Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-08-22
VOL. 72.-3697. NO. 45.

ing, every sinew in his body worked up.
He stood, screaming, laughing. 0 God
was alone with a maniac
You are to go with me" he cried.
Where ?"
"There. have come to carry you TO my
home" lie pointed with a cold snaky
smile down toward the unfathomable abyss
whence assembled the terrible column of inky
and suifocating smoke.
gazed at him: for there was some ee-
ment of fascination in his CLASSY stare, which
forced me, compelled me, to gaze. There
was cold smile upon his lips, which were
all bloodless, and disclosed, as they parted,
his mouth and tight-shut teeth.
"There is my home-there and have
come to take you with me. IIa ha how
happy you will be Comei"
Still gazed while my heart throbbed
with slow but terrible pulsations.
He advanced one step toward me.
looked Ell around at the blue sky above,
at the scorched earth around, at the horrible
chasm beneath. There was no hope. OH
could | but leap the space which separated
me from the main cliff Could but do it
- bnt | could not there was no hope
What do you not answer ?" he cried,
suddenly lashed into fury by my silence,
and stamping his foot in frenzy upon the
rock. " DO you not answer Then must
carry you with me r.
The maniac sprang toward me
With all my energies reused into frantic
action, with every sinew braced, and every
muscle contracted, planted my foot back
ward. against a small angular rock which
projected above the loose, sandy soil, and
endeavored TO meet the shock. With wild
scream, which arose thrillingly into the air.
his eyes all bloodshot, his mouth foaming
on he came. He struck me-his arms sur
rounded me in fearful embrace, his hot
breath came burningly upon my cheek. |
stood firm for despair, and all the bitter
ness OF death, had given no place to fear and
timidity, but had bestowed upon me the
GOODNESS of one in an ordinary situation. |
threw my left arm beneath his, my right
passed over his neck and around upon his
back, thus seeking to press him to the earth.
1t was a moment of horror such as no
mortal tongue could ever tell. A struggle
with a maniac To be on small surface
Of rock, while, three thousand feet be-
meath, lay the abyss of untold horrors At
this hour my heart beats more forcibly even
as | think upon the time.
Thus we stood, breast to breast, face to
face-the madman and I--he with his arms
encircling me; seeking to save myself.
He pressed me toward the edge of the cliff.
He plunged his feet deep into the ground;
he laughed mockingly, and screamed, as he
tried to destroy me. But against that rock
my feet were firmly braced; and | held him
tightly, and pushed him, and sought to
hurl him from me. Hurl him from mel i
as well as might the hungry tiger be hurled
from his prey.
Oh the agony of that struggle | know
not how long it was, but to me it seemed
like many hours. The wild eyes of the mad
man glared at mine all the time, and found
it impossible to look away. His fearful face,
| all white, all ghastly, was upturned to me,
| IS he shouted in his fendish, mocking
laughter.
40 heaven Oh horror Can this will
this endure forever 2" cried in the ag-
)ny of my fear. The maniac howled with
| lerisive shouts. felt that was growing
weaker. But he was madman and would
| he grow weaker also 7 A thousand thoughts
| fled through me.
Suddenly the maniac gave one fearful
| plunge. 1t was with the strength of giant
| that he seized me- He raised me from my
| feet. The rock, the saving rock-I had lost
| it | was gone | threw my arms high into
| the air and my scream of terror assembled in
unison with the manacs mocking yell
| "Down down to the bottomless pit |
| TO the home of fire and birthstone ! to the
endless horrors of burning lakes p he
screamed, as he gave bound toward the
edge of the cliff
Inspired by sudden gift of superhuman
strength, by partial possession OF even
madman's power, caught him by the throat,
and even on the very edge, even when in
sight of the abyss sprang back, | bore
him back; | brought him to the ground.
Falling heavily upon him, held his throat
still in a fierce grasp while his own arms
were wound tightly around my neck, and
his legs around mine. felt his hot breath
from his open mouth as my cheek lay pressed
against his face; Iheard them CRATE harshly,
and drew my head violently away, as he
sought to seize me with his sharp teeth.
In our frantic struggles on the ground,
We rolled wildly about, and the dust from
sulphur and from pumice-stone ascended
around us in suffocating clouds. | was half
insane. was struggling for life. caught
, up handful of the fine choking dust, and
rubbed it violently over his open mouth. II
went into his nostrils and lungs. lie gave q
7 jerk forward in agony. Amid the clouds OF
dust around could not see where we were
? He held me by the hair as he sprang; mo
nent after, and fearful force was strainine
: there holding my head down with irresist
ible force. Another moment, and arose
while wild and high arose the shrek OF the
maniac, as he fell down-down-into th'
= : abyss !-Seiected.