The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-27

and knew that the fright mad driven MIN
blind.
So pushing myself to him, placed my
arm round his waist, and worked round to
the rod, which I put in his hand; and then
l looked below, to see whether they were
trying to help us; but there was no sign.
The yard was full of people, all running
hither and thither; and, as I afterward
knew, all in the greatest copsternation; the
cradle having fallen on one of the overseers
of the works, killing him on the spot, and
SO occupying the attention of those near,
that we were for the time forgotten.
was straining my eyes, in hope of see
ing some effort made to help us, when I
was startled by horrible yell, and brought
to sense of new danger, for, looking
round saw Ben champing with his teeth,
and foaming at the mouth, and gesticu-
| lating in an unearthly way. Fear had not
only blinded him, but crazed his brain.
Scarcely had time to comprehend this,
when he began edging his way toward me;
and every hair on my head seemed to stand
on end, as I moved away, keeping as far
| off as could, and scarcely daring to breathe,
lest he should hear me, for see me he could
not-that was my only consolation.
Once twice - thrice - he followed me
! round the mouth of that horrible chimney;
then, no doubt, thinking had fallen over,
be gave up the search, and began trying to
| get on his feet. What could I now do to
save his life?
To touch him was certain death to my
self as well as him, for he would inevitably
seize me, and we should both 60 over to-
gether To let him stand up was to witness
his equally certain destruction.
I thought of poor Mary, and remem-
bered that if he died, she might get to care
for me. The devil put that thought in my
mind, suppose; but thank God, there
was stronger than Satan near, and at the
risk of nay life, roared OUT
'Sit still, or you will fall, Ben Lloyd!"
He crouched down and held on with
clinched teeth, shivering and shaking. In
after-days, he told me that he thought that
it was my spirit sent to warn and save
him.
"sit still" repeated from time to time,
watching with aching eyes and brain for
some sign of aid.
Each minute seemed to be an hour My
lips grew dry, my tongue literally clave to
my mouth, and the perspiration running
down blinded me. At last-at last-hope
came. The crowd began to gather in the
yard, people were running in from distant
lanes, and sea of faces were turned up
ward; then some one who had got speak
ing trumpet shouted:
'Keep heart, boys, we'll save you!"
"A few minutes more and kite began to
rise. Up it came, nearer and nearer, guided
by the skillful fer. The slack-rope
crossed the chimney, andTwe were saved.
Ben, obeying my ORDER got into the
cradle. I followed; but no sooner did I
touch him than he began try to get out
got hold of him, and taking it in his head
that was attempting to throw him over
he struggled and fought Like the madman
he was - graphing, tearing with his
teeth, shouting, shrieking and praying all
the way down, while the cradle strained
andcracked, swinging to and fro like the
pendulum of clock.
AS we came near the ground could hear
the roar of voices, and an occasional cheer;
then suddenly all was silent; for they had
heard Ben's cries, and when the cradle
touched the ground scarcely man dare
look in. The first who did, saw horrible
sight, for, exhausted by the struggle and
excitement so soon as the cradle stopped I
had tainted, and Ben, feeling my hands
relax, had fastened his. teeth in my neck.
| No wonder the men fell back with blanched
faces they saw that Ben was crazed, but
they thought that he had killed me-, for, as
Ihey nuiu AS "ao ooVoeiJ ."piiylnS LIE ilhe
dog.
At last the master got to us, and pulled
Ben off me. I soon came round, but it
was a long time before he got well, poor
fellow; and when he did come out of the
asylum, he was never fit for his old trade
again; SO he and Mary went out to Aus
tralia, and the last 1 heard of them was,
that Ben had got a couple of thousand
sheep, and was doing capitally
! I gave up the trade too soon after, find
ing that got queer in the head when I
tried to face height. So, that mornings
work changed two mems lives.
JAPANESE CAlHIDkEN.