The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-02-13
NO. 46.

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lay. Ae thought invigorated new life
within him, and again he drew himself
over the coping and looked below. He
heard nothing but the hoarse surg Of the
waters : it was black as chaos = not
even shadow rested there = he could
define nothing, and he paused.
There was tramp of feet very near
him : almost under the spot where he
was suspended. He swung himself with
one effort over the wall and remained so.
He strained his eyes if possible to discern
where he should make the fatal drop -
! all was blackness = terrible void and
dim in its own treacherous uproar. He
! placed his feet firmly against the wall,
and turning his body round, he pushed
| himself into the wild vortex of the troub-
| led waters. a hoarse unearthly noise
/ grated in his ears and he was thrown
! upon the foaming surface, and carried off
on the current with fearful rapidity. To
! strike against rock, or fallen tree, he
knew would be as fatal as the dangerous
! descent from the wall He managed to
get himself into the middle of the cur
lent, and in few minutes was borne a
considerable distance. He was an expert
/
the current and 2rasped the undergrowth'
which overhung the bank He drew
breath for an instant and then with some
agility, clambered up the ascent and hur-
ried into the darkness of the forest He
leaned against tree exhausted, and be-
gan to consider what he should do next.
After some hesitation he determined to-
keep the woods until satisfied that he
was beyond the reach Of capture.
The storm began to lull towards morn
ing-the clouds were black and lowering
yet gave no symptoms of renewal. Aus
tin toiled slowly through the brushwood,
over rugged and craggy hills, and into
the stony depths where the floods rolled
in murky blaekness. Noon came, and
now weak and hungry he stopped sud
denly and listened. His heart almost
died within him = he heard the deep
bay Of hound in the distance, and the
sound became more distinct as the animal
came nearer. Presently others Joined in
the wild deathcry; and the solitudes OF,
the forest answered back with hundred
echoes. To pause any longer would be
fatal, so he looked round for some means
of escape. \ ledge Of rock, clothed with
the moss green tributes of many hun
( dred summers, rose perpendicularly frem4
deep ravine, and lay embedded in the
sloping hill; so that only the top was visi-
/ bic from the hillside, while behind, the
broken strata of rocks were upheaved in
rugged outline, entirely bare of trees and
destitute of soil, or vegetation. From the
messy crag down to the basement was
some seventy feet; and Austin concluded
he had found a redoubt, scarcely possibles
Of being assaulted. He climbed up the
bastion, and having armed himself with
| a heavy cudge, set himself in such po-
I sition as to have free exercise with his
right arm. At some distance before him
lay large opening in the wood, and he
continued gazing in that direction, as the
savage cries were sounding nearer. Every
moment they became more distinct, and
at last, a fierce pack, whining missrablv
and smelling as they ran round every
/ clump, tree and rock, broke through the
opening, and redoubed their hideous out
cries as they approached the ravine:
I Austin neryed himself for the encounter
and clenched his hand firmly round
| his weapon. They came on with stimuli
taneous yell, and as the foremost sprung
to the crag, he ingeniously seized the ami
NAL on the point of his staff and hoisted
it into the raviue. They could only
reach him by springing from the top. An-
other, aud another whirled down liieless
on the rocks. Two more remained, and
they, with starting cyeballs, glared down
savasely upon him. They ran to either
sides alternately, whining and baying
hoarsely. Austin watched their move
meuts with feverish excitement : he ex-
pected they would continue there fos
some time and if so, his fate was as cer-
tain as that of the dead animals below.
He thought of throwing his weapon in
I homes of disabling them in some way, but
desisted aud awaited their spring. Still
their fierce cries filled the ravine with
voices, aud eagerly they ran round and
round the crag with savage rapidity~
One mounted the rock and prepared to
make spring, but with cry bounded
backward, aud took to the forest = the,
other followed, aud now Austin brushed
the cold perspiratiou from his brow, and
drew long breath. They coursed the
woods round for some distance, prolong-
ing their yells to wild unearthly chorus,
aud made again for their prey, but foiled
= they deserted the vicinity of the ravine
soon after, and Austin, as their cries be-
came more indistiuct, felt somewhat re-
lieved.
1t was evening before he thought OF
| quitting his painful position; and no"
he stood upon the steep hillside, uneon-
scious of the best path to pursue lie
wcuded his way slowly in the same diree-
tion he had takan in the morning, resting
often, and plucking the wild fruit to re-
lieve his hunger, or drinking the water
which freshened the long yellow grasses