Smyrna times., 1861-07-04
a Students Adventure at Carrick. A
Rede, County Antrim.


Rede, County Antrim.
Some ten years ago, spent the long vaca.
ton IN the northwest Of Antrim sumewhA at
disappointed with early failures and with my
self. l affected the solitary. l tried hard at
twenty TO set up the impossible character OF
foolish. misanthrOpicai old Timon. | soon
however, discovered the unpleasantness and
imPrscticability of this. The wild p:ecipces
and mountains of thegrand coast exercised my
demon, and the lImitless full Atlantic, beating
resIlessly on its iron bounds. reused me to &C.
1ion. Presently dropped into the doings and
crafts Of the rough fishermen and cragsmen of
the nsighbOrhood, and soon gaining their hearts
by some unusual fsats. acquired the character
OF being a "gay, venturesOme lad no an.
worthy fame.
My rather confident address and courage,
such as they were. underwent a peculiar trial.
where and whom least xpected. was living
IN the vicinity ofIhe celebrated swinging bridge,
CaTrlcka. Rede. The troops Of tourist visiting
1t reminded me Of the world. from which was
after all, an unwilling exile. The danger OF
crossing the bridge with my dog Ind gun af-
fUrded some excitement. The glorious views
| Of shore, sea, and isles, delighted me the deep
mossy heather on the headlands made q lux.
urious couch for doing upon, under the sum-
mer sun.
One day from my favorite eyrie. I had
watched gay party descending The slope on
the bridge, mixing and changing the cOIOrs
as they went, like the view in kaleidoscope.
| could distinguish laughter and sweet voices
pleasantly ringing out, and, confess, it needed
the sOlace of my favorite book. and all my for
tituds to render me cOntentOd in my solitude
up among the sea gulls.
/ ID laaR MI M baI
self comfortably on the moss of my tall, out
standing, pillsF-like cliff, when suddenly my
dog, Tasso, rushed close 10 me, aud fixed bis
big. dark eyes snxiously in Ihe direction Of
the bridge. We both tTemblsd az that moment,
for Pisreing scream smots us. Ths sea birds
daTted out from the rock face, and after short
silent fight outward, cried at their shrillest
and loudest. Could | be deceived! II was
surely human! 1t was a womsn's voice!
"Can it be-" thought. "some sf them over
the cliff"
Grasping nay gun, l rushed down tha hill az
men only run to save life. Again and sgain,
as few over the broken ground, felt the
same bitter cry, striking, az it seemed. into
my very heart. A few bounds over the slippery
seagrass along the edge ofthe precipice, and
stood at the head Ofthe ladder, which led down
to the swinging bridge.
Right in the midst of il was young, fail
, haired girl. With her two small white hand
she desperately clutched the slender cord which
. the fishermen used az balance or guide th,
. pressure of her whole weight drove it out from
the hosting strip Of boards on which she stood
. Sometimes with her hands stretched out, sh
swayed, face downwards, over the abyss, will
:, its white raging waves a hundred feet below
+. sometimes the wind and the double oscillation
laid her backwards, with her hands clenche
: upon that worthless cord, and her pale, shar
: face stra lining upwards, as her long hair strea m
n ed, pointing down 10 the sea. The bridge il
solf was shaking and swaying, giving fort
, that clank and moaning peculiar to il in storml
d wreathing about like some serpent strugglin
b with the poor girls efforts. On the platfor II
of rock beneath the ladder stood the rest Of lh
10 party, each in an attitude of silent, horrihe
It expectancy, incapable of the slightest attemI
10 at rescue.
% At a glance. this never.to-bs forgoite
70 scene was all understood. Another scream
'f another look of wild. appealing despair fro
the poor girl, and | was out upon the narro
Of plank Under the double motion the rope
10 shook, and were depressed. so that coul
Of scarcely walk. There was no time to thin
ls or pause With rapid strides | came on.
could hear her praying now. But saw al,
70 that she was fast losing her consciousness h,
ss courage and strength had given way under th
z, reaction OF hope; she was about TO Ia int.
ul measured the terrible vacancy into which sh
j. was about to fall headlong. was prepare
e to abide the desperate plunge the bridge wou
A. give the moment that she dropped.
10 the last extremity of fear and hope,
be shouted, in voice that stirred my own hear
" too
it. Courage. my brave girl; courage for OF
he moment more"
u. Just then was within six feet of her stan
10. ing on six inches wide ofa deal plank that be
ur like whaebone, my only hold the loose col
swinging from rock to rock across the gulf b
c. Iowa black v.lled chssm Of rugged rock
ot with q dizzy whirl Of roaring foam betwe,
e. them. Judge. then. my dsmay and astOnis
OF meni when saw this girl, as | spoke, lea,
a bold Of the hand rope, and walk una ssst,
he towards me along that narrow, sha king pa
hung out in air. | could not credit my sense
he It was unheard of; il was too daring /; It WI
I'D impossible for any hnmaa being. Before
nd could recover or decide how 10 act, she fur
10. herselfupon me, her arms about my neck, al
w her whole weight resting upou me like lei
ssi Iscarcely retained my balance, and cou
he not sttempt TO relieve myself felt she W
Ike about TO faint; felt, for from her position
in could not see; | knew no human power cou
elf save us if she did, Moved. then, by my ov
Ite lite ss well as hers. whispered in that stel
lee strange, inwardtOns, which arises in the .
"a. Uems Of anxiety or psrii: If roo faint
sy give way. we are both lost!"
The effect wac wonderful Bfsvely I
he poor. young. frail creature fought with b
Of wsskness, beating back the fsiainsss lhere
e
iA,@