The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30

In front of me bold precipitous
bank, totally impossible on account of
dense underground, even if it had not
been so steep; the glistening waters on
the lake far below; to the right, to the
left, behind me, one unbroken semi-cir-
Gle of fame-ferce, cracking, roaring
-leaping over the dry, .parched under
brush, with aspeed that even my fleet
footed Arabian could not hope to equal.
And if he could, what would it matter,
since the fierce flames imprisoned me
on three sides, and a precipice on the
fourth?
With sinking heart I strained my
eyes to discover some loophole of escape,
some break in the advancing wall of fire; !;
and an ejaculation of thanksgiving burst
from my parched lips, as, far away on
the left, saw little, dark spot in the
line of fame, and remembered that just
there beautiful spring bubbled up in
the middle of the forest, making pool
small and shallow, yet all-sufficient to
preserve my life, could reach it before
the army of fiery demons should flank
it, and stretch an impossible barrier
between me and this, my one hope of
safety.
In one second was on my horses
back, and fleeing at break-neck pace
toward that blessed spot of refuge-an
oasis, verify, in that desert of fire. 1t
was fully half mile distant, and though
my feet-footed animal, seemingly i'm
bued with full knowledge of all that
depended on his speed, flew over the
ground as even he had never done be-
fore, soon saw that the race was des-
perate one, well-nigh hopeless.
The hungry outcry and roar of the
flames, as they leaped and danced and
waltzed among the dry brush and trees
yet ever dashed forward on their ire
sistable course-maddened my poor
horse with fear, and drowned my voice
as l strove to soothe him.
On and on he rushed, his eyes almost
starting from their sockets, the foam
flying from his mouth, and fecking his
sides with great white patches seldom
horse spurned the earth as did my poor,
frightened Fleet, during that awful race
with the demons of fire
q, But it was all in vain!
Before we could reach that one little
rift in the great, red wall, it was closed
up and then the unbroken tide of fire
seemed to dash onward with even great
er speed then before.
There was only one thing left for me
to do-to gain few moments respite,
in which to make my peace, as best 1
might, with my God; and thanked
Him then that His hand had always
been my guide and support, so that l
had not that overpowering horror of
| +lo+ Ill nrxr,co houa
pressed me.
There was one little spot as yet un-
touched by the flames, though they
were momentarily closing in upon it
and thither 1 fed, riding to its utter
most limits ere dismounted.
Then I looked about me once more, in
last dying effort of hope, it was SC
hard to resign myself to meet so horri.
BILE q death. Behind me, to the right
to cleft, that terrible wall of fire, il
front, the lake, calm, beautiful, clear as
a mirror, glistening in the sunlight, two
hundred feet below me ; and then look,
ing down, close at my feet, saw that
stood on projecting point of the cliff,
overlooking tangled mass of under
brush at least one hundred feet below
me.
The fire would be checked on it,
, rocky shelf saw that at glance but
} alas there was plenty of fuel to feed i
up to the very utmost edge, and its mac
career would be stopped too late to save
me for there was no spot of refuge tC
which could flee until its fury should
have passed.
} Already 1 felt its scorching breatl
: on my cheeks as | stood waiting, will
my hand resting on my poor, trembling
, horse; and suddenly, as he whinnieC
l piteously, the thought came to me tina
7 he, at least, need not suffer so painful
7 death as stared his master in the face.
5 always carried pistol, and now
+ drew it out, and nerving my shakin:
2 hand, raised it to his beautiful quiver
ing ear, but 1 lowered it again as fo
3 the first time, noticed that my clums
< ARTISTS umbrella still swung from it
9 accustomed place from ring in the sad
4 die. 1t had so happened that the spo
= in which 1 had been sketching, whe
hemmed in by my fiery foe, was so coo
t and shady that the umbrella was nc
1 needed; so did not remove it from tn
!, saddle.
o When I drew the trigger, Fleet woul
= fall, it might be, upon it; he might ne
live moment or two, yet even for this
6 short time L did not choose that tn
strong, heavy, steel ribs should have tn
g chance of adding to his pain.
hi l detached it from the saddle; an
:, even as 1 did so the sudden memory
n little Dollie's experiment that mornin
-ah, how far away it seemed force
It a smile to my dry lips; and then followe
t, thought, swift and startling as
% lightning flash.
i A parachute, Dollie called it an
why not use it as such now in my dil
)" extremity? 1t was very strong ar
y stout. 1 had some twine in Ii
g pocket, with which to secure the ends
is the ribs to the handle, SO that it cou
y not turn wrong side out.
With the resistance it would offer
e, my descent, felt sure that it was qui
= possible to land in the middle of Il
it brushwood-a hundred feet below
s. with no more serious hurt than bruis
I'd and scratches, or perhaps a brok'
er limb and surely these were light ev
ne in comparison with being burned
:. death.
le With eager fingers knotted the twi
to the steel ribs, and secured the form
e, to the base of the handle.
r. The flames were almost upon me
of this time; SO, with one long-drav
nd breath, 1 raised my pistol once mo-
ng and, with one quick, nervous jerk, sc