The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-29

strip of. moonlight came through an
open slit in the wall now and then, but
otherwise VIC were in the dark. After
some few minutes ascent we came to a
doorway that led over the top of the
transcpt. arch under the leads Of the roof.
Begging Symes to look about him and
tread carefully, passed after him through
the darkness into the main tower. From
where we stood, the upper side of the
dome.like cealing Of the center Of the
nave, between the two transepts rose like
an inverted cup before us; and at the
apex of the dome, through the opening
which had suggested this maynard under.
taking, the moonlight stceamed dimly up
into the darkness of the tower. To car.
ry out his purpose, Symes now proceeded
to crawl up the dome, in order to look
down through the orifice. knew it was
of no avail to say anything, SO stood
ard watched him with anxiety, as he
leaned over the verge of the chasm.
Gas gazed became aware that imme.
diately above the opening stout rope
was swinging, to which was attached
large hook. I remembered that some re-
pairs had been going on for q few days
on the roof of the cathedral, and that I
had cen one or two rolls of lead wound
up through the hole on the previous day.
These thoughts were passing through my
mind when Symes, catching hold Of the
rope, jerked it to ascertain that it was
fastened above. and leaned forward with
his Wright upon it, as he looked down
wards with an exclamation Of delight.
Come up, sir, and see; do!' he cried.
It's worth all the trouble Of a climb.
IL was just about to creep up, that l
might share his qualification, when a
sudden whirring, grating sound of wheels
above-a gasping exclamation-a scuf.
fling snatch with feet at the edge of the
hole, and before could move saw the
poor fellow disappear rapidly through
the opening as the rope uncoiled itself
with increasing velocity from the winch
overhead. It flashed across me in mo-
ment. The handle of the winch had been
imperfectly secured; the jerk and the
subsequent weight had overcome the re-
sistance, and, trusting wholly to the
rope. he had slipped from his footing.
The hope occurred to me that the evident
resistance which still restrained the free
revolutions of the winch might prevent
the descent being so rapid as to endanger
life or limb; so that he would possibly
land in safety with only severe fright
and shaking. These thoughts crowded
pell nell upon my mind, at the first
shock of surprise. But conceive my hor.
ror when, with loud jar. the noise of
the wheels ceased, and the ropes no
longer descended.
':How I started! He has let 70,
thought I, and listened breathlessly, in
sickening expectation of the fcrash which
l conceived must follow. But all was
still; and mechanically crawled up to
the edge of the hole and leaned over,
thinking to see his crushed body in a
CHASTITY heap below me.
"No! About fve-and.twenty feet
down, vibrating in sheer space, was sus.
pended my poor friend, at height of at
least fifty feet above the stone flooring of
the nave. He was in the very midst of
the stream Of the light that poured
through the clere.story windows. In
some way or another he had relieved the
strain on his hands by getting his leg
over the hook at the end Of the rope. I
called to him to hold fast for while, and
to keep up his courage; but never shall
forget his despairing eyes, nor the hoarse
agonlz'ng whisper that replied: 4 can't
hold on! I'm numbed. Loose the
winch! Be quick, for Gods sake!'
"Waiting for no further suggestion,
rushed back again to the staircase and
found in the darkness, almost by intui-
ton, the steps which led still upwards and
fastened to mount them. Once or twice
as I.panled in ascent, I remembered that
| came to the edge of sheer depth, and
drew lack, scarcely conscious of the
danger. I listened intently for any
sound from below, but heard nothing
and at length, in what must have been an
incredibly short space Of time, breathless
and gasping, emerged on the rough un-
even flooring Of the higher story of the
tower. Trembling, l crept carefully for
ward to the center Of the space and found
the winch standing over an opening cor
responding to the one below. I eagerly
looked down, and could just see that
something was still suspended in the
now partially obscured light. shouted
again and again words of encouragement
and hope; but there was no reply. With
sickening thrill set to work to exam.
inc the winch, and found, as I supposed,
that the handle had been entangled in the
coils Of rope, from which had some
difficulty in the darkness in extricatinc
it. But once released allowed it to re-
volve slowly, until I felt that there was
no further strain upon it. Scarcely, how
ever, had the assurance Of Symes securi-
ty dawned upon me as possibility when
deadly faintness crept over me, and I
think for a minute or two lost conscious.
ness.
tSIIA1u I cl.c ,nn6nd in nof4;nn.