The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-05-06
Was it possible that had climbed up?

Was it possible that had climbed up
That wanted a little thinking out; an,
shivering there in my shirt and trousers
with my bare feet bleeding, and maxim
the rock feel slippery, sat on thinking
while the more thought, the more pos
sible it seemed that l had climbed VI
from the ledge of rock that ran along t,
the cave beneath me.
The ledge beneath me, as locke,
down, did not seem far; and I began t,
let myself down over the side-first m,
legs; then, was hanging over to m,
chest; then, with my fingers only cling
ing to the rough rock, was resting witt
my toes upon a point; but feeling my
hands giving way, lowered myself We
more and more, still feeling about will
my feet, which could now find no rest.
| AS I looked down, the distance had
only seemed few feet; but the moon
light was deceptive, and found that tn.
next ledge was beyond my reach.
could not look down to see if l coull
drop, and it was only by an effort that
kept the cold chill of fear from seizlns
upon me again. A moments thought
treasured me; and dangerous as i,
seemed right there, on the face of such q
precipice, closed my eyes and dropped
Then, all trembling as was, laughed
for had only dropped few inches, and
was upon a broader ledge than before
and without stopping to rest, however
felt that If stood still l should soon
turn giddy with fright and fall, for the
ledge was only few inches wide where
| stood; so, again rousing myself, made
an effort to climb up once more. Seiz.
ing projecting fragment of the rock, |
drew myself up, and got my chin above
my hands, seeking all the while for a
resting place for my feet, and at last get.
ting my rig BIT foot upon tiny ledge; but
all at once, as l was making an effort to
get little higher, just at the moment
when put forth my whole strength, my
bloody foot slipped from the ledge and
was hanging by my hands to the rough
piece of rock, my body swinging to and
fro, my nails being torn from their roots,
while what fancied then was the death
sweat stood upon my face, and seemed
20 be trickling among the roots of my
hair.
think once exclaimed, "God help
mel" and then my brain was one wild
state of confusion; whilst the greatest
difficulty seemed to me to realize that
was going to die-to fall headlong into
the sea. And even in my horror could
picture how the water would fly spark
ling up in the moonlight; while falling
from such height should be killed
by striking upon one Of the rocks
just beneath the waterfall below me
being a mass of foam. Now, thought,
how long would my arms bear the weight
of my body, and why had not practiced
them more to such exertion? Then,
rousing myself once more, I made an
effort and tried to find resting place.
Once thought l would loose my hold
and end my misery; but l was c.inging
for life, and held on.
1t could only have been for a minute
or two. but the time seemed endless:
while the thoughts flashed through nv
mind in wild confusion, faster and
faster, as felt my muscles giving way.
At last felt that l must fall, for my arms
would bear the dead weight no longer;
50 in a last despairing effort l drew
myself up, found for an instant a rest
ing place for my feet, then one knee was
up by my hands, and the next instant
should have been lying painting upon a
shelf; but the effort was too late, and
believe wild cry tore from my throat
as lost my hold, and could feel the air
whistling by my ears as 1 fell down,
down, what seemed an endless distance
Then came the cold plunge in the
water-down into darkness, with the
waves laundering in my ears, and the
straAgling waters gushing into my nose.
| could not think; but nature seemed to
be prompting me to struggle on for my
life, and as rose uninjured to the surface
| struck out feebly to reach the rocks.
1t was wonder that was not killed,
for all along beneath US the shore is
sown, as it were, with rocks of all sizes,
covered at high water; but l fell in
deep part-there think it must have
been where throw this stone. Seems a
long time falling, don't it? Now, there,
where you see the splash, and that's just
in front of the cave, that runs farther in
than we've ever found man to pene-
trate as yet-for it's always got water
for floor, and a boat can only go in for
about thirty yards, when it grows mar
row, and anyone would have to swim as
did that night, swimming on and on as
the tide bore on, and that was right into
the black mouth of the cave, while
was too weak to struggle against it-all
l could do being to keep atlOat.
Now l was floating in; then, as the
waves receded, was drawn back, shiv-
ering and shuddering, as felt the long,
brown, Shiny strands of the seaweed
twining about my body like some horri-
BILE sea monster. Now tried to hold BY
the rocky wall, but it was slippery and
giided by my fingers. But the cold
shock of the water had done something
to renew my energy, and instead of grow
ing more helpless found that l could
swim with more vigor after few Sec
onds; and once, as l foated over it,
managed to get a resting place upon q
smooth piece of rock about foot under
water. But the next moment it was
three feet under water, as a wave came
rolling in with the rising tide and was
lifted off and borne many yards farther
into the darkness of the cave.
The moonlight penetrated for some
distance: but beyond that all looked
black and horrible, except where now
and then could see wave break over
a rock, and then there was flash OF
light, and the water sparkled with the
pale phosphorescent light-foul water as
the fishermen here call it. 1t was a
Notwithstanding place for an unnerved
man to swim into; but in my weak state
uoiS uOG ny W ldCC GuC lOuSu "attI dI
the mouth; SO, as every wave came and
bore me farther in, swan on into the
darkness, with the fear upon me that
some dreadful monster would lace it's
arms around me and drag me under.
More than once shrieked out, for the
seaweeds were thick here, and my feet
were entangled; but swan on, till after
many trials l found piece of rock upon
which could climb. and sit with the
water washing round me and nearly
bearing me off.
But the tide was rising, and l found
that must leave the rock l was on and
swim or wade farther in; while now the
horrible thought came-would the tide
fill the cavern, and should be drowned
at last? The thought was so horrible
that was very nearly jumping off and
trying to swim to the mouth, where, in
my weak state, must have lost my life
for strong man could not battle with
the waves as the tide rises. l had often
or1 toll IF tb;o Hpro no %1,o,r all