The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-03


all the steep prcipices, OF which there
was no lack in orr nelghborhood. These
precipices ranged from one hundred to
four hundred feet In height. We were
never troubled with dizziness and, boy
like In such pastime, did not know what
fear meant. Dangerous it certainly was,
and many a narrow escape we had. l
s5udder now at the thought OF the places
in which we ventured. One of our adven-
lures after BIRDS eggs very nearly proved
fatal We had often tried, but had al
ways failed, to obtain any ravens eggs for
our collections. We were anxious to pro-
cure specimens, and determined that some
how or other we should. Now, be 1t
known to those who are not acquainted
with the character and habits of the ''bird
OF Ill omen" that he is one of the most
sagacious and cunning of the feathered
tribe. He builds his nest high up in the
most inaccessible cliffs, so that It is al
most impossible to reach 1t except with
the help of rope, and even with such
assistance it is no easy task. We knew of
ravens nest about fifty feet from the top
of very steep and bare precipice Of four
hundred feet which there was no possibll-
lty of scaling In the usual way. Above
the lest the cliff was partly overhanging,
and beneath and on both sides, except
the spot chosen for the nest on a solitary
shelf, 1t was smooth and steep as wall.
For many years the same pair Of ravens,
safe and unmolested, had occupied aud
reared their broods; but, with the perth
naclous ardor OF boyhood, we were re-
solved that they should no longer find that
their eyre was impregnaDle, and we LAID
our plans accordingly. 1t was necessary
to have recourse TO rope, that one Of US
might be lowered down from the brow OF
the cliff; also a pulley, in the form of
what sailors call a ''block, was required;
for one of us would, Of course, have
been unable to haul up the other with
the single rope only; but the doubling Of
the rope by means of the block would
diminish the weight and pressure by one
[ half, and bring the task well within our
strength. Accordingly, we obtained a
coil of about forty fathoms of rope, such
as is commonly used tor the sheet Of the
sail OF small boat; also small block,
and strong oak stake.
The brow of the cliff was a smooth,
grassy swlrd, the turf being hard, and,
TO all appearance, tough. We secured
one end OF the rope to the stake, which
we drove firm into the ground right above
the ravens nest. My brother was to make
the descent; l was TO stand by the rope
and manage the lowering and hauling up.
A small piece Of wood to sit on having
been attached to loop Of rope and BE-.
cured TO the lower end of the block, all
was ready fer action, and the descent con-
tinued slowly. l paid out the rope. /
could not see over the clin, but was quite
within easy esr-shot, and every second or
two the shout came up: "Lower away,
lower away" at last 1t was: "Hold hard, "
and in little: "All right. Haul up
now" l knew that the prize was won,
and began to pull away Justify and cheer.
lily; but when l had recovered not more
than three or four yards, 10 my horror and
dIsmay noticed the treacherous soil yield
ing to the strain, and the stake being
drawn. l had barely time TO seize the
stake end of the rope. Another moment
aud the stake would have been wrenched
out of the earth and dragged right over,
and-well, dare say thould have held on;
am sure should; but that would have
been of no avail. My poor brother
must have fallen down, down, till the
block caught the stake with jerk, which
would have fetched me over, too, If had
kept my hold; and down those terrible
hundreds Of feet we would have been
dashed to inevitable destruction. AS II
was, the situation was dreadful enough for
US both. For some time at least could
hold on, but that was all. 1t was beyond
! 80 -, q
rope. "Haul away, can't youY" shouted
my brother, little thinking what dreadful
thing had happened.
paused moment before answering
| was afraid, when he knew the truth
that he might faint or lose presence Of
mind at the appalling position in which
he was placed. did him injustice. A
drawer. cooler spirit never beat in breast
of man or boy. ''Don't be alarmed"
cried, ''the stake Is loosenIng little. y
That is how put 1t to lessen the shock to
his nerves. keep still a moment" /
! added, still | see what can be done. ;
! But, In truth, could not think what wa,
J TO be done. could do no more than hole
my place and my hold. HAS the stake
entirely slipped Its hold?" he cried. 81
fear 80, yes," | replied. "But don't b,
afraid; can easily hold you as you are
: till we think what can be done.n II,
4 knew the worst then; we both knew to,
, well the peril of the situation. Had hi
q been only a few feet from the brow o
2 the precipice, he might have got up b.
/, the rope hand oyer hand, for he wa
light, wIry and active, and his muscle
strengthened and toughened by constan
exercise, gymnastics, rowing, cricket, anC
the like. But nearly fifty feet! 1t wa
out Of the questlon-it was impossible
j. and we both knew 1t. Moreover, we hat
o no hope of help coming. There was no
n the slightest chance Of any one passinj
5 that way; for the cliff was far away from
d human habitation, an isolated headland a
Q the extremity of a peninsula, where few
d more than hall. dozen sheep grazed;
L place, therefore, where no one had occa
s sion 10 visit except the owner of the sail
d sheep two or three times in a year. o
q all this wa were perfectly aware
, Whats TO be done2" at last / cIieu
e ''But at any rate don't get shaky."
G Firm and clear came up the reply
I ''Shakyl old fellow. Mol That | sham
e and l know you won't, either. 1 know
II you won't let go. We shall do vet
T never fear, l am thinking of plan.
e And then, after moments pause. %
It have it. II you hold hard by the stak
q end of the rope, and slip the other over
u III slide down till reach some footing
| Wait till 1 shclt that Pm all ready, an
u then kick the rope out as far as you can
; that it may not come down on my head
o You understand" "All right" / shoute
d back, Instantly compreheuding aud i'm
n nlensely admIring the ready wit OF tn
u device. BE careful In moving, don
d jerk; give the rope a twist round you
4 legs, ana slip down slowly" 1t was nc
e without danger that this could he done
d and everything depended upon steadines