Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-09-04
From the Youths Companion.
"A Night Over . preciplce.
AN ADIRONDACK TALE,

From the Youths Companion.
"A Night Over Prccipics.
AN ADIRONDACK TALE.
Several years ago, while spending q few
weeks in the Adirondack region, + passed
q night, the teffor 81 which can never
forget, even should my lite 30 one Of the
longest.
My-~lompanions- had discovered an
eagles meet, in IN old pine, half way up
Mt. Emmons, near whose foot, was oul
camp. To take tho Young eagaets from
this eyrie, even in tho absence Of their
mother, was u task not without danger
but we had determined to do it, being
anxious to present the birds to y scientific
friend in Albany, aud the duty was BY 10.
assigned to me. 80. ..-.~,s
Early in the afternoon Of tho day up;
pointed, equipped with one Of the bags
which had brought our provisions into The
woods, and q hunting knife, and accom-:
panied by Will, who carried gun 70 be
used should the old birds attack us, ]
started for che nest
A climbing walk Of nearly mile placed
US onsthe ledge, just below which Tie
pine tree grew, fastening its long, tenacious
roots in the many orevices of the rock from
which it sprang. It leaned out over the
chasm below, ut IN anglo of nearly forty.
Eve degrees, which would make tho climb.
ing comparatively easy task, although,
being no sailor, 1 did not anticipate much
pleasure in the feat, especially whom l
looked down on the swaying treetops, far
beneath. The mountain side, at this point,
was almost perpendicular for moro than u
hundred feet.
Tho nest was situated ut the very top Of
tho tree, which had been broken BY the
wind, and afforded it a resting-place. It
looked like great mass of drift.wood
that some flood had left there: but. We
knew that the young birds were in it, for
it was in sightlffom camp, and that very
morning, BY the aid of glass, We had
seen the eagles carrying food to their
nestlmgs.
Alter resting for little time,' l threw
of my coat, frightened my belt, tied The
bag about my waist and slipping carefully
down to the little ledge upon which tho
tree rested, began the ascent. p.
A short but vigorous effort, and the
lower branches OF the tree were reached,
and soon after l had the satisfaction Of be.
ing near enough to seize my prize. Un-
loosing the bug, slowly raised myself
above the level Of the nest. - /
Three birds lay before me, each about
tho size ola full. grown hen, armed with
hoax and talons, but a. yet almost destitute
offeathers. A. leaned forward to erssp
them, they suddenly opened their
monatrous mouths, and stretched their
necks out toward me.
l drew back, but Immediately remem-
boring that Notwithstanding their terrible
looks they were but " chicks;v carefully
removed them from the nest and deposited
them in my bog. Ono, two. three My
WORK seemed now accomplished. Il onlv
remained for mo to back down the tree
again to terra frma.
To climb with empty hands, aad to
deceud With full ones are different thinss
but I had oucceeded in reaching the lo5s'
rough trunk below tho branches, and wss
congrssulatiag myself upon my good for.
tune. when felt the tree move! :;
for. An instant horror held-ne-.motion-
les. The roofs were giving away,
VIII saw thG@aAde6F, sadsJsen q. +
ssu..ls nsiyga.ea at ttedeptfs below, b.
a5@p, fsrz, JUDI rh6'e i, ,r 81 i. falling.
Jump for the rock p .. -
Filled viii horrible fear, turned.
gathered. my strength for q despairin9
etorA end sprAng out into the air, toward
the face Of the rock! : = -
Already tho tree had fallen below the
level OF the roots, and went down ten or |
htteen feet when little ledge, covered
with bushes, caught.me. There 1 clunpi
trembling andfaint, while the old. pine
with sharp, cracking noise, broke -from
ITS hold, and wsnl whi1zing past mo into
the depth, oIasking wildly in the treaiops
tearing through the branches. and sending
up heavy thud Ut last as it struck the
ground below Ishrsnk back on INV
narrow rim Of rock when thought of
what had almost been my fatel.>
g Fera Fera Are yeu aiives?,' WIN
voice sounded afar of, aud as I cace,uAv
turned ana locked up, siokened with
fsar, tor it Was thirty feet to the top o! Tue
cliff above melt -! ,. . .5'i.ast- -
"Yes," l answsred,@ am alive: but
how am I to get up theref I Tear nv /
ankle Is broken, for it pains mo dreadful
~ =. -. 8 d nEn3,i .'o)
Broken =? O, that cannot be y cried
Will. 1T probably 10 sprainod. Let mo
get you something to drink. Can YOU cutch
this bottle, If / drop it 2" : !,,EET
IL hardly dare to let 70 If tha..
bushes" l'replied, I" but I'll try."
with great care unloosed INV hold |
upon the shrubs. l found that BY placing
my back against the rock r was safe
my feet hung over the little
ledge. / called to Will, and down the
bottle came, right into my hands. II
swallowed the refreshing draught, whioh |
gave me energy, and better than that honei
would be saved after all!
,,.,j ~ am going to signal Charlie" cried
VIM. lie has the glass, and can see M
plainly from camp. l will shoot to attract |
aus attention." And two qpick rerorts ranr
ont along the mountain side.
u,:,i mere he IT," moment later heard |
VIII say. lie sees me | He is comine!" |
LII loss than halt an hour heard Stir |
above me, and Charles cherry voice
'VuAueu OOWn.
~ noii9, there! Keep your spirits M,
ora! Wen have you out of that before
long. I'm going for q rope"
"A ropew I thought. ~There,s M
rope at camp, and he will have 70 20 n
me nearest shanty for ono. Seven 9;le.
u Least! Lie can't be back before ,nurn'
ing" Ao '''o1n'
"Char'ie /" 1 shouted.
above. '1on'
You will have to 60 to Bob Andrew.
or q rope, and you can't get back to.n;oht
LEI VIII go down to camp first, and br;no
~ some coffee and hard. tack, then he ca5
'end some supper down to me, Tell him
% or'ng the strongest fish line here. too
No a',s VIII stay all night, then, while you are
"Ooodp cried Charlie, "You will