New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-07

the stern of the dingy on to crosspiece
that formed sort of platform foot or SC
from the waters edge.
| jumped, and landed safely on the bank,
by climbing the nearest pier, across which
were nailed rough, irregular slaves, which
constituted what is called workman's lad
der had no intention of undertaking any
acrobatic feats, and the idea of climbing ul
to that giddy height by such rough, unre
liable supports was distasteful enough.
wouldn't try it. l would 60 back in the
boat TO dry land once more. But the boat
had spun away on the tide, and was now faI
out of earshot. or indeed eyeshot either
There l stood, then, in the midst of rush
| ing, raging sea, upon balk of timber, en-
braciDg huge black pier. the head of which
was lost in the gloom and mist overhead.
l couldn't stay here; must get across the
bridge at all hazards, and my only way was
| upward.
Up went slowly, step by step, testing
each frail splintered stave ere trusted my
weight to it. More than one broke away in
my hands, and fell into the sea below. But
when reached the top, thought, then all
this danger would be over. l should find a
| firm, secure platforms rail, or, at least, a
| rope for the hand.
| When came to the top Of the pier saw
stretched out before me beam, suspended,
more r. ikea ike q rope. it seemed to meWstretched
nvar this " Ia ahvss of aging wavasNthat
ouS 5 anis M else Tb Ea ~
| the narrow ridge of timber. 1t was not
| more than two feet wide at the broadest-
and the sight of them gave me courage.
Men had passed over here before me; /
myself q moment mora 70 tb;nL 7 s,ennad
"a tbo ,no,non- wban Iot+;nn - s,;t 49, ~.
hoods Stood mon Tho tonnsos, ro,nd ~
the Ladder and bsianced mrsslf for an in.
stant AZ I nlsced NV foot mon The n,ant-
that momept in Which T scanned IN pnm;1ar
and SWAY to and fro. high mn on this ciddv
that mo;nent nf S;1zv terror of STRANGE
wh;r,;na thouahts If ;rst;nats ~ oest -
saIf bnaSinnr go 10 aaa ,,,"s =, o"av 10y
as anT nrd;nsrv zeal If nlac;a hs;n@ smd
vat i csna ond vent lie M nther ,noT, an
nd SOD 800 mo-, &c a Jaom Ia haoa'
nv ner;ioms wav '.- "-1 "'s'A
I'D H. 81 fo- oef ho,,o,;,
heara tne VINO iar on, peilowing among
;n~ "a hor,;nn Wv. oHo r ~. aa.a
,Sn anu oaI,s, ~ ov .ra Uno aI
and tba,. ths rnsh nd es 81 tha s4n mue ~
- h,r+Iad Nv ,,a nash;Ip,, ~ so1t a.a 90
800 nv .,as - o.,,,a w ~ SCI ~ Iplay
norners of ynv annarai I'D e,oaI;u VIC t tHoso
lie wb;n las he's carrv;na .wan mw fS sa
breath in its Wild couyse hnt 1sav;yo iu maW
YES tbanL G"dNleav;n1 mo st;li ha1onooa
o ~ NJ ,1 niar,o i10 e''n ''i"noou
tn. p,,sts bod .I..,oa A.. .;,..
.nooe senJ co,E 49, co. 49, ~.
tPanoh ;nS;stinctiv eroMoh hnt c"rid m an.
thot 5hara was ~ anothar Ianatb ~ 90
nrotan..d haiL harond IT, =.
safe nla,foryn If +;h.r s+ratch"d feo u,oau,
TO niar on 70 tel ,bat niotfarm m a pc
W p,oi ~ 80 ~ AoGi snaS pia'iyIm sale
LIE. w., ,.. eL ING palk
eiAAoSp f" Auh' AOuou AOACu ooACUy UclOI0
had or !. " no,u;n D - h ma noloe VIM.
bome@ves homas for tSs, m ~omoh h'" Us
sbel,ersJ n,atfnr,, ", -h;s ,,,S.e N
saamed Iillpa q hn,,s ~ nknI,
Sr,,,, .nd ~,,;oi-i1 w .in C Sss sseoHP'ns
chasm sesmea tn o,e %,v ngjor H mu Ely
horr;hle chasm Tba haam m ub;"I r
stood csma sudden1v n on ana r "n sn,ua
eight feat it had been cnt away and t tIare
wss notbino to baIn ma ovsr yb;s Sn.odf.,I
can W;,bout n,;n,s T. W. ,,r ,o VI ~
5ass ~ "' p''o'o'o w
f All hone left me Iknaw +b.+ m ro+rooo
NV stans eos ;,onoss;h,a 10 .n"' ~ ae'!a'G
reached the end from which l had started.
l should be no better off than here, and the
hopelessness of the position weakened nv
every nerve. Once more heard the wind
rising and hurting along toward me. 1
would cling to life as long as l could. /
knelt down on the wet, slippery balk,
CldbpcU II Will INV armSs SAT dStrl06 If.
The gust came up fierce and strong, passed
over me once more-once more spared me,
But felt that could not survive another
such attack; should be blown away like a
leai. ana YET tnere was no hope OF es-
caPe-none. It was only question OF mo-
HehIs no" long; WIN stlnenlng limbs, l
couid cnhs 10 thls rough Deam then
plunge INTO darkness.
olhi nau Il1ne 70 tnlhk. what were my
Inougnts; neipiess sense OF cruelty, OF
tne horrible unieenngness and mallgnity OF
aus n,a auitmtR miiu .. enese raging waters.
a eau noTtihca,lon, too' ana sense OF MUS
ace that shou!d lose my lie Tor nothing;
pieasan. raMol1 turned 10 such an evil
emo. VI the past thought nothing; it was
nothing 10 me nova tale mat was told; |
tnat was an. VI Inc future, nothing either, |
except dim ana aw1ul wonder. But plain |
~ vlsiuiy oeioIe my eyes saw the hgure
y, 10y Wiz sa..lng as WORK ov the hre,
walting anu "atoning tor me-1or me, who
ol IT,
And yet withal l was not unconscious of |
certain vague sense OF the ludicrous-of
scorn of myself. that should be thus stuck
up astride beam, like some lad at play, a
sport for the buffetings of the elements
With this, too, an unspeakable rage, kind
OF crushed defiance, revolt against the
doom which was imminent, revolt which
felt itself hopeless and useless from its be-
ginning.
While all this storm of cont,;ct;ro
thoughts was whirling through INV hra;n
the turmoil outside was diminishine. The
wind had hushed for awhile, and across INV
face there came for a moment q sort ~
'uddy glow, the last beams of the sun set
ing rapidly into the sea. The vanors ii.
7ided for a moment, the huge dark mass Of
mountain frowned down upon me-for a
moment only-then the clouds encompassed
ne once more-the glow died awav~the
.wful gloomy gray of night began tn Gather
n udoR me like net.