Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-11-14
A LIVING DEATH.

it sometimes happens, on certain coasts Of
Brtany or Scotland that man, traveller or
fisherman, walking on the beach at low tide
lar from the bank, suddenly notices that for
several minutes be has been walking with
some difficulty. The strand beneath his feet
is like pitch: his solcs stick to it; it is sand
no longer, it is glue. The beach is perfectly
dry, but at every step he takes as soon MS bo
hits his foot, the print which it leaves. fills
with water. The eyc however, has noticed
no change; the immense strand is smooth
and tranquil, all the sand has the same ar,.
pearance, nothing distinguishes the surface
which is solid from the surface which Is ma
longer so; the joyous little cloud OF sand.
icas continues to leap tumultuously over the
way'aser's feet The man pursues his way.
goes forward, inclincs towards the land en-,
deavors TO get nearer the upland. lie is not
anxious Anxious about what? Only he
feels somehow as if the weight Of his feet in.
creased with every step which he takes.
Suddenly he sinks in lie sinks in two or
three inches. Decidedly he is not ON ihr
right road he stops to take his bearings. An
at once, he looks at his feet. His feet have
disappeared The sand covers them. II,
draws his feet ont of the sand, he will retrace
his stops, he turns back, he sinks in decppr
The sand comes up to his ankles, he pulls
himself ont and throws himself to the left.
the sand is half leg deep, he throws himself
to the right the sand comes up 10 his
knees. Then he recognizes with unspcaku.
Die terror that he is caught in tho quick ksand.
and that he has beneath him the fearful mo.
dium in which man can no more walk thar
the fish can swim. He throws Off his Load
if he has one, he lightcus himself like shin
in distress tits already too late, tho sand IS
above his knees. III sas'4s s"."'r
lie calls, he waves his hat or his bandk.r.s
Chief. The sand gains Oh him more and
more ifthc beach is deserted, if the land Il
too lar oil, II the sand bank is of too in re-
Pute, II there is no hero in sight it is all over,
ne is condemned to enlizemen:. lie il con-
demned to that appalling intermcnt. long
lnlallible, inipacable, impossible to slacken
or to hasten, which entiilres for hours which
will not end, which scizes YOU erect, frcc
and in full health, which draws Won bv rho
ieet, which, at every effort that Won a.tcmnt
at every shout that you utter draos Won
little deeper, which appears to punish YOU,
ior your resistance by Il retlouilng or n,
grasp, which sinks the man slowly into ,h,.
earth while it leaves him all the ti,no ~ ,o.Ls
NJ the horizon, the trees, the green fields
the smoke Of the villages in the nlain the
sails OF the ships upon the sea, the birds f1v.
ing and singing the sunshine. the sky.
Enlizement is the grave become q tide and
rising tiom the depths of the Garth towards n
living man. Each minute is am ,naxor.b,,
enshrondress. The victim attcmnts to Sit
down, to lie down, to creep; every move
ment he makes interests him; he straight
ems up, he sinks in he feels that he is being
swallowed up; he howls, inplores, cries to
the clouds, wrings his hands, despairs. De-
hold him waist deep in the sand : the sam,
reaches his breast. he is now only a bust.
ne raises his arms, uttcrs furious proans .
clutches the beach with his nails, would hold
10y that straw, leans upon his elbows 10 mil!
himself out Of this soft sheath. sobs frsny;cd.
ly; the sand rises. Tn. sand reaches Ih;s
shoulders, the sand reaches his nccl,-. thc5
lace alone is visible now.. The month cries
the sand fills il; silence. The eyes still raze
the sand shuts them night. Then the fore.
mead decreases, little hair nutters above tho
sand; hand protrudcs. comes through the
surface ofthc beach, moves and shakes. and
disappears Sinister cffaccment of man,
|ictor Uugo.