, 1883-10-13

we had previously passed, though
still it was about fifty or sixty fee
above the level of the sea, which a
the time was at full flow, and WASHED
the rocky wall below us. To rOunC
the prOmontory we found it was nee
essary to descend little way, anC
then proceed along a narrow ledgt
Of projecting rock, so very narrow il
some parts that it would have beer
impossible for any one to have at
tempted the passage unless he had 1
remarkably good and steady head.
We were all experienced climbers
so the risk was disregaSded ; and the
two geOlOgists and my uncle haC
just turned around a rathel
sharp angle, and | was closely fol
towing, when the rock on which
trOd suddenly gave way under my
feet, and after a brief but Intellectual
struggle l slipped down, with my
face towards the sea. Uttering a cry
l instinctively flung my hands up,
wards one Of them in some marvel,
Gus manner caught projecting por,
tion of the ledge, the other wa,
strongly grasped by my uncle, who
being mercifully close to me, turned
at my shout, and instantly seized
hold Of my extended hand. For two
or three minutes, which seemed an
eternity to us both, my brave rela,
tive, who, though an elderly, was d
very powerful man, held me sus,
pended in this frightful manner,
while he endeavored to take in the
situation and decide on a plan of nc.
tiOn. Our Mortified friends were
powerless to help, as they could not
possibly get near me, on account OF
the narrowness Of the ledge, which
afforded even my uncle n most pre-.
cariOus footing, and rendered useles.
any attempt TO raise me from dread.
ful positions, l was young, and life
was very sweet to me, but felt that
my last moment was at hand. An.
other second or two must end the
matter; 50 severe strain could nc
longer be endured our hands must
loosen their hold and must inev-
itably be dashed to pieces on the
broken rocks had observed at the
foot Of the precipicc.
There was an instant Of breathless
silence, during which time my uncle
had clearly realized the critical ma
ture Of the situation, and decided on
a plan of action. He looked over
a,,.l saw that Just below the spot
where Twas suspended there was a
rugged projection Of rock, extending
fully six feet beyond the perpendic-
luar Of the point where | hung. II
fell on this my fate was sealed no
power could save me from death.
Beyond this rock was water, possi-
bly, Of a depth sufficient to break the
force Of fall, il only the water could
be reached but in this lay all the
difficulty. My uncle was a good as
well as brave man he loved me as
the son Of a dead sister, and he was
willing to dare everything to save
me but he did not undervalue the
nature Of the awful risk he was un-
dertaking on my behalf, and he
knew that he was going to take his
own life in his hands as wellas mine.
Breathing a prayer for Divine pro-
lection, he said quietly but firmly :
'Tom, there is but one way for it.
I'll save you, or we will both perish
together. When | say the word,
take YOUR hand from the rock
NOw!
As my uncle loudly said "Now"
relaxed my hold Of the rock and at
the same instant my uncle made an
immense effort and sprang horizon
tally into the air, carrying me with
him and retaining the hold of my
hand as we rushed violently down,
turningover in our headlong descent.
| cannot pretend to say that / ever
very distinctly recollected my sensa-
tions during those awful seconds, for
1t was nothing more. l had my
senses pretty clearly while hung
from the rock, and 1 can recall the
gasping feeling which l experienced
as / took my hand away but beyond
that, all is chaos. So great was the
force with which my uncle leaped,
that he completely cleared the pro-
jecting ledge, and we fell into the
sea, which was deep enough to break
our fall, though the violence Of the
shock unloOsed our grasp Of each
other. Half stunned as we were, the
cold water probably acted as a re-
storative. We were both excellent
swimmers, and a moment or two
later we were breasting the waves,
fortunately not too bOisterOus for our
sorely tried strength. We rose about
twenty yards apart, at some little
distance from the rocky ledge, and
rather nearer a flattish rock which
reared its head from the pillows.
For this shelter we made and too
deep for utterance were the feelings
with which we took each others
hands and gazed into each others
eyes.
'Thank God !my boy" at last said
my uncle, fervently.
81 do, uncle and you, too. Where
should 1 have been now, but for
you"
"Hush Tom. Thank God, we're
both safe. It was an ugly jump, no
doubt Of that"
We both shuddered as we gazed
on the preclpice frowning above us,
on the top Of which we could see our