Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-10-03
A Leap for Life.
BY 0. u.


part Of Wales, and whose hous
was only mile or two from th
coast--in that neighborhood yer,
wild and precipitous. and remark
able for the peculiar character o
the strata Of which many of th'
wave and weather-beaten cliff
were composed. My uncle was
keen geologist, and had imbuet
me with some of his own interes
in the subject.
During one of my visits to my
uncle, he had at the same time al
guests two professional geologistI
Of some sminence. who had heard
of the special facilities the neigh
borhood afforded for the pursuit.
of their favorite science, and had
had some correspondence with
my uncle on the subject, which
resulted in their receiving an in.
vitation from my hospitable rela
tive to come to his house and
Judge for themselves. This in
vitation was accepted, and the
geologists arrived; two very
pleasant, well-informed men, be
tween whom and my uncle a very
interesting and animated conver-
sation speedily ensued.
For the first day or two we
contented ourselves with showing
the strangers the features Of SCI
entifio interest more Immediately
in the vicinity; and with these
they were greatly gratifed. But
my uncle was anxious that they
should inspect a district some
miles off, peculiarly rich in speci-
mems, and which he had himself
visited several years before, but
never since | had been the com-
panion of his expeditions; there
fole it was new to me as well as
to our guests.
Our expedition was q great
success. Many rare specimens
Of different fossils were added to
our collections, and my uncle
was much gratified that his exer-
tions for the entertainment Of his
guests had been SO satisfactorily
rewarded. We had taken some
sandwiches and sherry with us,
and enjoyed our lunch during an
interval Of cessation from our
geological researches. By this
time we had reached the extreme
end Of our expedition, and we're
on the point Of retracing our
steps, when one OF the strangers
expressed a desire to round a
promontory a short distance
ahead, SO as to inspect the line OF
coast just beyond. The proposal
WAS agreed to; and we all started
along the cliff, which at this place
was Of a lesser altitude than al
some points we had previously
passed, though still it was about
fifty or sixty feet above the level
Of the sea, which at the time was
at full flow, and washed against
THE rocky wall below us. To
round the promontory we found
il was necessary to descend 8
little way, and then proceed
along a narrow ledge Of project
ing rock, 80 very narrow in some
parts that it would have been i'm
possible for any one to have at
tempted the passage unless he
had a remarkably good and
steady head.
We we're all experienced climb
ers, SO the risk was disregarded
and tho two geologists and my
uncle had Just turned round 8
rather sharp angle, and l wal
closely following, when the rocl
on which / trod suddenly gave
way under my feet, and after ,
brisf but Intellectual struggle
slipped down, with my fac,
toksrd the sea. Uttering a cry
I instinctively flung my hands
upward; one Of them, in som,
marvellous manner, caught pro
jeciing portion of the ledge; tn,
other was strongly grasped b,
my uncle. who. being mercifull,
close to me, turned at my shout
and instantly seized hold of m,
extended hand. For two or thre,
minutes. which seemed an eter
nifty to us both, my brave rela
tive, who though an elderly wa
. very powerful man, held m
suspended in this frightful man
ner, while he endeavored to tax
in the situation and decide on
plan of action. Our horrifie
friends we're powerless to helr
as they could not possibly &c
near me, on account Of the maj
rowness of the ledge, which a.
forded even my uncle a mo'
i precarious footing, and rendere
Useless any attempt to raise m
from my dreadful position.
was young. and life was yer
sweet to me; but / felt that m
last moment was at @nd. An
other second or two must end th
matter; so severe a strain coul
no longer be endured; our hand
must loosen their hold, and
must inevitably be dashed
pieces on the broken rocks l ha
\ 8bseryed at the foot of the prec
pice.
There was an instant of breatl
less silence, during which tin
my uncle had clearly realized IL
critical nature of the situation
and decided on a plan of actiol
He looked over and saw that iu
below the spot where | was SUI
pended there was a rugged pr,
,aotinv <f r.>oL axka.1,pr, f,,t