Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-11-12
NEWMAN HIGHBoRN.n

! ->bN NAN ultubOHN.
After he had folded this and tied
II securely to the other end Of the
thread, he set the bird free. 1t fiut.
tered for n moment around High.
born's head, aud then slowly ascend.
ed.
Now arose glad though only a
weak hope in his breast; it grew the
higher the bird ascended. Bravo!
little swallow. The thread. ut every
glance, became shorter! A life de-.
pended upon it. The bird mt last
disappeared ut the entrance of the
pit.
Bnt what prospect had he, after
all. He shuddered at the Thought
of the slight hope. Should the bird =.
after reaching the OPEN air, turn to
the right or left, how easily might
the thread, by rubbing against the
edge of the shaft, break.
The bird discovered, upon reach.
ing the top, that it was more difficult
to turn to one side, aud consequent.
y flew right mp in the air.
/ The three companions that had
started out with Highbprn missed
him for long time, and sought
diligently and carefully for him.
They repeatedly came upon the shaft
without for a moment thinking that
might have fallen in. Once they
glanced down ont of mere curiosity,
and found nothing but darkness.
They consulted with each other rs
to what first was TO be done, when
one of them said:
"What is that near you, Pottsi7
"Wberei-
"There. moi three steps from you,
to your right, is a piece Of thread or
something similar. Why, it stretch.
es Qnte distance over the weeds"
"Pull it, said Sam Highborn,
Newnan's brother. -
Potts pulled, and about thirty
steps from them flu,tered bird to
and fro.
"Why, this poor creature is fas.
tened 10 it: what heartless scOnndrel
could have done snch IA thingir
"lt's swallow thought Potts;
''let us see where it is fastened"
perhaps it belongs TO some one
"Whether it belongs to any one or
not. am going to give this poor
thing its freedom, said Sam, cutting
the thread.
The little bird understood this.
and arose in moment and assembled
towards the skies. Sam followed
this thread; suddenly he called to
his companions:
"Come here, Potts at the end Of
this thread there is piece of pa.
per-"
He unfolded it, and read the fol.
lowing:
III am at the bottom of the shaft
in the hills of Bottsford. | beg you
TO send help!
NEWMAN HIGHBoRN.n
"Great God, Potts! Down in the
pit, alive! Not fifty steps from here!
Ii cannot be, and yet he says So,
Both FASTENED To The shaft.
The bird had flown away an hour
ago. Newman Higbborn waited
with troubling anxiety. His eyes
watched the mouth of the pit till he
sank down exhausted, resting his
head on his hands.
ltwis not long till he was arous-
ed by the falling of bits of wood
around him. At the same time in.
distinct voices sounded down from
above.
He looked up, and recognized two
persons bending over the edge.
D how he eXulted when, after sew.
eral anxiOns seconds, there fell a !
note at his feet. He again struck
a match and read;
I'VE are here. aud will bring help
as soon AZ possible.
SAM HIGHBoRN AND PoTTs.r
He returned an exnlting "hurrah!"
but before reaching the open air the
sound died away to q low, hollow
murmur.
One long, anxious hour passed,
two, three. Night broke in. Then .
something came down. He noticed
a light at the top. Then a heavy
rope touched his head.
U. how eagerly he grasped it, and
made a strong loop and put it
around him. Then he gave the rope
Il powerful jerk, and exclaimed,
"Pnll!7
Up, slowly, cautiously, ever high.
rr; now stopping. now gliding back
several feet. His heart thrObbed
loudly. He aces the s,ars overhead.