The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-01-12
THE COLUMBIAN, VOL. XI, NO2
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT, VOL. XII, 20. 45

In vain did | rise on my tiptoes and stretch
out my arms convulsively it seemed high
ly probable that should have to spend the
night in this situation.
- This was truly no agreeable consideration:
for the seat was only just large enough for
me to sit upright in it, and if / fell asleep
which was possible, should be precipita-
ted headlong upon the pavement. Then
they could collect my bones the next morn
| ing.
AT this critical moment was rejoiced by
| the appearance of the sexton on the caves.
He had missed me and had come TO seek
me.
"Silberman !' I cried, iuterrupting his
exclamations Of astonishment, 81 am, as
you see, in peculiar dilemma, since can
not reach the caves. You must help me- 1t is
no use to bring rope, since you have no
room to brace yourself If you bend down,
however, and reach me your hand, you can
exert your entire strength and raise me. You
are a powerful man and | am not partic.
ularly heavy"
"Oh, sir am sure that. / cannot lift you
he replied.
"My good man, you must p 1 asserted
VI cannot indeed pass the whole night in
this situation, and moreover, l might tie up
my bundle Immediately, when tais stupid
story became known. Do not be foolish,
therefore, and give me your hand"
In reply the sexton crouched down, un-
willingly, and stretched out his hand, which
! | firmly seized with both mine by the wrist,
while l swung myself out into mid air. felt
one or two convnlsive jerks, and was drawn
up about half a foot, but then at once LET
down again. He could not raise me.
looked up. Such visage as met my
gaze may ] never in my lite see again. Il
was pale as death the protruding eyes stared
: with the expression of measureless terro
1 into the abyss beneath us, and cold swea
e stood upon his forehead.
$ "Let go"' he cried. Course you, let 60
t You will break my arm, can hold on n,
n longer and will be dashed in pieces below =
: He walled like child at this moment o
6 extreme peril. Ny hair rose-my brai
d reeled. l expected myself every instant t
e be plunged on the stone pavement be
d low My desperation gave me coolnes'
and / was surprised at the cearness an
ID consistency with which I spoke.
ii 'Siberman," / said, "listen to me an
lie cease this. unreasonable clamor. can fe,
d, that you are gaining the counterpoise moi
IN and more every successive second. If Il
III go of you. shall perish, if not we bot
will, and l assure you that will not let g
at as long as can hold on. You had bette
I'd therefore, draw me up at once"
al | saw that he set his teeth together ar
closed his eyes. Then followed terrible e.
he ertion of strength, and was kneeling upc
of the caves. The sexton lay beside me in
ge deep swoon. l now carefully bore hi
ly through the trap door to the vestry, and ga
n him water, so that he soon recovered co
p sciousness but neither of us have forgott
a that perious adventure upon the caves
go the church roof
ro- As for myself, three months passed by |
p- fore again trod this almost fatal place, a
you can easily imagine that avoided
ny, Peters lantern like fire.
he The sexton kept his secret, assuring
be qusitive questioners that an eccentric T
nd glishman, travelling through the count
gar had taken his seat in. the lantern, aud t
version of the storyss..was currently
led lieved.
ith Although the gymnastics mania was
vas entirely frightened out of me by this adv
ore ture, it only remained in modified fu
and have since confined my athletic
e at pleits to places less perilous than the Sc
not of those moments of terror.