measured the ctcrrible vacancy in
to which she was about to fall headlong.
In the last extremity of fear and hope, !
shouted in voice that stirred my own
heart too:
Courage, brave girl; courage one mo-
ment more"
Just .hen was within six feet of her,
standing on six inches of deal plank
that bent like whalebone, my only hold
the loose swinging cord from rock to rock
across the gnlph, below II black walled
chasm of rugged rocks, with dizzy whirl
of roaring foam between. Judge, then,
my dismuy and astonishmcnt, when saw
this girl, as ! spoke, leave hold OF the
hand-rope, and walk unaSsistcd towards
me along that narrow shaking path hung
out in the air. could not credit my SEN
scs; it was unhcurd of; it was too daring;
it was impossible for any human being
Before could recover or decide how to act,
she h0d flung herself upon me, her arms
about my neck, her whole weight resting
upon me like lead; could scarcely retain
my balance, and could not attempt to re-
llicve myself. felt she was about to faint;