The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-03-28

overhung the bed Of the chasm be-
low. l observed a narrow ledge,
which led gradually up the noun
tain side, and curious to see where
it would lead me, commenced to
walk on it. 1t kept rising higher
and higher, being sort of gradual
inclined plane. Nowhere wider
than three feet, it narrowed in
some places to fifteen inches. The
rock from which it projected in
clined above at an anglo little be-
yond the perpendicular, 80 as to
overhang the path somewhat
Presently, the rock began 10 crum-
BILE little at the edges beneath my
feet, and prudence should have
warned me back. But was curi-
GUS to see where it would lead; and
as for the last few yards it began
TO descend, / had no doubt l would
soon reach the bottom on the other
side. So l persevered, and just as
had passed very narrow spot, |
heard a rushing noise, followed by
q crash. On looking back l saw,
that the ledge from which 1 had
just past, had fallen off flush with
the side of the mountain, thus cut
ting off my return. There was no
help for it. l was obliged to go
on, and did. Suddenly the path
widened to about four feet, and then
as suddenly stopped. In front Of
me, and at my side was nearly
perpendicular and inaccessibler rock,
behind me the path was carried
away, and at my left hand was q
rocky wall overhanging the chasm,
whose bottom was several hundred
feet below. sa % yabip3s@ a
II looked around me. The sun
had gone down, but it was not
quite dark where l stood, though
the canon beneath was wrapped in
gloom. Tho spot where / was i'm
prisoned was scarcely four feet
wide. If my companions would
init upon my track, which, being
on hard rock, left no perceptible
sign, they would scarcely begin the
search before daylight. If | fell
asleep, a single turn might precpi-
tate me over the frightful precipice.
To crown all; the night grew chill
ly. In order to put them on the
right track, l began TO bawl; but
received no answer except the
echoes. My companions were too
far off. Perhaps they were wait.
ing at tho camp, or perhaps they
were hunting in another direction
: "l cannot make you sensible, BY
, mere words, of the horrors of that
dreadful night. l crouched myself
in the angle made by the meeting
walls Of rock. I grew sleepy, but
whenever l felt the drowsy fit com
ming on mo, 1 would rise carefully
and shake myself, which was al
d. much exercise as 1 dare take on
. spot so confined. 1t is curious t
note how The mind will operate un
Q der q trying and desperate situa
tion. l suppose there was scarce
: fy a circumstance of my life tina
: did not pass in review before me
!. Even the most trivial incidents o
0 childhood came back, and | coulC
remember incidents'of my school
: days which had long been forgot
k ten. Faces of friends, long deat
t and buried, peered at me from th
). thick darkness. Strange shape
i; crowded around and pressed m
i into the corner. | felt at one tim
J. q strong inclination to leap for
!. ward, and only restrained the i'm
s pulse by a strong effort of WILL
J Towards morning ! grow wakefu
n and my feelings changed. l be
Q came cheerful. With the approac
h of dawn my spirits rose; and as
ls saw the sun raise his broad dis
s. among tho cliffs opposite, I CON
l. menced to sing. / cannot say VIII
d I did this. My whole train
ID thought and action is still a my
d, terry to me; but / burst forth wit
A. my loudcst voice into song-at or
time chaunting la donna mobile
IL and then breaking into the gran
ID verses of the 'Star-Spanglcd Bal
IT. ner.' 5
y "The hours wore along, but
ID heard and saw nothing of my con
r. panions. l Ishouted frequently, ar
yh listened in vain for an answer. M
a. feelings changed again. My spi
g. its grew depressed, and as the 81
fl, gradually rose overhead, vagu
It's melancholy feeling spread over n
on was not at all hungry, although
b. had been several hours witho
ok food u l began TO speculate upt
90 the distance from the bottom
IS. where l sat; and to wonder whet
rt- er it we're preferable to starve
ot, death, or to meet a more sudd'
be fate by leaping to the rock -bottoj
at cd valley beneath.
rs, al looked around me. The
was q small horizontal fissure
ed tho rock. 1t extended for sor
ur yards beyond the place where t
all ledge had fallen of, and was abe
IN. five feet above the projection
ng which l stood. 1 had noticed
th the afternoon before. l looked
er to the crevice it made. It form
M a slight projection, but that "
les useless to me, for the rock abo'
tes as l have said, overhung me.
ed peered curiously into the fissu
al whose depth varied, but was
rer where more than twelve inches.
ng thought saw something move.
The seemed to be the tail of a snake.
GU inserted my hand cautiously, a.
ou. seizing it,, drew it forth. 1t wa