The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-17

MY SHELL AND SHARK
STORY.
CHAPTER H-(CoSrNUED.)
~ 4 NAVAL oFfICEK.

one or TWO tnlngS-eltner remain heIes
or cross the ledge. You know perfectly
well that we can not expect boat until
Markham gets back, when, finding that
We don't turn up, they will come in
search of us But long before they ar
rive it will be dark, and then it will be
impossible to get down out of this; so
take it as you will, here we shall be
obliged to remain until daylight to-mor-
row."
"If l have to stop here till tomorrow"
he replies, 81 shall go mad"
aVery we'll, then; we must try the
ledge"
Very easy to say "try the LEDGE" but
the thought of it even is sickening. In
agine a mantel-piece two feet wide,
eighty or ninety feet high, upwards a
perpendicular wall, downwards sheer
fall, and you have before you the ledge,
with the exception of the former being
level, whilst tho latter is quite the con-
trary.
The more we look at it, the less we
like it; but beggars can't be choosers,
and we have no time to waste.
"Come along, them" at last Jack says
in desperation. "You lead, Mr.. Louis;
I'll follow, and Hassan shall bring up
the rear" ......
Jack was reckoning, however, without
his host.
"No, sar! I not go! I stopl 1 'haidl
l no like itp Hassan joins in.
Every well, stop, then," Jack angrily
replies.
Then, $50 ahead, sir; he'll follow,
never fear"
We scramble down a few feet, and /
get on the ledge. As l turn my back to
the sea, and grasp the face Of the
cliff. my heart almost ceases to beat;
| notice, too, that Jack is deathly pale,
50 remark that perhaps after all it will
be the safer plan not to attempt it.
''Go on, for goodness sskel" he hur-
riedly answers. .. ...t..
Seeing that he is determined, make
room for him, and we commence cross
ing, making our way by sidelong move
ment, clutching where there is clutching
room, and feeling the right feet securely
placed before bringing the left up TO it,
our eyes alternately fixed on hands and
feet.
Hassan, as Jack had said, had no idea
of being left in the lurch, SO without re-
mark had dropped into his allotted
place.
For time all goes well, and we get
over ground very fairly, when, without
any previous warning, we are brought
TO standstill by the ledge sinking about
FIVE feet; not gradual slope, but sud
den drop.
Going back is out of the question; so
kneeling down, and clinging for dear
life, I lower myself inch by inch until l
am again on my feet.
Moving slightly to the right, wait
while the Others descend. Soon they
are beside me, and we continue on M be-
fore. s.. +
care we to keep on like this foreverT
Jack asks. .>.-
The words are scarcely out Of his
mouth, when, on extending my right
arm. my hand strikes against the rock.
One glance, and the fact rushes on me.
The ledge ceases! Were in veritable
"cul de sac!"
My sensations / can not now analyze,
although every incident is as fresh on
my memory as on that day, thirteen
years since.
/ tell Jack that we can 60 no farther,
and must return.
fM can't do it," he gasps. Tm feeling
sick and dizzy; l sha'n't be able to hold
ON much longer"
At this juncture Hassan chimes in:
"Sar, sar, l nearly falling!"
/ am at my wits end, when suddenly
it occurs to me that if | can turn and
sit down, / may be able to help the 9TH
ers.
cts all right, Jack. Hold on old fell
low" / say; "d0n't funk"
Having the dead wall on my right to
cling to, succeed without any difficulty,
but with my companions it is very diff
ferent affair.
"Now, Jack, come close to me; put
your right hand on my shoulder, and
kneel down." This he does mechanical
ly. "Now place your arm round my
neck, and Pll clasp your body" This
is accomplished. "Now let your right
leg hang over the LEDGE This also he
does. ~"Now lean the whole weight of
your body OIL your left knee, turn slight
ly, so as to grasp my collar with your
left hand, and shift your right until you
bear On my thigh" -.
He manages this, still retaining my
hold on his waist; then, by gradually
shifting his right leg over his left and
keeping his body well inclined inwards,
after moment of awful suspense he is
sitting beside me with his long legs
dangling over the precipice. My next
move is to change places with Jack; he
with his left hand takes firm hold 0 the
wall, and l put my arm round his waist
to steady myself.
Tn half the time it took to seat Jack,
Hassan (who is lithesas an eeD is in po-
sition.
To make matters worse, Jack now
breaks down completely, laughing and
crying by turns, and trembling to such
an extent as to cause me to cling to him
lest he should drop off the ledge.
Hassan is immobile: he neither speaks