Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-04-29

gathering up on the horizon ooscured bis
light. Great volumes Of cloud and vapor
were driving mp before the wind, which
howIed and moaued iutermitten,ly, as
blast succeeded blast, and died away
again. The wind and tide in opposition
made the water pretty rough, and our
boat danced Up and down in lively way.
Presently the black skeleton of the bridge
loomed upon us through the mist, aud
Evan dcxterously brought up his boat in
the little eddy that was formed by the
abutmenis of the pier, and then he called
on me to jump FROM the stern Of the dingy
on to cross.piece that formed u sort Of
platform foot or so from the waters
edge. geo. .-rs9s
jumped, aud landed safely on the
bak, aud then found that my way up
war,l was by climbing the nearest pier,
across which were nailed rough, irregular
stavcs, which constituted what is called
workmaus ladder. had no intention Of
undertaking any acrobatic fests, and the
idea Of climbing up to that giddy height
by such rough, unreliable supports was
distasteful enough. / wouldn't try it. l
would 60 back 10 the boat to dry land
once more But the boat had spun away
on the tide, and was now far out of ear
shot, or indeed eyeshot either. There l
stood, then, in the midst of rushing,
raging sea, upon balk Of timber, en-
braciug a huge olask pier, the head Of
which was lost in the gloom and mist
overhead. / couldn't stay here; must
get across the bridge at all hazards, and
my only way was upward. ..
Up l went slowly. step by step testing
each trail splinterel stave ere | trusted
my weight to it. More than one broke
away in my hands, and fell into the sea
be- ow. But Nheu | reached the top, |
thought, then all this danger would be
over. should find firm, secure plat.
form "a rail, or, at least, rope for the
hand.
When | came to the top Of the pier, |
saw stretched out before me beam, sus.
pended. as it seemed in mid-air, u mar
row beam mere like repe, it seemed 10
me--strctched over this wild abyss OF
raging waves-,hat, and nothing else.
There were footprints in tho narrow ridge
of timher---it was not more than two feet
wide at tie broadest-- and the sight OF
them gave he courage. Men had passed
ever here before me; | would pass too.
Aud so, without giving myself moment
more to thiuk, | step ,cd; and the mo-
mcnt when letting 60 with my hands, |
stood upon that topmost round Of the lad.
der, and balanced myself an Instant, as
placed my foot, upon the plank-that
moment in which | seemed to quiver, and
sway to and fro. high up on this glddy
perch, beyond the ken of any human eye
that moment Of dizzy terror, ofstrange
whirling thoughts, of instincts to cast my
self hea a1long into the sea, was IT sensa-
tion or any ordinary week Of placid be.
ing; aud yet it came and went like any
ether moment, and | stood erect upon the
the Lean, and began my perlous way.
heard the wind far off. Following
among the breakers on the bar; / heard
it screeching aud bowling over the flats.
felt moments calm, the strange un-
natural hush, and then the rush and leap
Of the storm, as it hurt!ed ty ME. Dash
the salt spray into my eyes. it came, seiz
ing all the loose corners Of my apparel,
and cracking them like whip.lashes, car
rying away my feeble breath iu its wild
course, but leaving mo--yes, thank God
leaving me still balanced on my plank.
The gust had cleared the mists for u
space, and could now see before me,
though distinctly enough, but could see
that there was only another length Of un-
protected balk beyond that was broad,
safe platform of timber, stretched from
pier to pier. Oh, to feel that platform
safe under my feet! | traversed the
balk almost at run. | must reach safe
ly before there came aoother gust of that
fierce wind. ,apf fF .h#fa4 r.s-
l heard it coming now, but was al
most home-yes, home, for that rough,
unsheltercd platform, on this rude night,
seemed to open uuder my ieet--a horrible
chasm. The beam on which | stood came
suddenly to an end. For some eight feet
it has been cut away. and there ives moth
/ ing to help mo over this dreadful gap.
without, wings, it we've impossible to pass.
All hope left me. l knew that to re-
trace my steps was impossible to me.
Even If | reached the end from which
had started, should be no better off than
here, and the hopelessncss Of the position
weakened my every nerve. Once more
heard the wind rising, and hurtlipg along
tow,rd mo I would clino to life as lopo