The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-05-18
The students Adventure.

Some ten year, ago spent the long vaca-
ton on the northwest coast OF Antrim
somewhat disappointed with early failures
and with myself, affected the solitary.
tried hard at twenty TO get up the then i'm
possible character Of foolish, old, misanthrop-
ical Timon. soon, however, discovered tho
unpleasantness and impncticability Of this.
The wild prccipices and mountains of that
grand coast exercised my demon, and the
limitlcss, full Atlantic beating restlcssly ON
its iron bounds, reused mo to action. Pres
emily dropped into the doings and crafts Of
the rough fishermen and cragmen of tho
ncighborhood, and soon gaining their hearts
by some unusual fcats, acquired the high
character Of bcing"a gey ,cntcrsomc lad"
no unworthy fame.
My rather confident address and courage,
such as they were, underwent peculiar tri-
al when and as least expected. was liv-
ing in the vicinity of the celebrated swinging
bridge, Carrick-a-rcde. Tho trvops of tour
lists visiting II reminded inc OF tho world
from which was, after oil, fear, an un-
willing exile. The danger Of crossing tho
bridge with my dog and gun afforded somo
excitement. The glorious vicws- Of shore,
sea and isles delighted me tho deep moey
heather on tho headlands madc luxurious
couch for reading or dosing upon under tho
summer sun.
One day from my favorite eyrio I had
watched q gay party descending the slops to :
the bridge, mixing and changing colou -
they went, like tho view In Kaleidoscope.
l could distinguish laughter and sweet voices
PLEASANTLY ringing out; and I confess it
needed the soIace Of my fayorite book and all
my fortitude to render me contented la my
solitude up among the sea-gulls.
! had resumed my lost place and stretched
myself very comfortably on tho mos Of my
tall, outstanding, pillar like clif, when sud-
denly my old dog, hso, rushed close to me.
and fixed his big, dark eyes anxiously In tho
direction Of the bridge. We both trenbled
at that moment, for piercing scream smots
us. The sca-birds dartcd out from the rock
face, and after short aiglt outward, cried
ut their shrillcst and loudest. Could 10
deceived! II was surely human! Another
scream, If possible more intensely painfnl.-
II was woman's voice ~
"Can i: bc,"I thought, "Uuo Of them
ever the cliif." -
Grasping my gun, I rushed down the hill,
IN mcn oa'y r"" w sa'o ms aga" s"a
again, as New over tho broken ground 1
felt the same bitter cry striking. a. u SCENE
Cd, into my very heart. A few bounds over
the slippery sea.gnss along tho cdge Of tho
precipice, and stood at the head OF tho lad
der which leads down 10 tho swinging bridge.
Ucavcns' what n sight
Right In the midst Of Il was young. fair
haired girl. With her two small whits
hands che desperately clutchcd the slender
cord which the fishermen use a. balance or
n guide; the pressure OF her whole weight
drove II out from tho floating stripe ofboards
on which she stood. Sometimes with her
hands stretched out she swaycd, face down
wards, over tho abyn, with iss white raging
waves a hundred feet below sometimes tho
wind and the double oscillation laid bar
backward. with her hand elenched upon that