National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-08-15

wings, it were impossible to pass
All hope left me. knew that to re-
trace nly steps was impossible to me.
Even if reached the end from which
! had started, l should be no better Of
than here, and the hop.lessness of the
position weakened my every nerve.
Once more ! heard the wind rising and
hurting along towards me. | would
cling to life as long ~ / could. Iknelt
down on the wet, slippery balk, clasped
it with my arms, sat astride 1t. The
gust came up fierce and strong, passed
over me once more--once more spared
me.
But ] felt | could not survive another
such attack ! should be blown away
like n leaf. And yet there was no hope
OF escape-none. Ii was only n ques-
ton of moments how long, with stffen-
ing limbs, | could cling to this rough
beam ; then plunge into darkness.
Still, had time to think. What
were my thoughts A helpless sense
of cruelty, of the horrible unieelingness
and malignity of this hurting wind, of
those raging waters. A sad mortifica-
tion, too, and sense of injustice, that
should lose my life for nothing n
pleasant ramble turned to such an evil
end. OF the past l thought nothing; it
was nothing to me nova tale that was
told, that was all. OF the future, moth
ing either, except dim and awful Won
der. But plainly, wildly before my
eyes ] saw the figure of my wife, sitting
at work by the fire, waiting and watch
ing for me--for me, who never should
come. That was the bitterness of it.
And yet withal | was not unconscious of
certain vague sense of the ludicrous-
scoru of myself, that | should be thus
stuck up astride n beam, like some lad
at play, sport for the 5uffetings of
the elements. With this, too, an un-
speakable rage; kind of crushed de-
fiance, revolt against the doom which
was imminent in a revolt which felt its.
self hopeless and useless from its be-
ginning.
Whilst all this storm Of conflicting
thoughts was whirling through my
brain, theturmoil outside was diminish
ing. The wind had hushed for while,
and across my face there came for u
moment a sort of ruddy glow, the last
beams of the sun settling rapidly into
the sea. The vapors divided Tor Il mo-
ment, the huge dark mass of noun
tain irowned down upon me-for a mo-
ment only-then the clouds encom-
passed me once more--the glow died
away-the awful gloomy gray of night
began to gather III upon me like net.
Should / drop into the sea, and end
it all To die in the dark would be more
horrible than anything else. Even on
the quietest, most resigned death-bed,
the loss of light is the most disquietng
trouble to the departing soul. Light
more light is the last cry of the spirit
in extremity. And now it seemed as
though nature had determined to spare
me no pang of all the gathering horrors
OF my doom. Darkness and despair
were settling down upon my soul.
Then came the storm once more with
a rush of gathered rain, a howl, shout,
a roar of triumph, as the shrill wind
past, precursor of more
furious blast. | could bear no more.
A sapless, nerveless form l was, swept |
from the beam like withered leaf from
a branch, and fell-catching Mt some
beams as fell, hut losing my hold
in a moment, and dropping helplessly
down.
Once more consciousness returned.
A vague silvery light vas diffused about
me, above Were stars shining, huge
bulks of timber glimmered overhead.
| was stretched upon bed OF wet sand,
lying on my back, looking up into the
sky.
was not dead, then. No! Was I
crushed? l drew up one limb
after another, fearing lest a sudden
shout of agony should betray some
grievous hurt. But no l was sound
in limb and as 1 raised myself and
looked about, felt that, except for diz-
ziness and wonderful ringing that was
going on in my head, was
mhurt. And was saved That wasas
might happen.
When l rose and stood upon my feet,
[ looked around me, and saw that | had
fallen upon little island, narrow spit
If sand that had formed in the eddy
,aused by the pile of the bridge. On
each side of it ran strong and rapid
All this L saw by the light of
,bscured, as she parted her way among
he fast driving clouds.
Distantly across the water shone the
lights of the little town. 1t had its gas
amps, which sparkled brilliantly in the
hight and from out of the black rocks
which showed against the skyline,
lere and there the light of a candle in
cottage window cleaned like fairy
amp.
On the other side of the estuary there
we're no lights but the straining eye
night discern the gloom of high hills,
hat seemed. indeed, only like darksome
'hasms in the sky but as | watched, ]
aw a tiny star that was gliding among
lie rocks. Now seen, now lost. l fol-
owed it with longing eyes and listen
ng intently, heard the clatter of
lor.es' hoofs and the murmur of wheels |.
Using and falling, as the road wound in
md out among the rocks further or
learer. 1t was some carriage rolling /,
apidly towards home-towards my
lome, and here was /, castaway
/ shouted, but my voice seemed lost
n the great space. The wind carried
{ up the river, blew it away into stifled s
fragments. 1t was useless to cry. No
ne would hear me. How long should
have to live? Was there any chance O
hat might yet escape7 l could not a
vim the channel on either side was, 4
berefore, an unpassable barrier. Even f
ad l been an excellent swimmer, / |
oubt if in my enfeebled state / could I
ave won the further bank of the chan S
el, where the current was running the q
EAST swiftly. How long would my d
,land remain uncovered by the sea? r
Six o. eight feet above my head, v
angled masses of sea-weed hanging in /
ne interstices of the woodwork showed t