The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-03-14
TEN TERRIBLE SECONDS.

Literally, the life Of young Archibald
Fergus was hanging, for ten terrible sec
onds, by n single thread. He was a
shepherd lad, dwelling in a valley near
Dunbar, and familiar with every mountain
path and towering cliff OF that picturesque
locality. In one of his hillside Iambles his
keen eye discovered signs of an eagles
eyrie upon a narrow ledge that jotted out
from the face of a steep precipice. He
summoned four or five Of bis young com
panious, and. having provided themselves
with a strong rope, they proceeded 10 climb
the mountain with the purpose to capture
the eaglets. To scale the prec;pice was
impossible, but they, bya ciicuitous route,
succeeded in reaching the top Of it. and
from She overhanging brink they could
look down upon the ledge below, where he
eagle had built its nest. The only way to
reach his ledge was for one of the party to
be let down till its level was reached for
the edge of the rock fairly overhung its
base, and there was not SO much as a
shrub or crevice 20 which to cling. Arch
ibald, ASH leader of the expedition, as
sumed the perilous task Of the descent;
al4N lDbHluH OAS NiiNA " Allt 81 q 10 al
ford himself seat, he secured the other
end around an immense boulder and per
mitted himself to be let down by the strong
hands Of his companions, who had perform
ed that service for him in many a similar
expedition. In thai way he had descend
ed TO within few feet Of the ledge, when
ho heard the whirr Of wings aud the rush
of heavy bodies through the air, and he
knew that the parent birds were Fastening
20 the rescue Of their young. An eagle,
male OF female, knows no fear when its
eyrie is attacked, but enters at once iuto
combat with the intruder. Archibald knew
This well enough, and he bad taken the
precaution to thrust his dirk into bis girdle,
with which he felt quite able to defend
himself against the furious onslaught Of
the feathered foe. Drawing the tusty
weapon, be awaited the attack and had not
long 20 wait; with screams of rage the
eagles pounctd upon him. Protecting his
eyes as best he could with the sleeve of his
coarse shirt, he struck rapid and well aimed
blows at his winged assailants, and succeed
ing in thrusting the keen blade into the
throat OF one aud into the bosom Of the
other, so hat, after a few swoops, they
abandoned the contest and cluug, bleeding
and dying, to the ledge where jheir eaglets
were awaiting them. Archibald shearhed
his dagger; aud looking mp, shouted to his
friends, who had paused while the fight
progressed to continue the descent. But,
in looking up, a terrible sight vas revealed
to him, for lie perceived that, Uhle thrust
ing at the eagles, the keen edge of his dag
ger bad cut the rope SO that all the strands
except ore were severed. hesuaiu upon
that single strand was such shat lie could
see that 1t was yielding parting, about to
be snapped asundeI. He grew faint in ex-
pectation Of being dashed TO pieces on the
rocks a thousand feet below; and IN another
second, he would have been so dashed to
death, but thai, before the second was
over, and just as tho rope parted, lie was
lowered sufficiently to be able to spring
upon the ledge, which f5ftuua ely he stiuclz
and managed 20 maintain his balluce there,
although it afforded him scarcely a foot~
hold. However, his companions, aware
of what had happened, speedily ieadjus ed
the rope lowered it To him again, and he
was soon hauled up In safety. NOT even for
gettirg, in his fright C. capture the two
eaglcis and bear them with him triumph
antly as mementoss Of his adventure.