The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-10-12

~ OIL VIII be tied hand and foot.
bound to log, and set floating down
the Rosciero yonder, which, two miles
below, flows through a rocky mountain
gorge. Death, terrible, inevitable
death is certain
al reject your ofler.'
"Whatw
lie lcaped to the ground as he spoke.
with n fierce oath of doubt and anger.
| calmly repeated that | scorned his of
fer, and was willing to meet my fate.
lie placed n whistle to his lips. and
half dozen of his followers came up.
They were ordered TO take me TO the
bank of the river, which flowed few
rods below on the NoRo, and, after a
short course, flowed through the rocks
near the edge of the hills.
They obeyed by leading me to the
place, where i was securely bound to a
log, my right arm alone being free.
''Once more, will you acccde to my
rcqucsty' demanded the ruflian.
81 have decided" replied, calmly.
"Then launch him. and DiOS te der
| was lifted and placed within the
cold waters of the Roscicro. A moment
later the swift current was bearing me
onward toward the rocky gorge.
For about half an hour perhaps, | cX
perieneed no painful sensation, save n
cold, dull feeling of numbncss and in
capacity to move. | seemed TO be
dreaming, and was being borne through
the air gently, for the current, though
swift, moved smoothly.
AT last was aroused from my siupor
by keen, cold feeling of pain near my
heart. 1t was the chill of death: for
suddenly my whole frame became rack
ed with shooting pains, which caused
my limbs to become convulscd and
strain thc strong withcs with which |
was bound.
But what was the sound which now
greeted my agitated hearing-that dun,
halt-subducd falling of water? A mo-
mcnt later | was borne round Il sharp
curve in the stream into n still iiercer
current, and the full consciousness of
my fearful position suddenly broke up
on me- had entered the mountain
gorge, and was fast nearing the falls.
closed my lips firmly in mute resig
nation and despair. Death, fearful, in
eyitable death, stared me i'll the face.
Suddenly. sharp pain shot through
my left limb, as if n swords point had
entered it,. That member became free.
and swung with the motion of the log
now to the right, now TO the left. strils-
ing against the rocky bottom of the riv-
er, and mangling it badly.
Apparently, some sharp-pointcd rock
had severed the rnpe, and now | felt
the blood once more circulate through
my veins.
Unbinding the rope by a severe effort,
by means of my left hand. had the sat
&c a., I I
a wild CLEAN of hope shot through my
soul; but still retained my hold on
the log, which was rapidly nearing the
cataract whose deafening roar was now
TO be distinctly heard.
Every moment brought me nearer the
falls--so near, indeed, that could see.
even in the darkness, the surface of the
water flcckcd with frothy foam. The
course became more irregular and
rocky, and the sides of the gorge more
shelving.
Suddenly the log shot ahead with
boulder that projected above the water
its course upward. | lost my hold,
seemed carried upward with great
force, and fell unconscious on the hard
the log shot over the prccipicc, down,
down, sheer fifty feet.
1t was broad daylight when | rccov-
cred my senses. opened my eyes and
stared vacantly about me, at the same
time attempting 10 rise. My every
bone and muscle seemed bruised and
broken, yet | succeeded in gaining Il
straight position. Four feet below was
tla ctill roo ,,,nne ,.ixor baclnuipn 10 thn
falls beneath
had been landed on n level shelf on
{ the shore of the stream, and found but
little difficulty, severe as were my inju-
ries, in scaling the slight elevation and
| Here | rested for few moments, bind
ing my wounds and ascertaining my
whereabouts; then started in north
westerly direction for the post of b.
Four hours afterward. ragged. and so
lame that | could scarcely walk, en-
tered the encampment. The sentinel
stared at me mutely, assisting me TO my
quarters, whence, after death-like
sleep of a few hours, repaired to head
quarters.
General Fernido greeted me warmly,
expressing no little astonishment at my
pale face and swollen hands. He had
missed me, and, fearing that | had
probably wandered away from camp
and been captured by the insurgents,
had sent out scouts, who had Just re-
turned with no tidings of me.
Astonishment gave way to grateful
ness when related my strange expert
ence, which, one year afterward, when
| left for New York, the rebellion hay
ing been crushed, assumed Il substantial
evidence of sincerity in the shape of a
splendid medal and seventy ounces of
gold.
WHIRLPOOL OFF NoRwAY.-Thc macl-
strom on the coast of NORWAY. whatever