The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-01-07

'>Nhats that TO you Z"
s'Oh, nothing only we are getting up
pretty quickly, and you'd have better
head for the work if you'd get gradually
used to the height"
He sald nothing, and never moved
Then, looking up, l saw we were close to
the top-a few yards more, and we would
be there yet those who were turning the
windass were winding with unabated
speed. A sudden chill ran through my
blood, and set my flesh creeping. They
had miscalculated the distance, and with
the force they were winding at the rope,
it must inevitably break when the cradle
came in contact with the block. There
was no time to attempt signal, only an
instant to point out the danger 10 Ben, and
then to get hold OF the rope, and, by going
hand over hand, reach the coping before
the cradle came up. This was done al
most quicker than L can tell you, Ben
following.
The cradle came on then, as antic
ipated. the rope gava a shrill, pinging
sound, like a rife-baH passing through
the air, and snapped Down went the
cradle, and there were we left, nearly
three hundred feet in the air with nothing
to rest upon bu. coping barely eighteen
inches wide.
Ben shrieked out that he was a dead
man, and cried: "Tell me where | can
kneel, Harry , show me where l can pray
to Almighty God, for l cannot die this
way !"
'Hush! lad," I said ''don't lose
heart: God can hear you just as well
sitting as kneelng. and if you try to get
Up, you'll tumble, to q moral certainty.
Think of Mary, man, and keep up"
But lie only shook and swayed more
and more, groaning and crying out that
lie was lost and L could see that, if he
hid not mind, he would overbalance.
"Get hold of the rod" l said, think
ing that, even sprung as it was, the touch
Of it would give him courage.
"Where is it boy 3 he said hoarsly
and then looking into his face, which was
turned TO me, l say that his eyes were
drawn together, squirting aud bloodshot,
and knew that the fright had driven him
blind So pushing myself to him, l
placed my arms round his waist, and
worked round 10 The rcd, which l put in
his hand and then looked below to see
whether they were trying to help us, but
there was no sign. The yard was fnlI of
people, all running hither and thither
and AS / afterwards knew, all in the great
est cOnsteanation--thc cradle haviI 2 fall
len on one of the overseers of the works,
killing him on the spot, and so occupying
the attention of those near that we uufOr-
iunates were for the time forgotten. |
was straining my eyes, in the hope Of see-
ing some effort made to help US, when |
was startled by horrible yell aud brought
TO sense of new danger, for looking
round [ saw Ben champing with his teeth
and foaming at the mouth, and gestsculats
ing in an unearthly way. Fear had not
only blinded him, hut crazed his brain.
Scarcely had I time to comprehend
this, when he began edging his way to-
wards me and every hair on my head
seemed to stand on end as | moved away,
keeping as far off as l could, and scarce
ly daring to breathe, lest he should hear
me, for see me he could not-that was
my only consolation Once, twice, thrice,
he followed me round the mouth Of that
! horrible chimney; then no doubt thinking
had fallen over, he gave up the search,
and began trying to- get on his feet
| What could do to save his life To
! touch him was certain death for myself
| as well as him, for he would inevitably
sieze me, and we should 90 over together.
To let him stand up was 10 witness his
equally certain destruction.
tI,,,ue-ht Of poor May, 1ud remem-
! bered that if he died she might get to care
! for me. The devil put that thought in
my mind, l suppose; but, thank God,
/ there was a stronger than Satan near, and
at the risk of my life l roared out, ''Sit
still, or you will fall, Ben Lloyd g.
! He crouched down and held with
/ cinching teeth, shivering and shaking -
! In after day, he told me that he thought
/ that it was my spirit sent 70 warm and
save him.
'.Sit STILL" I repeated from time to
time, watching with aching eyes and
! brain for some sight of aid. Each min
ute seemed to be an hour My lips grew
dry, my tongue literally clave to my
mouth, and the prespiration running
down blinded me AT last-at last
hope came The crowd began TO gather
III the yard, people were luuhlh3 IN from
distant lanes, and sea of faces were
turned upward then some one who had
got speaking trumpet shouted. "Keep
heart, boys we'll save you!" A few
minutes more and the kite began to rise !;
higher and higher it comes, on and on
How l watched the white winged mes
senger, comparing it in my heart TO an
angel; and surely, as an angel was it
permitted to come TO US poor sinners,
hanging on the verge of eternity Up it
came, nearer and nearer guided by the
skillful fler The slack rope crossed the
chimney, and we were saved
| could not shout hurrah, even had |
dared but in every beat of my heart was
a Thanksgiving to the God l had never
truly known till that hour, and whose
merciful providence | can never doubt