Saint Mary's beacon., 1877-12-14

y
the river was rising rapidly. Anyone
but fool would have foreseen this as
the natural consequence of the increase
in the waterfall. Right and left and
all around the river had now become .
boiling caldron OF broken water; was
cut of from all hope of retreat, and
should be washed away like a fy.
knew.
Helpless and scared, stood irreso-
lutte yet moment longer.
recollect in this dire emergency
suddenly observing still further in=
crease in the volume ofthe fall, and al
most simultaneously with it feeling nv
legs slip from under me as the brown
water gurgled IN my ears and glistened
in my eyes. Then there was choking,
helpless, tumbliny pressure forward,
several sharp blows upon my legs and
arms, an effort to strike out met by
coming in contact with more rocks, and
then whirl and twirl and spinning round
as if had been a cork.
The swimmers instinct, however,
was of some use after all, for, in the
first Pl ace, il enabled me to retain q lit
tie presence Of mind, and in the second,
20 bring my head up to the surface al.
ter the first plunge. l saw was al
ready long way from the upper fall,
and an additional pang was given to my
sensations by the recollection that was
being hurried on toward the lower,
over which if | was carried / must in
esitably be drowned. Fortunately, Just
now | was earned by current close in
under one of these sheer-down sides,
and for the fiftieth time sent spinning
round in the eddy like cork.
| made helpless grab at the smooth
and slippery surface, much as the
drowning man catches at the proverbial
straw. for was by this time getting
exhausted and sutfocated by the constant
rolling over which the torrent gave me.
| did just manage TO get fnger-hold in
a crack. and to steady myself some
what: but the water was very deep Just
here. and could no. lift much more
than my chin above it, whilst foot
hold OF any sort was out Of the ques-
ton.
Yet to remain where I was much
longer was impossible. Could but
have raised myself some two feet I
should have been able to reach an over
hanging bough of one of the thlcklv
growing young ash-saplings, the roots
OF which projected from the earthly top
of the rock yard or two above.
Oh, how / longcd ior giant arm,
that | might touch that bough! Twice
| | 10 tnt,l ..Ns -.
the water i, it, but only exhausted my
self, and had the greatest difficulty in
retaining my support.
Was sinking and losing Conscious
ness: and is this TO be the end,
thought, with that music still in my
ears : And, 10 what vision is that
which | behold: Surely an angels
face looking down from amidst the
lcatv roof above me! Yes: nv life
must be passing away in a dream of
beautiful sights and sounds. For mo-
ment or two more such was the vague
conclusion floating through my dazed
mind, nor was it at once disprled by a
perfectly audible and silvery voice saw
ing:
Try to reach it now; Think you can;
quick, try !"
This can be no illusion: this is no
phantom born OF drowning mans fam
cy; this is sweet reality: and in that
bending branch, now steadily descend
ing to within my grip, see my Life re-
stored TO me and my hopes renewed.
| ! have the delicate end Of the bough
in my hand; yes, automatically have
seized il, and already it helps to lift me
higher out of the water.
BE very cautious" says the voice
once more. Take great care, or it
will snap. There, wait SO, whilst pull
this strong one down, and that will hold
your weight better; now, so;' and in
another minute | have grasped this
stronger one; manage to raise myself
by il little, and to put the tips Of my
toes into the fissure OF the rock by which
had 20 long held with the tips of my
fingers.
Then a soft, firm hand is he Id out TO
me. and taking it finally, BY one su-
preme effort. pulled myself well up
among the underwo ood AMI twisted roots
at the top of the cliff.
Too exhausted 70 speak or think, /
threw myself down upon the steep hill
side among the long grass and ferns be-
tween the trees. Then | think | did
really lose consciousness for a while,
for DO nc: remember seeing the pref
". graceful girl who had saved nv
life until | found her knceling at my
side. cndeavoring 20 raise nv head as
she wiped he streaming a,er from my
forehead and hair.
w ait here" she said. "and | will
run TO the inn for help; won t be long.
There, lean against that tree trunk
Pray. stop" | s,smmercd, feebly;
Il shall soon be all right. am really
very much Obliged 10 YOU
oh, never mind that" she answer
ed, brightly; If you can walk. so muc h
the better. Get up, and come along
at once; You must get your wet clothes
OIL
! rose and shook myself, feeling very
bewlldered, sick and scared.
"Here-uPthis way" she cried. Il
think We can get through the wood this
way: follow me-"
had scarcely started after her, as
with firm, light step she sprans up
the slope among the trees, W hen heard
from the top a cry of:
"Hilly-o. Lucy, hilly-o. where are
you:''
Here am" she cried: all right.
Come down, papa, and give ,h!. sen.